FINWIRES · TerminalLIVE
FINWIRES

Exchange-Traded Funds, Equity Futures Higher Pre-Bell Friday Amid Employment Data

By

-- The broad market exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (SPY) was up 0.6% and the actively traded Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was 0.8% higher in Friday's premarket activity amid April's employment data release.

US stock futures were also higher, with S&P 500 Index futures up 0.5%, Dow Jones Industrial Average futures advancing 0.3%, and Nasdaq futures gaining 0.7% before the start of regular trading.

The April employment report showed nonfarm payrolls rose by 115,000, above the 65,000 jobs increase expected in a survey compiled by Bloomberg, while March payrolls were revised up to a 185,000 increase and February payrolls were revised down to a 156,000 decrease.

The University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment reading for May and the wholesale inventory data for March will be released at 10 am ET.

In premarket activity, bitcoin was up by 0.1%. Among cryptocurrency ETFs, the cryptocurrency fund ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF (BITO) was 0.1% higher, Ether ETF (EETH) retreated by 0.3%, and Bitcoin & Ether Market Cap Weight ETF (BETH) fell 3%.

Power Play:

Technology

The State Street Technology Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLK) gained 1%, and the iShares US Technology ETF (IYW) was 0.7% higher, while the iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (IGM) was up 0.7%. Among semiconductor ETFs, the State Street SPDR S&P Semiconductor ETF (XSD) advanced by 2.7%, while the iShares Semiconductor ETF (SOXX) rose by 2%.

United Microelectronics (UMC) shares were down more than 3% in premarket activity after the company reported April sales of 22.66 billion New Taiwan dollars ($721.8 million), up 11% from a year earlier.

Winners and Losers:

Consumer

The State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) was up 0.2% and the Vanguard Consumer Staples Index Fund ETF Shares (VDC) was up 0.7%. The iShares US Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) was inactive. The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) gained 0.5%. The VanEck Retail ETF (RTH) and the State Street SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) were inactive.

Toyota Motor (TM) shares were down more than 1% pre-bell after the company reported lower fiscal 2026 earnings.

Health Care

The State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV) advanced 0.3%, the Vanguard Health Care Index Fund (VHT) was up 0.3%, while the iShares US Healthcare ETF (IYH) rose 2%. The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) gained 0.5%.

Tempus AI (TEM) stock was up more than 1% premarket after the company said it priced its upsized private placement of $400 million of 0% convertible senior notes due May 15, 2032.

Financial

The State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLF) advanced 0.3%. Direxion Daily Financial Bull 3X Shares (FAS) was up 0.8%, while its bearish counterpart, Direxion Daily Financial Bear 3X Shares (FAZ), was 0.7% lower.

Goldman Sachs BDC (GSBD) shares were down more than 1% pre-bell after the company reported lower Q1 adjusted net investment income and total investment income.

Industrial

The State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLI) advanced 0.6%, while the Vanguard Industrials Index Fund (VIS) was flat and the iShares US Industrials ETF (IYJ) was 1.1% higher.

Ferrovial (FER) stock was up more than 1% before the opening bell after the company reported higher Q1 adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and revenue.

Energy

The iShares US Energy ETF (IYE) was inactive, while the State Street Energy Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLE) retreated by 0.02%.

Scorpio Tankers (STNG) stock was down more than 1% before the opening bell after the company said it plans to offer $150 million of 1.75% convertible senior notes due 2031 via a private placement.

Commodities

Front-month US West Texas Intermediate crude oil gained by 0.1% to reach $94.92 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Natural gas was up 0.2% at $2.77 per 1 million British Thermal Units. The United States Oil Fund (USO) fell by 1.3%, while the United States Natural Gas Fund (UNG) was 0.1% lower.

Gold futures for May gained by 0.4% to reach $4,728.60 an ounce on the Comex. Silver futures advanced by 1.1% to $81.09 an ounce. SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) was 0.1% higher, and the iShares Silver Trust (SLV) rose by 1.8%.

Related Articles

Research

Research Alert: CFRA Keeps Buy Rating On Shares Of Paycom Software, Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We raise our target by $19 to $150, 12.3x our 2027 EPS estimate, significantly below PAYC's three-year historical forward P/E average of 24.9x. We lift our 2026 EPS view by $0.53 to $10.73 and 2027's EPS view by $0.95 to $12.23. PAYC conservative 2026 guidance, which projects a revenue growth slowdown to 6%-7%, is a primary concern as it contrasts sharply with the company's current performance. This strength is evidenced by an expanding 48.2% adjusted EBITDA margin, robust 17% Y/Y growth in operating cash flow, and high 91% client retention, all fueled by the demonstrable ROI its AI-powered platform delivers to clients. Underscoring this internal confidence, management executed a massive $1.06B share repurchase in Q1, taking on $675M in debt to capitalize on what it views as a significant undervaluation. This aggressive, debt-funded capital return increases financial leverage but signals a profound belief in the company's long-term value proposition, despite the cautious near-term growth outlook.

$PAYC
Research

Research Alert: CFRA Maintains Hold Opinion On Shares Of Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:We increase our target by $2 to $23 on a forward P/FFO of 10.9x our 2026 FFO estimate, a premium to peers and HST's three-year forward average (8.9x) due to a stronger 2026 travel outlook and recently redeveloped properties driving higher revenue per average room (RevPAR) this year. We increase our 2026 FFO estimate by $0.05 to $2.11 and leave our 2027 view unchanged at $2.15. San Francisco showed remarkable recovery boosted by the Super Bowl and accelerating business travel as resorts in Florida/Phoenix saw stronger-than-normal Q1 performance. Weather-related disruptions in Hawaii and the East Coast negative impacted RevPAR by 120 bps in Q1, while the outlook for growth in 2H 2026 implies growth slowing to 1%-2% range. Productivity improvements have helped to offset some of the 5% Y/Y growth in wages, but this cost inflation is a risk we continue to monitor. We do not currently expect any acquisitions, with management setting a high IRR bar and favoring buybacks and special dividends currently.

$HST
Research

Research Alert: CFRA Reiterates Hold Opinion On Shares Of Fortis Inc.

CFRA, an independent research provider, has providedwith the following research alert. Analysts at CFRA have summarized their opinion as follows:Our 12-month target is unchanged at CAD80, valuing shares at a forward P/E of 21.5x our next-12-month EPS estimate of CAD3.72, a premium to its five-year average of 19.3x. We keep our 2026 EPS estimate at CAD3.62 and raise our 2027 EPS estimate by CAD0.03 to CAD3.88. Q1 results showed continued progress on load growth opportunities, with ITC advancing data center interconnection projects and TEP securing initial contractual milestones in Arizona while pursuing additional phases. We expect revenue to grow 7.8% in 2026, followed by 5.6% growth in 2027, supported by customer rate updates at Central Hudson (effective July 2025), FortisBC Energy (effective January 2026), UNS Gas (effective March 2026), and a pending decision at TEP (expected fall 2026), alongside ongoing rate base growth. From 2025-2028, we expect EPS to grow at a 5.3% CAGR while dividends grow at 4.6%, both lagging the peer median growth rates of 7.9% and 5.2%, respectively. Shares currently yield 3.3%, slightly ahead of the peer median 3.2%.

$FTS