Bloomberg Stock Movers
2026-07-09 · Hosted by — · Bloomberg / iHeartMedia
Executive Summary
Pepsi shares dipped about three-quarters of a percent premarket after North America snacks organic sales growth missed estimates on price cuts, even as international sales lifted overall revenue and earnings above expectations. AstraZeneca fell 8% (ADRs) after a heart drug developed with Ionis Pharmaceuticals failed a key trial, with Ionis shares down 20% premarket. Levi Strauss dropped 6% despite raising full-year guidance for a second straight quarter, as analysts attributed the hike to first-half outperformance rather than second-half optimism. Salesforce fell about 4% on a KeyBanc downgrade amid broader software-sector weakness, while Costco shares slipped 1% on comparable sales that came in just under estimates.
Key Stories & Changes
1. Pepsi Misses on North America Snacks
North America snacks organic sales growth missed estimates as lower prices cut into revenue
Shares down ~0.75% premarket (ticker PEP)
Q2 revenue and adjusted earnings came in just above expectations, boosted by international sales
North America food business saw a 2% decline
Company has been rolling out higher protein/fiber snacks and cutting prices (e.g., ~$7 large bags of Doritos) to try to reverse volume trends; price cuts are pressuring the bottom line
2. AstraZeneca Heart Drug Trial Failure
Drug developed with Ionis Pharmaceuticals failed to prevent heart problems in patients with a rare disease
AstraZeneca ADRs down 8%; Ionis (IONS) down 20% premarket
AstraZeneca had set a $5 billion sales target for the drug, which was already approved for patients with certain protein-folding issues
Jefferies noted AstraZeneca typically designs "watertight" trials, suggesting the reaction reflects a credibility hit beyond lost revenue potential
3. Levi Strauss Falls Despite Guidance Raise
Shares down 6% premarket despite raising full-year guidance for a second straight quarter and a Q2 top- and bottom-line beat
Full-year net revenue growth outlook raised to up to 7.5%
Analysts note the raise reflects first-half outperformance already "in the bag," not incremental second-half optimism
Company continues pivoting toward tops/jackets and its own direct channels, which now generate over half of sales
4. Salesforce Downgraded Amid Software Weakness
Cut to sector weight from overweight at KeyBank
Shares down ~4% premarket
Part of broader software-sector weakness tied to the "SaaS apocalypse" narrative around AI's threat to software business models
Shares trading at less than half their level from 18 months ago
5. Costco Comparable Sales Slightly Miss
Shares down 1% premarket
Total comparable sales came in at nearly 9%, versus an estimate of nearly 10%
Costco shares still up 10% year-to-date, versus Walmart's ~1.5% gain, reflecting strong momentum already priced in
PEP: PepsiCo — -0.75% — North America snacks miss on price cuts; international sales offset
AZN: AstraZeneca — -8% — Heart drug trial failure with Ionis dents pipeline and credibility
IONS: Ionis Pharmaceuticals — -20% — Shares hit hardest on shared trial failure with AstraZeneca
LEVI: Levi Strauss — -6% — Guidance raise seen as backward-looking, not forward optimism
CRM: Salesforce — -4% — KeyBanc downgrade amid broader software-sector weakness
COST: Costco — -1% — Comparable sales just below estimates after strong YTD run
Trends Identified
1. Guidance Raises No Longer Guarantee Positive Reactions
Both Pepsi and Levi Strauss illustrate a market that is scrutinizing the *composition* of earnings beats and guidance raises rather than rewarding headline beats outright — investors want evidence of forward momentum, not just a pass-through of an already-realized first-half beat.
2. Software Sector Continues to Re-Rate Lower on AI Disruption Fears
Salesforce's downgrade and broader software weakness reflect the ongoing "SaaS apocalypse" narrative, where AI's potential to automate software workflows is compressing valuations across the sector, independent of individual company fundamentals. ---
Sentiment Analysis
Overall Market Sentiment: Cautious
Premarket reactions skewed negative across nearly every name discussed, with investors penalizing even earnings beats that lacked forward-looking strength.
Risk Factors Highlighted
Pepsi pricing strategy risk: Price cuts aimed at reviving snack volumes are directly pressuring bottom-line margins.
AstraZeneca pipeline credibility risk: A failed trial in a normally "watertight" trial design process may raise questions about other pipeline assets.
Levi Strauss guidance skepticism: Investors may discount future guidance raises if seen as merely reflecting past performance.
Software sector AI disruption risk: Continued "SaaS apocalypse" concerns could pressure further downgrades across the group.
Tariff uncertainty: Levi Strauss's guidance still incorporates elevated tariff assumptions that could shift outcomes either way.
This episode was covered in today's [The Market Signal — 2026-07-09](https://marketsignal.beehiiv.com/p/the-market-signal-2026-07-09), a cross-source synthesis of multiple podcast reports.