US Stock Market Today: S&P 500 Futures Edge Higher On Strong Data And Fed Jitters

Simply Wall St

Thu, February 19, 2026 at 7:15 PM GMT+9 3 min read

In this article:

^GSPC

+0.56%

PANW

-6.82%

GPN

+16.47%

GRMN

+9.44%

Get insights on thousands of stocks from the global community of over 7 million individual investors at Simply Wall St.

The Morning Bull - US Market Morning Update Thursday, Feb, 19 2026

US stock futures are slightly higher this morning, with S&P 500 contracts up around 0.1%, as investors weigh stronger economic signals against the risk of higher borrowing costs. The 10 year Treasury yield is near 4.1% after Federal Reserve minutes showed some officials are open to more rate hikes if inflation does not slow, which can keep mortgage, credit card and business loan rates elevated. At the same time, manufacturing output rose 0.7% in January and housing starts climbed 6.2%, pointing to an economy that is still holding up. The tension for investors now is whether this mix of sturdy growth and a firmer rate backdrop ends up favoring rate sensitive sectors such as banks and homebuilders or steadier areas such as large technology, healthcare and consumer staples, because the answer could pull portfolios in very different directions.

To sort through the tug of war between growth and higher rates, start with our solid balance sheet and fundamentals stocks screener (43 results) before today’s moves get fully priced in.

Top Movers

**Global Payments (GPN)** jumped 16.47% after announcing a new US$2.5b buyback, earnings, and board changes.

**Garmin (GRMN)** gained 9.44% on strong Q4 results, higher dividend plans, and an analyst upgrade.

**Venture Global (VG)** rose 8.89%.

Is Garmin still a smart investment or just hype? Read our most popular narrative and get all the answers you need.

GPN 1-Year Stock Price Chart

Top Losers

**Palo Alto Networks (PANW)** fell 6.82% after multiple firms cut price targets following Q2 results and guidance.

**Crown Castle (CCI)** declined 4.82% after Barclays lowered its price target following recent earnings.

**GlobalFoundries (GFS)** fell 3.46%.

Look past the noise - uncover the top narrative that explains what truly matters for Palo Alto Networks’ long-term success.

PANW 1-Year Stock Price Chart

On The Radar

Earnings from retail, utilities, energy and materials will guide how investors think about consumer demand and capital spending.

**Walmart (WMT)** posts Q4 2026 results on Thursday, a key read on consumer spending and pricing power across retail.

**Southern (SO)** reports Q4 2025 Thursday morning, highlighting utility revenues, cost trends and any updates on major projects.

**Consolidated Edison (ED)** shares fiscal 2025 results After-Market Thursday, giving fresh detail on regulated earnings and capital plans.

**Newmont (NEM)** reports Q4 2025 After-Market Thursday, putting attention on production levels, costs and any balance sheet commentary.

**PPL (PPL)** is set to release Q4 2025 results on Friday, with focus on rate regulated returns and capital expenditure priorities.

 






Story Continues  

Use our Portfolio or Watchlist features to track market-moving events like these and get alerts for the companies you own, free!

Don’t Wait For The Winners, Find Them

Do not just watch today’s movers from the sidelines. Check out our screener containing 24 high quality undiscovered gems while these opportunities are still under the radar, featuring companies with quality fundamentals and timely potential.

Want to find your own winners? Our stock screener lets you run custom searches that fit your style and set timely alerts so you do not miss new opportunities as they appear.

_ This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned._

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly._ Alternatively, email [email protected]_

Terms and Privacy Policy

Privacy Dashboard

More Info