Major US Averages Mixed as Unemployment Rate Rises to 4.6%
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Dec 16 2025
0mins
The major averages had a mixed day as traders reacted to delayed jobs data that could influence the Federal Reserve's interest-rate path next year. Though November's jobs report came in better-than-expected, with an increase of 64,000 jobs for the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported that 105,000 jobs were shed in October, with the unemployment rate climbing to 4.6%.Record highs earlier in December have given way to a softer backdrop as investors weigh the release of the delayed nonfarm payrolls and other indicators like retail sales and CPI inflation, which were postponed by the longest U.S. government shutdown in history.Looking to commodities, gold was mostly unchanged, while oil fell sharply ahead of API crude numbers set for release this afternoon.Get caught up quickly on the top news and calls moving stocks with these five Top Five lists.1. STOCK NEWS:Fordsaid it expectsto "rationalize" U.S. EV-related assetsPfizerreiterated its guidance for FY25 and provided aPayPalhas submitted applications toApplewill expand its iPhone lineup to seven models by 2027,The U.S. Trade Representative said it will use "every tool" to2. WALL STREET CALLS:Rokuto Overweight from Underweight at Morgan StanleyLockheed Martinto Equal Weight at Morgan StanleyOktato Buy at JefferiesStubHubto Market Perform at CitizensWells FargoGapto Overweight3. AROUND THE WEB:Apollo Globalis exploring a potential sale of Atlas Air,Trump is slated to interview Fed governor Christopher Waller on Tuesday for the position of Fed chair,Oraclesigned roughly $150B of data center leases in the three months ending November 30, raising its total data center and cloud capacity commitments to $248B,Metaearned more than $18B in annual ad sales from China in 2024, making up over 10% of its global revenue, with more than $3B linked to fraudulent ads, like for scams,The U.K. government wants Apple, Google, and others to block explicit images at the OS level by default to protect kids and have adults verify their ages,4. MOVERS:Cementos Pacasmayoincreases in New York after announcingof the Hochschild Group, which controls 50.01% of the companyRezolve AIgains in New York afterannual recurring revenue view of $500M or moreAldeyrahigher after announcing thetarget action date for the reproxalap New Drug ApplicationLightwave Logicfalls after announcing anNavanlower after announcing the departure of5. EARNINGS/GUIDANCE:Vestisreaffirmed itsVital Farmsfor FY25Organigram, with Executive Chair Peter Amirault calling fiscal 2025 "marked by purposeful growth"Humanafor FY25CSP Inc., with EPS and revenue higher year-over-yearINDEXES:The Dow fell 302.30, or 0.62%, to 48,114.26, the Nasdaq gained 54.05, or 0.23%, to 23,111.46, and the S&P 500 declined 16.25, or 0.24%, to 6,800.26.
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Analyst Views on F
Wall Street analysts forecast F stock price to fall over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for F is 13.65 USD with a low forecast of 11.00 USD and a high forecast of 16.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
14 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
10 Hold
1 Sell
Hold
Current: 13.720
Low
11.00
Averages
13.65
High
16.00
Current: 13.720
Low
11.00
Averages
13.65
High
16.00
About F
Ford Motor Company is an automobile company. The Company develops and delivers Ford trucks, sport utility vehicles, commercial vans and cars, and Lincoln luxury vehicles, along with connected services. The Company’s segments include Ford Blue, Ford Model e, Ford Pro, and Ford Credit. The Ford Blue segment primarily includes the sale of Ford and Lincoln internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrid vehicles, service parts, accessories, and digital services for retail customers. The Ford Model e segment primarily includes the sale of its electric vehicles, service parts, accessories, and digital services for retail customers. The Ford Pro segment primarily includes the sale of Ford and Lincoln vehicles, service parts, accessories, and services for commercial, government, and rental customers. The Ford Credit segment consists of the Ford Credit business on a consolidated basis, which is primarily vehicle-related financing and leasing activities. Its vehicle brands are Ford and Lincoln.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Cisco's AI Focus: Cisco anticipates earnings of $1.02 per share and revenue of $15.1 billion for Q2 FY2026, with CEO highlighting a major multi-year campus networking refresh, making AI infrastructure demand a critical growth driver.
