Wall Street Today in the Buzz

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Your pulse on Wall Street! WallStreetBuzz delivers real-time market intelligence, breaking news, and expert analysis. From opening bell to closing bell, we cover major movers, market trends, sector rotation, institutional flows, and the stories moving stocks
 

•  29 Jan 2026
 

•   AAPL  
   
  +0.47%
•   HON  
   
  +4.45%
•   IBM  
   
  +4.25%
•   LRCX  
   
  +2.53%
•   LUV  
   
  +16.86%

$MSFT tumbled nearly 10% despite beating fiscal second-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, as investors zeroed in on a subtle deceleration in Azure growth to 39%. For a stock priced as a long-term AI and cloud compounder, even a slight slowdown in its core engine rattles confidence. Guidance for 37%-38% constant-currency growth next quarter merely met expectations, offering little upside surprise, while planned capital expenditures above $88 billion in fiscal 2026 signal heavy AI infrastructure spending that could pressure margins in the near term.

$META surged after delivering a clean beat on both the top and bottom lines, with first-quarter revenue guidance ahead of consensus. More importantly, management made it clear that AI is the strategic centerpiece, with capital expenditures potentially reaching $135 billion by 2026. The market rewarded that commitment, interpreting the aggressive spending as a signal that Meta intends to lead, not follow, in the AI arms race.

$TSLA traded higher following better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, but the real story was strategic repositioning. A $2 billion investment in xAI, the planned rollout of a robo-taxi service in the first half of 2026 across seven cities, and the decision to halt Model S and X production all point to a sharper focus on autonomy and robotics. Investors appear willing to look beyond vehicle deliveries and focus on Tesla’s long-term platform ambitions.

$IBM jumped after posting a strong quarter, driven by 14% growth in its software segment to roughly $9 billion. The numbers reinforce the narrative that IBM’s pivot toward higher-margin software, cloud, and AI exposure is gaining traction. For traders, this is confirmation that legacy tech can still re-rate when execution aligns with structural trends.

$LRCX moved higher as strong fiscal second-quarter results highlighted accelerating semiconductor equipment demand tied to AI-driven chip investments. Management commentary about increasing execution capacity suggests customers are ramping aggressively, reinforcing the broader AI infrastructure cycle.

$LVS slumped sharply after weaker-than-expected adjusted profit in Macau, where rising labor and event costs weighed on performance. The decline underscores how sensitive casino operators remain to cost pressures and regional demand fluctuations, especially in key gaming hubs.

$SAP sold off heavily despite beating on earnings, missing on revenue and cloud metrics that investors see as critical to long-term growth. The sharp reaction reflects how little tolerance the market currently has for any cloud slowdown, particularly in enterprise software.

$NOW fell even after topping expectations, as concerns surfaced around its acquisition strategy and AI positioning. Traders appear to be questioning whether the company’s deal-making will translate into durable, profitable growth in an increasingly competitive AI landscape.

$LUV climbed after reporting stronger-than-expected adjusted earnings and offering an upbeat 2026 outlook. Pricing adjustments, including new seat selection fees and premium seating options, are helping revenue per passenger while cost discipline remains intact.

$HON edged higher following a modest earnings beat, though the reaction was measured. Solid execution without a material upward revision tends to generate steady, not spectacular, buying interest.

$AAPL ticked up slightly ahead of its fiscal first-quarter report, with investors focused on iPhone demand trends and rising memory costs linked to AI-driven chip demand. The results later today could set the tone for large-cap tech sentiment into the next leg of earnings season.

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