S&P 500 Today: UFC Parent TKO Skyrockets, Intel Climbs—Hershey Takes a Hit

Markets roar as TKO Group—parent company of UFC—delivers a knockout performance, while Intel rides the chip wave higher. Meanwhile, Hershey stumbles as sweet-toothed investors sour on the stock.

Tech and entertainment flex muscle, but consumer staples get left in the dust—classic Wall Street mood swings. Intel’s rally hints at semiconductor momentum, while Hershey’s dip proves even chocolate can’t sweeten a rough trading day.

Another day, another reminder that the market’s ‘diversification’ mantra really just means ‘find the next hype train.’

Key Takeaways

• The S&P 500 slipped 0.3% on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, ahead of a key inflation report on Tuesday and as President Trump pushed back the deadline for higher China tariffs.
• TKO Holdings shares soared after the newly combined Paramount Skydance said it acquired exclusive broadcasting rights for the sports company's UFC mixed martial arts franchise. Intel's stock also rose.
• Hershey shares, which have been pressured by elevated cocoa prices, declined as futures prices for the key ingredient of chocolate pushed even higher.
  

U.S. equities indexes moved lower to kick off the trading week ahead of Tuesday's anticipated release of July Consumer Price Index data, which could factor into the Federal Reserve's upcoming interest-rate decisions.

Trade policy also remained in the spotlight, with President Donald TRUMP extending the deadline for higher tariffs on imports from China by an additional 90 days.

The S&P 500 fell 0.3% on Monday. The Nasdaq was also down around 0.3%, receding from the record closing high posted at the end of last week. The Dow dropped roughly 0.5%. Read Investopedia's full coverage of today's trading here.  

Shares of TKO Group Holdings (TKO), owner of the Ultimate Fighting Championship franchise, surged more than 10% to notch the day's best performance in the S&P 500. The MOVE highercame after the newly formed Paramount Skydance (PSKY) announced a seven-year deal for exclusive UFC broadcasting rights worth $7.7 billion. Paramount Skydance shares sank 3.7% on Monday, the third day of trading following the closing of the merger between Skydance Media and the former Paramount Global.

China's Contemporary Amperex Technology, or CATL, said that it halted production at a key lithium mine following the expiration of the mine's permit. The expectation that a resulting downtick in lithium supply could provide some relief for the slumping price of the key battery component helped boost shares of other producers. Albemarle (ALB), the world's largest lithium producer, advanced 7%.

Shares of video game Maker Electronic Arts (EA) added 5.1% following positive comments from several research firms. Analysts at Oppenheimer discussed the successful beta test of EA's upcoming title Battlefield 6, noting polished and authentic gameplay as well the technical ability to manage a surge in players during the test without sacrificing the user experience. Meanwhile, analysts at D.A. Davidson lifted their price target on EA stock, although they struck a cautious tone about lofty Battlefield 6 targets and raised concerns about the growth trajectory of the company's American Football business, maintaining a "neutral" rating on the shares.

Intel (INTC) shares gained 3.7% following reports that CEO Lip-Bu Tan was set to visit the WHITE House after Trump called for his resignation in a social media post last week. The Wall Street Journal suggested that Tan could seek to improve the chipmaker's relationship with the Trump administration and possibly lay the groundwork for new deals.

Shares of financial software provider Intuit (INTU) dropped 5.7%, the most of any S&P 500 stock on Monday. Analysts pointed to a number of headwinds for the company. Intuit's TurboTax Live platform, a service providing limited support for do-it-yourself tax filers and a key growth driver for the company, could face disruption from generative AI technologies, while the uncertain macroeconomic environment has raised concerns about the revenue Intuit generates from small and medium-sized businesses.  

Hershey (HSY) stock sank 4.8%. Shares of the chocolate maker have been pressured by elevated cocoa prices, and futures prices for the key ingredient jumped even higher Monday, reflecting concerns that dry conditions in West Africa could lead to softer crop production. Hershey said late last month that it WOULD increase prices as it seeks to offset the cocoa-driven cost pressure.