- Importance of Employment Report: The January employment report is expected to show an addition of 80,000 nonfarm payrolls and an unchanged unemployment rate of 4.4%, directly impacting private consumption and U.S. GDP, making it crucial for investors to monitor.
- Consumer Price Index Insights: The January CPI is projected to increase by 2.5% year-over-year, with core CPI rising by 2.6%, providing essential inflation details despite not being the Fed's preferred measure, particularly regarding persistent shelter cost inflation.
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- Nasdaq Struggles: In contrast, the Nasdaq Composite ended the week down 1.8%, despite a strong rally on Friday.
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- Increased Shareholder Returns: GM announced a 20% dividend increase and a new $6 billion share repurchase program, aimed at enhancing shareholder value while reflecting management's confidence in future profitability.
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- Profitability Enhancement: GM successfully offset over 40% of its tariff costs in 2025, and despite pressures from declining EV profitability, it exceeded earnings expectations in Q4, demonstrating the sustainability of its profitability.
- Dividend and Buyback Initiatives: The company announced a 20% increase in dividends and authorized a $6 billion share repurchase program, which not only boosts investor confidence but also lays a solid foundation for future shareholder returns.
- EV Production Adjustments: Although GM anticipates a decline in EV volumes for 2026, it plans to cut EV losses by $1 billion to $1.5 billion to navigate market challenges, showcasing its adaptability in the EV transition.
- Production Relocation: GM is moving its Buick compact crossover production from China to Kansas, which is expected to incur about $1 billion in near-term costs, but this move will help mitigate future tariff expenses and strengthen the company's long-term competitiveness.
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Earnings Season Approaches with Key Company Reports Ahead
- Earnings Season Dynamics: The upcoming earnings season will encompass multiple sectors including autos, consumer staples, and technology, with significant market impact expected, particularly from companies like Ford, Coca-Cola, and Cisco.
- Ford's Earnings Outlook: Ford anticipates a ~51% year-over-year decline in Q4 EPS, despite a 6% increase in U.S. vehicle sales and a rise in market share to 13.2%, indicating strong performance in core trucks and hybrid models.
- Cisco's Growth Prospects: Cisco is expected to report over 8% year-over-year growth in both revenue and earnings for Q2, driven by improving demand in core networking and early traction in AI-related infrastructure, with analysts generally maintaining a Buy rating, reflecting confidence in future growth.
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- Alphabet Beats Earnings Estimates: Alphabet reported fourth-quarter revenue of $113.83 billion, surpassing the Street consensus estimate of $111.31 billion, with earnings per share of $2.82 exceeding expectations of $2.63, indicating strong performance in advertising and cloud services that may drive stock price increases.
- Amazon Delivery Milestone: Amazon announced it delivered over 13 billion items globally in 2025, with more than 8 billion items reaching U.S. Prime members the same or next day, a speed enhancement that will further strengthen its competitive position in the e-commerce market.
- Tesla's New Model Launch: Tesla unveiled a new All-Wheel Drive variant of the Model Y in the U.S. and Puerto Rico following Elon Musk's announcement of discontinuing the Model S and X, which could attract more consumers and enhance market share.
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Key Earnings Reports and Economic Outlook This Week
- DuPont Earnings Expectations: DuPont is expected to report earnings of $0.43 per share and revenue of $1.69 billion for Q4 2025, with analysts noting ongoing pressure in short-cycle businesses, while slight improvements in the automotive sector may influence investor sentiment.
- Cisco's AI Focus: Cisco anticipates earnings of $1.02 per share and revenue of $15.1 billion for Q2 FY2026, with CEO highlighting a major multi-year campus networking refresh, making AI infrastructure demand a critical growth driver.
- Importance of Employment Report: The January employment report is expected to show an addition of 80,000 nonfarm payrolls and an unchanged unemployment rate of 4.4%, directly impacting private consumption and U.S. GDP, making it crucial for investors to monitor.
- Consumer Price Index Insights: The January CPI is projected to increase by 2.5% year-over-year, with core CPI rising by 2.6%, providing essential inflation details despite not being the Fed's preferred measure, particularly regarding persistent shelter cost inflation.
