Key Takeaways

Major U.S. equities indexes were mixed as the latest ADP jobs data showed a smaller-than-expected jump in private payrolls in August.

The report was the latest in a string of indicators suggesting a cooling labor market. Investors will now turn their attention to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) August employment report , which will be released on Friday morning.

The S&P 500 slid 0.3% on Thursday, ending in negative territory for the third straight day, while the Dow dropped 0.5%. The Nasdaq gained 0.3% to post its first winning session this week.

McKesson ( MCK ) shares plunged 9.9%, the biggest loss of any S&P 500 stock, after the pharmaceutical and medical supply distributor issued lower-than-expected profit guidance for the second quarter. The firm also agreed to sell its Canada-based businesses Rexall and Well.ca to Birch Hill Equity Partners. McKesson explained the move will allow it to prioritize investments in oncology and biopharma services.

Shares of Zimmer Biomet Holdings ( ZBH ), a medical technology company specializing in artificial joint replacements and other orthopedic products, fell 8.7% on Thursday. In a presentation at a health care conference, Zimmer executives warned the company's implementation of a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system could weigh on its performance in the second half of 2024. The software transition has reportedly affected production and shipping processes.

Copart ( CPRT ), which operates an online car auction platform, reported mixed results for its fiscal fourth quarter of 2024, and its shares dropped 6.7%. Although revenue ticked higher year over year and slightly edged out estimates, net income was down from a year ago and missed forecasts. Operating expenses—including increased general, administrative and yard operations costs—weighed on profitability in the quarter.

Dollar Tree ( DLTR ) shares jumped 7.7%, notching the top daily performance in the S&P 500. Thursday's gain marked a partial recovery from the 22% dive posted by the stock in the previous session. The discount retailer missed earnings estimates and lowered its full-year guidance, citing strong macroeconomic headwinds.

Shares of Marketaxess Holdings ( MKTX ), which operates an electronic trading platform for fixed-income investments, gained 6.7%. The financial technology firm reported strong growth in trading volume for August, led by gains in U.S. high-grade credit and municipal bonds.

Tesla ( TSLA ) shares were up 4.9% Thursday. The electric vehicle (EV) maker said it plans to launch its full self-driving (FSD) technology in Europe and China in the first quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approval. In addition, comments from CEO Elon Musk attracted attention to Tesla's robotics unit.

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