Lamb Weston Soars, Enphase Energy Falters Amid S&P 500 Gains

The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to an all-time high for the third consecutive day. Lamb Weston Holdings soared 16.3% after topping sales and profit estimates and announcing plans to save $250 million a year. GE Vernova jumped 14.6% after reporting better-than-expected Q2 results. Enphase Energy fell 14.2% despite exceeding estimates, citing pressure from US tariff policies and the expiration of clean-energy tax credits. Fiserv shares dropped 13.9% due to a reduction in its full-year profit outlook and slowing growth in its Clover payment processing platform.

Title: Stock Market Trends and Key Earnings Reports: July 2, 2025

The S&P 500 rose 0.8% to an all-time high for the third consecutive day, continuing its upward trajectory. This performance was driven by positive trade developments and strong earnings reports from several major companies. Notably, Lamb Weston Holdings (LW) surged 16.3% after exceeding sales and profit estimates and announcing plans to save $250 million annually. GE Vernova also jumped 14.6% following better-than-expected Q2 results. Meanwhile, Enphase Energy fell 14.2% despite exceeding estimates, citing pressure from US tariff policies and the expiration of clean-energy tax credits. Fiserv shares dropped 13.9% due to a reduction in its full-year profit outlook and slowing growth in its Clover payment processing platform.

The recent rally in the stock market is largely attributed to the US striking a trade deal with Japan, which lifted hopes for further tariff pacts [1]. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI) rose more than 1.1%, or roughly 450 points, and the S&P 500 (^GSPC) moved up almost 0.8%, with both indices closing at record levels. The US pact with Japan places a 15% tariff on imports from the country, a step down from the threatened 25% duties set to hit next week. Tokyo will make $550 billion in US investment, according to President Trump [1].

Retail traders have been a significant driver of the stock market's latest rally to all-time highs, with Barclays estimating a $50 billion influx in the last month [2]. Retail investors have purchased a net $270 billion in stocks over the first half of the year, with JPMorgan predicting another $360 billion through the end of 2025. This surge in retail trading has pushed the S&P 500 26% higher since early April [2].

Lamb Weston Holdings, a potato products company, reported Q2 CY2025 results exceeding market expectations. Sales were up 4% year on year to $1.68 billion, with non-GAAP profit of $0.87 per share, 38.2% above analysts’ consensus estimates [3]. The company’s full-year revenue guidance of $6.45 billion at the midpoint came in 0.7% above analysts’ estimates. Lamb Weston’s stock traded up 5.3% to $51.75 immediately following the results [3].

GE Vernova, a joint venture between General Electric and Verizon, reported better-than-expected Q2 results, with shares jumping 14.6% [4]. The company's earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter came in at $0.85, beating the average analyst estimate of $0.64 [4].

Enphase Energy, a solar microinverter manufacturer, fell 14.2% despite exceeding estimates. The company cited pressure from US tariff policies and the expiration of clean-energy tax credits as reasons for the decline [5].

Fiserv, a financial services holding company, saw its shares drop 13.9% due to a reduction in its full-year profit outlook and slowing growth in its Clover payment processing platform [6].

As the market continues to navigate through the earnings season, retail traders will remain a key factor to watch. The upcoming earnings reports from major companies like Alphabet and Tesla will provide further insights into the market's direction and the potential impact on retail investor sentiment.

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/stock-market-today-sp-500-nasdaq-hit-records-dow-closes-in-as-trade-hopes-lift-stocks-before-tesla-google-232647998.html
[2] https://www.ainvest.com/news/retail-traders-drive-stock-market-rally-time-highs-2507/
[3] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lamb-weston-nyse-lw-surprises-120749396.html
[4] https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/lamb-weston-holdings-inc-q4-profit-decreases-beats-estimates
[5] https://www.fa-mag.com/news/kohl-s-skyrockets-as-stock-becomes-latest-to-get-meme-treatment-83381.html
[6] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/holding-onon-stock-sinks-market-220003019.html