Weekly Unemployment Claims Stay Low, Additional Q4 Earnings Surpass Expectations

Market Overview: Thursday, February 26, 2026

As the pre-market session unfolds, major U.S. stock indexes are rebounding from earlier declines, with most erasing losses from earlier in the week. The Dow Jones is up 110 points (0.22%), the S&P 500 has gained 6 points (0.09%), the Nasdaq is higher by 7 points (0.03%), and the Russell 2000 is up 4 points (0.18%), remaining flat over the last five sessions.

Weekly Jobless Claims: Numbers Remain Low

On this typical Thursday, the latest weekly jobless claims data was released, showing continued strength in the labor market. Initial claims for unemployment benefits totaled 212,000 last week, slightly below the forecast of 215,000 and just above the revised figure of 208,000 from the previous week. Earlier in the month, claims had approached 230,000 but have since returned to levels seen during the holiday season.

Continuing claims, which track those receiving unemployment benefits for longer periods, fell for the first time in a month to 1.833 million, down from a revised 1.864 million the week before. This marks the lowest level since mid-January and is well below the 1.9 million-plus range that persisted through much of 2025.

It’s important to note that labor statistics are subject to significant revisions and may not capture the full employment picture. Factors such as expiring long-term claims, severance pay delaying filings, and recent graduates not yet employed in their fields can all impact the data.

Corporate Earnings Highlights: CELH, SHAK, BIDU, and More

• Celsius Holdings (CELH) delivered a standout performance, reporting earnings per share of $0.26—a 38.4% surprise compared to expectations and up from $0.14 a year ago. This marks the company's third earnings beat in the past four quarters. Revenue climbed 13.1% to $721.63 million, and Celsius now commands a 20% share of the U.S. energy drink market. Shares surged 15% in response.
• Shake Shack (SHAK) exceeded earnings estimates by one cent, posting $0.37 per share. The announcement of a new CFO also boosted investor confidence, sending shares up 11.8% in pre-market trading. The stock has already gained 13.5% year-to-date, rebounding strongly after last summer’s decline.
• Baidu (BIDU) topped earnings forecasts with $1.52 per share versus the expected $1.47, a 3.4% surprise, and also surpassed revenue estimates. However, ongoing declines in sales led to a 3% drop in share price, pushing the stock into negative territory for the year after a 48% gain in the previous year.
• Dell Technologies (DELL) is set to announce its fourth-quarter results after the market closes. Analysts anticipate robust growth, with earnings expected to rise 32% and revenue projected to increase by 33.3%. Dell has beaten earnings estimates in three of the last four quarters.