S&P 500’s Wild Ride: Dollar General Soars on Strong Earnings While Intel Stock Slumps

Another day, another set of winners and losers in the traditional finance circus. The S&P 500's daily scorecard reveals the brutal efficiency of market sentiment—where one company's triumph is another's public flogging.

Dollar General Cashes In

The discount retailer didn't just meet expectations; it smashed them. Strong earnings sent its stock soaring, proving that in an uncertain economy, the allure of a bargain never goes out of style. A classic case of fundamentals actually mattering—for a day, at least.

Intel's Silicon Slump

Meanwhile, the tech titan found itself on the wrong side of the ledger. Intel's stock took a notable dive, a stark reminder that past glory is no shield against present-day performance pressures. The chip sector's relentless evolution waits for no one, not even industry pioneers.

This daily dance of gains and losses underscores a simple, cynical truth in legacy markets: today's hero is often tomorrow's afterthought, all while the index itself churns on, indifferent. It's enough to make one appreciate the 24/7, transparent ledger of a different asset class altogether.

Key Takeaways

• A discount retailer got a boost on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, as bargain-seeking shoppers bolstered its quarterly results, while a semiconductor stock retreated from its recent highs.
• Dollar General stock surged after the retailer topped quarterly sales and profit forecasts.
  
• Shares of Intel pulled back following reports the company would retain its networking and communications unit.

Shares of a dollar-store chain took off after its latest quarterly report revealed its offerings are attracting cost-conscious consumers across income groups. Meanwhile, an American chipmaker came under pressure after reports that it's not looking to sell its networking business.

Major U.S. equities indexes finished Thursday's session mixed and little changed ahead of key inflation data due for release Friday morning, which could sway the Federal Reserve's upcoming decision on interest rates. The S&P 500 ticked 0.1% higher, and the Nasdaq ROSE 0.2%, while the Dow slid 0.1%. See here for more daily markets coverage from Investopedia. 

Dollar General (DG) shares surged 14% to log the S&P 500's top performance Thursday, after the discount retailer beat quarterly earnings estimates and lifted its full-year forecast. The company said it saw strong demand from consumers across income categories as shoppers search for value.

Shares of GE Vernova (GEV) advanced close to 5% after Barclays lifted its price target on the stock. Analysts pointed to strong demand for the energy technology company's gas and electrification equipment, bolstered by the buildout of data centers and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

Meta Platforms (META) stock added 3.4% following reports the Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp parent is considering major cuts to its metaverse business. Meta's budget for the unit, which is focused on creating a VIRTUAL 3D universe where users can interact via avatars, could be reduced by as much 30% and will likely include layoffs, Bloomberg reported.

Intel (INTC) shares dropped nearly 8%, losing the most of any S&P 500 stock Thursday, after reports indicated the chipmaker plans to hold onto its networking and communications unit following a strategic review. The company reportedly considered selling or spinning off the unit earlier this year as part of a plan to exit noncore businesses. With the downturn Thursday, Intel stock gave back some of the recent gains posted amid speculation about possible new business from Apple (AAPL).

Shares of Kroger (KR) slid 4.6% after the supermarket chain reported lower-than-expected revenue for the third quarter. Although adjusted earnings per share surpassed consensus estimates, the company reported a net loss, reflecting the impact of a $2.6 billion impairment charge related to the closure of three automated delivery fulfillment facilities.

Executives from Marriott International (MAR) indicated that the hotel operator's revenue per available room could come in at the lower end of previous forecasts. The company pointed to softness in U.S. markets as a factor behind the more subdued outlook, which came just a few weeks after Marriott reduced its forecast for net room growth following the termination of its licensing agreement with short-term rental firm Sonder, which filed for bankruptcy in November. Marriott shares fell 3.5% Thursday.