As markets gear up for trading today, investors are bracing for a pivotal day with heightened expectations. Stock futures pointed upwards early Friday, showing signs that the Nasdaq could regain its losses, while the Dow aims to halt its recent downturn. A notable highlight is chipmaker Broadcom (AVGO), whose shares soared following impressive revenue growth, massively driven by surging sales in artificial intelligence (AI). Additionally, retail giant Costco Wholesale (COST) surpassed earnings predictions in its latest report, marking its first financial update after raising membership fees. Meanwhile, furniture retailer RH (RH) experienced a spike in stocks after announcing a quarterly profit alongside raised demand forecasts. Apple (AAPL) also saw its shares rise, buoyed by optimistic analyst projections regarding its advancing AI product line.

Here’s what every investor should pay attention to today:

1. Stock Futures Rally as Dow Aims to End Losing Streak

Stock futures surged before market opening, moving upward after recent sessions seemed sluggish. The Nasdaq average rose by 0.5% during early trading, bouncing back from having dipped below the concerning 20,000 mark. Futures contracts tied to the S&P 500 saw a rise of 0.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed by 0.2%, hoping to break its six-day losing trend. Today's data highlights also include new import and export pricing figures that could influence market direction. As for cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (BTCUSD) is hovering around $100,500, and oil futures have climbed by over 1%. However, gold futures experienced a slight dip of 0.9%. Interest rate markers also indicate a rise, with yields on the 10-year Treasury note hitting around 4.35%.

2. Broadcom Stocks Surge as AI Revenues Skyrocket

Broadcom’s stock experienced a dramatic rise of nearly 15% in premarket trading. This leap followed the chipmaker's reporting of quarterly earnings that significantly exceeded analysts’ expectations, particularly fueled by a staggering tripling in AI-related revenue. The company recorded a remarkable 51% year-over-year revenue increase for the fourth quarter, reaching over $14 billion—exactly aligning with the consensus from analysts at Visible Alpha. Notably, Broadcom’s net income rose to $4.32 billion, translating to 90 cents per share, which is a rise from $3.52 billion, or 83 cents per share, achieved the previous year. This surge comes after a troublesome previous quarter, where the company faced a loss of $1.88 billion due to escalating expenses from its acquisition of VMware in November 2023.

3. Costco Wholesale’s Revenue Rises After Membership Fee Hike

Costco Wholesale (COST) reported robust earnings, surpassing market expectations in its latest financial disclosure. This announcement comes after the company implemented a membership fee increase, which has already shown positive impacts on its revenue streams. Investors are anxious to see whether these adjustments lead to sustained customer loyalty and further growth in the coming quarters.