Alex Karp, CEO of Palantir Technologies, speaks on a panel titled “Power, Purpose, and the New American Century” at the Hill and Valley Forum on April 30, 2025 at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.
Kevin Dietch Getty Images
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Here are five important things investors need to know to start their trading day.
1. Palantir popcorn
Technology-related profits continued yesterday. Palantir Technologieswhich beat Wall Street expectations on third-quarter sales and bottom line profits. The company also announced better-than-expected guidance for the current quarter.
Here’s what you need to know:
Palantir, which provides analytical tools to other companies and government agencies, attributes much of its strong performance to artificial intelligence. The company said it expects to bring in revenue of $1.33 billion in the fourth quarter. It’s an optimistic forecast even as the government shutdown continues and some of Palantir’s contracts may be in jeopardy. Analysts expected fourth-quarter revenue of $1.19 billion, according to LSEG, and the stock initially rose on the report, but has since pared that gain and fallen more than 7% in after-hours trading. Palantir stock has increased 25 times over the past three years and is up 170% this year alone. “Enjoy yourselves and buy some popcorn. They’re crying,” CEO Alex Karp said during the company’s earnings call, dismissing the critics. Karp also discussed fentanyl overdoses in the United States and the controversial contract with Palantir to develop software for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Amazon It closed at a record high yesterday after the company announced a $38 billion deal with OpenAI. Monday’s rally has pushed the stock up 14% in the past two sessions alone. Uber Shares were down 4% before the bell after the ride-sharing company beat third-quarter revenue estimates. Follow live market updates here.
2. Want to slice?
A sign posted on the exterior of a Pizza Hut restaurant on March 25, 2024 in San Pablo, California.
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images
Pizza Hut’s parent company announced this morning that it will consider strategic options for the chain, suggesting a sale may be on the table.
yum brandThe company, which also owns KFC and Taco Bell, did not set a deadline for the review process. “Pizza Hut’s performance demonstrates the need for additional steps to help the brand realize its full value, and may be better executed outside of Yum! Brands,” CEO Chris Turner said in a statement. As CNBC’s Amelia Lucas reports, the chain has seen sales slump after a pandemic-era boom.
Yum also announced third-quarter results this morning, narrowly beating analysts’ revenue estimates. The company is the latest consumer company to report results for the same period, and as CNBC’s Raya Neelakandan points out, coverage is increasingly painting a picture of a “K-shaped” economy.
3. Package deals
\Tylenol is on display for sale at CVS Pharmacy in Austin, Texas on November 3, 2025.
Brandon Bell | Getty Images
A new giant in the consumer goods market may soon be born. kimberly clark announced the acquisition yesterday Kenview The $48.7 billion deal could bring big names like Huggies, Kleenex, Band-Aid and Neutrogena all under one roof. Kimberly-Clark shares fell 14% and Kenview shares rose 12% on news of the deal, one of the biggest acquisitions on Wall Street this year.
If the name Kenvue sounds familiar, it may be because the Tylenol maker was thrust into the spotlight last month after President Donald Trump made baseless claims linking acetaminophen use during pregnancy to an increased risk of autism. Kimberly-Clark CEO Mike Hsu told CNBC’s Jim Cramer that Tylenol sales have been “somewhat impacted, but less than we expected” following Trump’s comments, and that the brand is “resilient.”
4. Refund Refund
A resident views donated food at a food pantry at Feeding South Florida on Friday, October 31, 2025 in Pembroke Park, Florida, USA.
Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The Trump administration announced yesterday that 50% of SNAP benefits for the month of November will be paid in contingency funds. A Rhode Island judge told the government Friday that benefit payments cannot be stopped during a government shutdown, with tonight’s shutdown expected to tie the record for longest government shutdown in history.
Meanwhile, nearly 20 state attorneys general sued the Trump administration in Boston federal court over new rules limiting eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. The Education Department said in a statement that the rule narrows what is considered an “eligible employer” for the program and excludes organizations that “engage in illegal activities.”
5.New sake
People exit a Starbucks store in Hangzhou, eastern China’s Zhejiang province, on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
Long Wei | Featured China | Future Publishing | Getty Images
In order to rebuild sluggish sales in China, starbucks announced yesterday that it has formed a joint venture with Boyu Capital, with the alternative asset management firm running the coffee chain’s China operations. The $4 billion transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of fiscal 2026. Boyu will hold up to 60% of the joint venture, and Starbucks will hold a 40% stake.
The coffee chain’s China operations, which are valued at more than $13 billion, have struggled in recent years due to the pandemic and intense competition. Starbucks has been offering discounts at its Chinese stores in a bid to compete with the likes of Luckin Coffee, which is pushing down average ticket prices and the company’s profits.
daily dividend
Stellantis That’s why the parent company of Jeep and Ram hopes the investment will help turn around the automaker.

— CNBC’s Samantha Subin, Mackenzie Sigalos, Amelia Lucas, Raya Neelakandan, Annika Kim Constantino, Sara Salinas, Dan Mangan, Annie Nova and Robert Ferris contributed to this report. Terry Cullen edited this version.
