Lululemon Stock Soars on Bright Holiday Outlook | Global News Avenue

Major U.S. stock indexes were mixed as markets ended the first week of December.

Friday morning’s jobs report showed U.S. economic growth More jobs than expected in Novembermarking a recovery from major hurricanes and labor disputes that impacted job creation in October. In addition to showing the resilience of the job market, the data heightened expectations for another Fed cuts interest rates this month.

The S&P 500 rose 0.3% on Friday, rebounding from the previous session’s losses to hit another closing high. The Nasdaq rose 0.8%, but the Dow Jones fell 0.3%.

lululemon sport (Lulu) shares led the S&P 500 higher on Friday, Jump 15.9% The move comes after the maker of yoga pants and other activewear reported better-than-expected quarterly sales and profits. The company said strong performance in international markets and Canada helped drive the strong results. Lululemon also raised its full-year revenue and earnings guidance, striking an optimistic tone ahead of the crucial holiday shopping season.

Another strong earnings report came from server, data storage and networking provider Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HP). The IT services company’s fourth-quarter revenue topped record top- and bottom-line forecasts, highlighting demand for artificial intelligence (AI) servers as a key sales driver. After strong quarterly results, Citi analysts HP Enterprise Stock Upgrade Adjusted the demand outlook for mainstream server and enterprise networking markets from “neutral” to “buy” and raised the target price. HPE shares soared 10.6% on Friday.

Cosmetics retailer Ulta Beauty (ULTA) also beat consensus revenue and earnings-per-share (EPS) estimates its latest quarterly resultsits shares soared 9%. Although increased competition and weak demand for skin care and cosmetics have weighed on Ulta’s results this year, executives said the company has made progress in solidifying its market position through initiatives such as in-store events, digital tools and new brands. However, Ulta expressed a cautious outlook for the holiday season, suggesting consumers remain focused on value as they navigate economic uncertainty.

UnitedHealth Group’s stock (united nations institutes of health) fell 5.1%, the biggest decliner on the S&P 500 on Friday, as the hunt for the shooter continued. Shoot Brian ThompsonEarlier this week, the company’s health insurance unit CEO. The murder has sparked discussion about the complexities of the U.S. health insurance system, including the lack of coverage for certain medical expenses and the denial of care requests. Other health insurance stocks also fell.

Medical device maker Cooper’s quarterly earnings per share (chief operating officer) beat analysts’ expectations, but weak demand for contact lenses led to a slight decline in revenue and its shares fell 4.4%.

Oil futures were lower as analysts pointed to the possibility of a glut in 2025, with demand expected to remain weak even as major producers extend output cuts. Falling prices weighed on oil and gas stocks. Shares of oilfield services provider Halliburton (Hal) fell 4.1%, while exploration and production company Diamondback Energy (square) fell 3.4%.