See More
Key Focus Areas This Week: Jobs, Consumer Prices, Coca-Cola, CVS, Ford, McDonald's, and More
- Market Performance: The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 2.5% and closed above 50,000 for the first time.
- Nasdaq Struggles: In contrast, the Nasdaq Composite ended the week down 1.8%, despite a strong rally on Friday.
See More
General Motors Exceeds Q4 Earnings Expectations Amid EV Challenges
- Strong Earnings Report: General Motors exceeded market expectations in its Q4 2023 earnings report, demonstrating significant adjusted earnings despite facing profitability pressures in the electric vehicle sector, showcasing its financial resilience.
- Market Share Growth: The company achieved its highest U.S. market share since 2015, indicating a gradual recovery in competitiveness within the fiercely contested EV market, which boosts investor confidence.
- Increased Shareholder Returns: GM announced a 20% dividend increase and a new $6 billion share repurchase program, aimed at enhancing shareholder value while reflecting management's confidence in future profitability.
- Cost Control Initiatives: Despite incurring over $7 billion in EV production-related charges, GM successfully offset more than 40% of its tariff costs through cost-reduction initiatives, with expectations to further lower tariff expenses in 2026, thereby strengthening long-term profitability.
See More
GM Navigates Tariff and EV Challenges Successfully
- Profitability Enhancement: GM successfully offset over 40% of its tariff costs in 2025, and despite pressures from declining EV profitability, it exceeded earnings expectations in Q4, demonstrating the sustainability of its profitability.
- Dividend and Buyback Initiatives: The company announced a 20% increase in dividends and authorized a $6 billion share repurchase program, which not only boosts investor confidence but also lays a solid foundation for future shareholder returns.
- EV Production Adjustments: Although GM anticipates a decline in EV volumes for 2026, it plans to cut EV losses by $1 billion to $1.5 billion to navigate market challenges, showcasing its adaptability in the EV transition.
- Production Relocation: GM is moving its Buick compact crossover production from China to Kansas, which is expected to incur about $1 billion in near-term costs, but this move will help mitigate future tariff expenses and strengthen the company's long-term competitiveness.
See More
Earnings Season Approaches with Key Company Reports Ahead
- Earnings Season Dynamics: The upcoming earnings season will encompass multiple sectors including autos, consumer staples, and technology, with significant market impact expected, particularly from companies like Ford, Coca-Cola, and Cisco.
- Ford's Earnings Outlook: Ford anticipates a ~51% year-over-year decline in Q4 EPS, despite a 6% increase in U.S. vehicle sales and a rise in market share to 13.2%, indicating strong performance in core trucks and hybrid models.
- Cisco's Growth Prospects: Cisco is expected to report over 8% year-over-year growth in both revenue and earnings for Q2, driven by improving demand in core networking and early traction in AI-related infrastructure, with analysts generally maintaining a Buy rating, reflecting confidence in future growth.
- Moderna's Vaccine Development: Moderna is projected to see a ~65% year-over-year decline in Q4 revenue, yet encouraging long-term data from its cancer vaccine program suggests significant commercialization potential in the future, despite ongoing profitability and cash flow challenges.
See More
Federal Judge Orders Elon Musk to Testify in USAID Case
- Musk Ordered to Testify: A federal judge has ruled that Elon Musk must testify regarding his role in dismantling USAID, rejecting his legal team's attempt to avoid questioning, which could impact Musk's reputation and future business endeavors.
- Alphabet Beats Earnings Estimates: Alphabet reported fourth-quarter revenue of $113.83 billion, surpassing the Street consensus estimate of $111.31 billion, with earnings per share of $2.82 exceeding expectations of $2.63, indicating strong performance in advertising and cloud services that may drive stock price increases.
- Amazon Delivery Milestone: Amazon announced it delivered over 13 billion items globally in 2025, with more than 8 billion items reaching U.S. Prime members the same or next day, a speed enhancement that will further strengthen its competitive position in the e-commerce market.
- Tesla's New Model Launch: Tesla unveiled a new All-Wheel Drive variant of the Model Y in the U.S. and Puerto Rico following Elon Musk's announcement of discontinuing the Model S and X, which could attract more consumers and enhance market share.
See More
