The Morning Report, 2-21-2025

U.S. stock futures are throwing a party of mixed emotions after a wild ride in the previous session. UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is having a not-so-fun time in premarket trading, plummeting like a skydiver without a parachute, thanks to a report that the Justice Department is nosing around their Medicare billing practices. Meanwhile, a Japanese group is reportedly whispering sweet nothings to Tesla (TSLA), hoping they'll throw some cash at the struggling automaker Nissan. Over in China, Alibaba Group (BABA) is doing the happy dance, with shares climbing because GameStop (GME) CEO Ryan Cohen decided to double down on his investment. And if you thought energy drinks couldn’t get any more exciting, Celsius (CELH) is buzzing with joy after announcing stellar earnings and a plan to gulp down competitor Alani Nu. Here’s the scoop investors need today.

1. US Stock Futures: A Mixed Bag of Tricks

U.S. stock futures are as confused as a cat in a dog show, with some up, some down, and some just hanging out after markets took a nosedive yesterday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures are sulking with a 0.4% drop after UnitedHealth’s little issue, while the S&P 500 is playing it cool, barely moving. The Nasdaq is feeling a bit better, up 0.3% after yesterday’s tech tantrum. Bitcoin (BTCUSD) is inching towards $99,000, doing its usual Bitcoin thing, while the 10-year Treasury note yields are taking a tiny nap. Oil and gold futures are also in a bit of a slump.

2. UnitedHealth Takes a Dive in the DOJ Pool

UnitedHealth Group (UNH) shares are diving 10% in premarket trading, splashing around after news that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating their Medicare billing shenanigans. The Wall Street Journal says the DOJ is poking around the company’s diagnosis recording methods, which might have been a bit too creative for their own good. Other insurers are feeling the splash, with Humana (HUM) down 5% and Cigna Group (CI) slipping 2%.

3. Japan to Tesla: How About a Nissan?

A group from Japan is reportedly planning a grand proposal to Tesla (TSLA): "Hey, how about you invest in our buddy Nissan?" This comes after Nissan’s awkward breakup with Honda. According to the Financial Times, Tesla might be interested in Nissan’s American factories. Nissan shares got a 9.5% boost in Tokyo, while Tesla shares are just chilling in premarket trading.

4. Alibaba Gets a Boost from GameStop's Cohen

Alibaba Group (BABA) is riding high, up 4% in premarket trading, thanks to GameStop (GME) CEO Ryan Cohen, who’s been shopping for more shares like they’re going out of style. The Wall Street Journal reports Cohen’s got about $1 billion in Alibaba stock now, up from just a few hundred million. The stock already jumped 8% yesterday after their December-quarter results made analysts smile.

5. Celsius: The Energy-Drink Rocket

Celsius (CELH) shares are rocketing more than 30% in premarket trading after the company reported revenue that made analysts do a double-take and announced it’s buying rival Alani Nu. Celsius raked in $332.2 million in the fourth quarter, outpacing expectations, though their adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.14 didn’t quite hit the target. They’re also planning to gulp down Alani Nu for $1.8 billion, including $150 million in tax assets. Cheers to that!