New York, USA – July 28, 2025 – 

Today’s trading session saw a mixed bag for individual stocks, with a major athletic wear giant experiencing a significant uplift, while a key player in the lithium market faced a substantial decline, and a life sciences company saw its shares dip following its quarterly report.

Nike (NKE) Jumps on JPMorgan Upgrade:

Shares of athletic apparel behemoth Nike climbed approximately 4% today, marking its highest price in five months, after JPMorgan upgraded the stock to “Overweight” from “Neutral.” The investment bank also significantly boosted its price target for Nike to $93 from $64.

JPMorgan analysts expressed optimism about Nike’s “five-pronged multi-year recovery path,” forecasting annual earnings growth in the high-teens to 20% range over the next five-plus years. The bullish outlook was reportedly supported by recent fieldwork, management access, a detailed review of financial filings, and the successful launch of new products. Analysts specifically highlighted expectations for revenue growth to re-accelerate in the second half of fiscal 2026 and into 2027, following a period of inventory management and product lifecycle adjustments. Nike’s strategic plan also includes efforts to reduce its reliance on manufacturing in China, aiming to lower the proportion of US-bound footwear sourced from China from 16% to the high single-digits by the end of fiscal 2026.

Albemarle (ALB) Sees Significant Decline:

In stark contrast, Albemarle Corporation (ALB), one of the world’s largest lithium producers, experienced a substantial drop in its stock price today, falling over 10% and making it one of the biggest underperformers in the S&P 500.

The sharp decline in Albemarle’s shares is largely attributed to the continued volatility and concerns surrounding the global lithium market. Despite a recent price surge from approximately $8,200 to $10,300 per metric ton this year, analysts from Scotiabank cautioned that this might be a temporary spike. The broader lithium market has been grappling with an oversupply situation, with estimates from earlier this year suggesting a significant surplus in 2025, which has driven down lithium hydroxide prices dramatically from their 2022 peaks. Concerns about reduced demand for electric vehicles (EVs) due to economic uncertainty and shifts in government subsidies have also weighed heavily on the sector. This ongoing price instability directly impacts the profitability and outlook for major producers like Albemarle, leading to investor apprehension.

Revvity (RVTY) Shares Fall Post-Earnings:

Shares of Revvity (RVTY), a life sciences and diagnostics company, declined by over 9% today despite reporting a beat on both revenue and adjusted earnings per share for its second quarter of fiscal year 2025.

Revvity reported revenue of $720 million, surpassing analysts’ consensus estimates, and an adjusted EPS of $1.18, also exceeding forecasts. The company noted a 3% organic revenue growth year-on-year. However, the stock’s negative reaction appears to stem from revised full-year guidance, particularly a slight downward adjustment in its full-year Adjusted EPS guidance to $4.90 at the midpoint, a 1% decrease. While management indicated strong operational execution and efforts to mitigate potential tariff impacts, investors may have reacted negatively to the slightly lowered profit outlook for the remainder of the year, overshadowing the otherwise solid quarterly performance.