US stocks rise as Paychex beats earnings estimates
US stocks rose with the Dow gaining over 400 points, led by Paychex Inc's better-than-expected Q4 earnings. Paychex reported earnings of $1.32 per share on sales of $1.606 billion. Commodities declined, with oil down 4.2% and gold down 2.8%. Global markets were mixed, with Asian indices mostly higher and European shares fluctuating.
*this image is generated using AI for illustrative purposes only.
US stocks traded higher midway through trading on Wednesday, with the Dow Jones index gaining more than 400 points. The Dow traded up 0.83% to 52,095.25, while the NASDAQ surged 0.27% to 25,654.95. The S&P 500 also rose, gaining 0.35% to 7,391.51.
Paychex Inc reported better-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter. The company posted quarterly earnings of $1.32 per share, beating the analyst consensus estimate of $1.30 per share. Quarterly sales came in at $1.606 billion, surpassing the analyst consensus estimate of $1.601 billion.
In sector performance, health care shares jumped by 1.5%, while energy stocks fell by 1.7%. Commodities saw declines, with oil trading down 4.2% to $70.14 and gold down 2.8% at $4,032.40. Silver traded down 4.8% to $59.075, while copper fell 2.6% to $5.9890.
Notable Stock Movers
Several stocks experienced significant volatility following corporate announcements:
| Company | Ticker | Movement | Price | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulsenmore Ltd | PLSM | +199% | $10.18 | Strategic partnership with Ouma Health |
| Fort Technology Inc | FRTT | +64% | $2.90 | Proposed strategic investment with Logia USA |
| Catheter Precision Inc | VTAK | +63% | $1.54 | Partnership with GSE Worldwide and new patents |
| Nuwellis Inc | NUWE | -26% | $0.094 | 1-for-35 reverse stock split |
| TOYO Co., Ltd | TOYO | -33% | $8.62 | $50 million offering of common shares and warrants |
| Hertz Global Holdings Inc | HTZ | -25% | $3.78 | $100 million offering |
Global Markets and Economics
European shares were mixed, with the STOXX 600 slipping 0.2% and Germany’s DAX dipping 1.1%. Spain’s IBEX 35 Index fell 0.7%, while France’s CAC 40 gained 0.3% and London’s FTSE 100 rose 0.1%.
Asian markets closed mostly higher. Japan’s Nikkei 225 dipped 0.88%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.33%. China’s Shanghai Composite rose 0.11%, and India’s BSE Sensex gained 1.04%.
Economic data showed the U.S. current account deficit rose to $226.8 billion in the first quarter from a revised $221.1 billion gap in the final quarter of 2025. U.S. building permits fell 0.9% month-over-month to an annual rate of 1.410 million in June. U.S. mortgage applications rose by 1% in the third week of June compared to a 3.8% decline in the previous period.
Will the surge in health care stocks continue as sector earnings reports unfold?
How will the 4.2% drop in oil prices impact energy sector earnings in the upcoming quarter?
Can Paychex sustain its earnings momentum given the current economic climate?
15
Access Market Heat-map & Insights 
Create, Save & Share your Screener 
Use 200+ Screening Filters 
