Stock Market Update

[BRIEFING.COM] The major averages are continuing their steady advance at midday. 

This morning's batch of earnings reports has resulted in several notable moves today. 

Procter & Gamble (PG 150.18, +4.12, +2.82%) is modestly higher after reporting its Q2 (Dec) results this morning. The packaged goods giant delivered a slight EPS beat, while revenue increased 1.5% yr/yr to $22.2 billion, in line with expectations. PG reiterated this was likely the softest quarter of the year, as a challenging consumer and competitive backdrop met a tough U.S. comparison tied to last year's port-strike and pantry-loading dynamics.

Meanwhile, GE Aerospace (GE 301.20, -17.30, -5.43%) delivered a robust Q4 performance that exceeded analyst expectations on both the top and bottom lines, yet the stock is selling off sharply following the earnings release. The company issued FY26 adjusted EPS guidance of $7.10 to $7.40, which stands above consensus estimates at the midpoint, but shares remain under pressure as investors weigh the outlook against a significant 70% year-over-year run-up. 

Abbott Labs (ABT 110.16, -10.57, -8.76%) is also trading sharply lower following its Q4 earnings report, mirroring the negative reaction seen in peer Johnson & Johnson (JNJ 220.20, +2.19, +1.00%) after its Q4 results. Abbott delivered in-line EPS, consistent with its recent trend of modest beats or in-line prints, but revenue and near-term guidance disappointed.