Meta, Southwest Airlines, Tesla Post Strong Q4 Earnings

Stocks making biggest premarket moves include tech, travel, and industrial giants

Jan. 29, 2026 at 6:55am

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Several major companies reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings, leading to significant premarket stock price movements. Meta Platforms, Southwest Airlines, Tesla, Caterpillar, and IBM all saw their shares rise after posting strong financial results that topped analyst forecasts. However, some companies like Microsoft, Las Vegas Sands, and L3Harris fell short of expectations, causing their stock prices to decline.

Why it matters

The earnings reports from these large, influential companies provide insights into the overall health of the economy and specific industries. Strong performances by tech, travel, and industrial firms suggest resilience in those sectors, while weaker results raise concerns about potential headwinds. Investors closely watch these premarket movers as they can set the tone for the trading day ahead.

The details

Meta Platforms reported Q4 earnings and revenue that beat estimates, though its Reality Labs unit recorded a greater operating loss than expected. Southwest Airlines forecast a surge in 2026 profits as it overhauls its business model. Tesla posted better-than-expected Q4 results, though its annual revenue declined for the first time. Caterpillar and IBM also reported Q4 beats driven by strength in specific business segments.

  • Meta Platforms, Southwest Airlines, Tesla, Caterpillar, and IBM all reported Q4 2025 earnings on January 29, 2026.

The players

Meta Platforms

The parent company of social media platforms Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Southwest Airlines

A major U.S. airline known for its low-cost, point-to-point route network.

Tesla

An American electric vehicle and clean energy company.

Caterpillar

A multinational corporation that manufactures construction and mining equipment.

IBM

A multinational technology and consulting company.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

The takeaway

The strong earnings results from these major companies across different sectors suggest the U.S. economy remains resilient, despite concerns about a potential recession. Investors will be closely watching to see if these positive trends continue in the coming quarters.