US stock futures are pointing slightly higher this morning, with key benchmarks up around 0.1 to 0.2 percent as investors look ahead to a crucial Federal Reserve meeting. The latest inflation scorecard, the Fed’s preferred PCE index, is running at 2.8 percent a year, close to its 2 percent goal but not quite there, which keeps the debate alive over when borrowing costs might finally be cut. At the same time, consumer spending is still growing 0.3 percent a month, suggesting the economy has not cooled too much. The big question is whether this mix of steady spending and only slowly easing inflation is enough for the Fed to start lowering rates soon, a call that will matter most for rate sensitive areas such as growth stocks, smaller companies and real-estate-linked investments.

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Ulta Beauty (ULTA) jumped 12.65%, as upbeat earnings and raised guidance reassured investors on growth durability.

Samsara (IOT) climbed 11.08% after strong revenue growth and fresh guidance pointed to accelerating profitability.

EchoStar (SATS) surged 10.07%

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SoFi Technologies (SOFI) fell 6.15%, as a $1.5 billion follow on equity offering weighed on shares.

W. R. Berkley (WRB) slipped 5.86%, even after announcing both a special and regular cash dividend.

Nu Holdings (NU) declined 5.38%.

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Software and specialty retail earnings take the spotlight, offering fresh reads on enterprise IT budgets and US consumer resilience.

Ferguson Enterprises (FERG) reports Q1 results Tuesday, highlighting construction demand trends and margin leverage in nonresidential plumbing supplies.

AutoZone (AZO) posts Q1 earnings Tuesday pre market, updating on DIY versus commercial growth and pricing power in auto parts.

Casey's General Stores (CASY) delivers Q2 numbers Tuesday, key for fuel margins and in store traffic at rural convenience locations.

Adobe (ADBE) reports Q4 Wednesday, with focus on Digital Media growth, Firefly AI monetization, and subscription net new ARR.

Oracle and Synopsys report Wednesday, shaping expectations around cloud infrastructure demand and semiconductor design software budgets.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

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