Dow Jones Hits Fresh Records While Software Stocks Stage Strong Rally
MarketDash
The Dow Jones Industrial Average pushed into record territory Tuesday, closing in on a historic 10th consecutive monthly gain. Meanwhile, software stocks continued their impressive comeback and earnings reports delivered dramatic winners and losers.
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Tuesday's market session was all about the Dow Jones Industrial Average, which pushed into fresh record territory while other major indices mostly spun their wheels.
The blue-chip index climbed 0.6% to reach approximately 50,400 points by midday trading in New York, extending its year-to-date gains to nearly 5%. What makes this run particularly interesting is the historical context: if February finishes in positive territory, the Dow will notch its 10th consecutive month of gains. That would tie the longest winning streak on record, matching the remarkable 2017-2018 run.
Small-cap stocks joined the party, with the Russell 2000 advancing 0.6% and moving closer to retesting its all-time highs. But the broader market showed less enthusiasm. The S&P 500 edged up just 0.1%, while the Nasdaq 100 essentially went nowhere, finishing flat on the session.
Software's Strong Comeback Continues
The software sector is having a moment. For the third straight session, software stocks rallied, with the iShares Expanded Tech-Software Sector ETF (IGV) climbing 8.5% over the past three days. That marks its strongest three-day performance since April 2025, suggesting investors are warming back up to a sector that had been under pressure.
Sector performance was mixed across the board. Utilities took the top spot on Tuesday, while financials lagged behind the broader market with a decline of about 0.5%.
Earnings Season Delivers Drama
Quarterly results created some dramatic price swings Tuesday, with winners and losers spread across multiple sectors.
Spotify Technologies S.A. (SPOT) absolutely crushed it, soaring 14% after delivering blockbuster results. The streaming giant was eyeing its best session since October 2019, a remarkable turnaround that caught the market's attention.
Luxury automaker Ferrari N.V. (RACE) surged 10.5% following upbeat earnings results, marking its best session since January 2024. Apparently investors are still hungry for high-end Italian sports cars.
Datadog Inc. (DDOG) rallied an impressive 16.3%, while Marriott International Inc. (MAR) jumped more than 8% after issuing stronger-than-expected guidance for 2026. The hotel chain's optimistic outlook suggested management sees good things ahead for travel demand.
On the losing side, Coca-Cola Co. (KO) slipped 2.5% after quarterly revenue narrowly missed expectations. Even beverage giants aren't immune to disappointing Wall Street's forecasts.
But the biggest earnings casualty was S&P Global Inc. (SPGI), which plunged 7.7% after missing earnings estimates. The ratings giant is now down roughly 22% month-to-date, putting it on track for its worst monthly performance since September 2009. That's the kind of decline that makes portfolio managers wince.
Commodities and Crypto Pull Back
Commodities traded mostly lower across the board. Gold declined 0.9%, silver slid 2.4%, and oil eased 0.4%. The precious metals pullback suggested investors weren't feeling particularly defensive.
Bitcoin slipped 0.3%, falling back below the psychologically important $70,000 level. The cryptocurrency has been hovering around this threshold, unable to decisively break higher.
Tuesday's Performance in Major US Indices, ETFs
Major Indices
Price
1-day %
Russell 2000
2,703.49
0.6%
Dow Jones
50,407.90
0.6%
S&P 500
6,980.25
0.1%
Nasdaq 100
25,297.91
0.1%
Updated by 12:50 p.m.
Looking at the major ETFs, the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF flattened at $639.77, while the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average moved 0.55% to $503.99. The tech-heavy Invesco QQQ Trust Series eased 0.20% to $615.57, and the iShares Russell 2000 ETF traded at $268.45.
The Utilities Select Sector SPDR Fund outperformed with a 1.5% gain, while the Financials Select Sector SPDR Fund lagged with a 0.5% decline.