U.S. stocks traded lower on Thursday, with major indexes pulling back after recent gains as investors digested Walmart earnings, a heavy data calendar, and still‑hawkish Fed signals.
Indexes and macro
- The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell about 0.54% to roughly 49,395.16, while the S&P 500 slipped around 0.28% to about 6,861.80, and the Nasdaq Composite lost about 0.31% to near 22,682.73.
- The move marked a pause after a multi‑day advance that had kept the S&P 500 within reach of recent record highs, with traders framing today’s action as a modest risk‑off reset rather than a sharp reversal.
- Weekly jobless claims fell versus the prior week, and the Philadelphia Fed manufacturing index improved to 16.3 from 12.6, reinforcing the picture of a still‑resilient economy even as trade data weakened.
- Freshly released FOMC minutes showed the Fed maintaining its target range at 3.5%–3.75% and stressing that inflation remains “somewhat elevated,” which helped cap risk appetite and kept rate‑cut hopes in check.
Themes and sectors
- Rising oil and broader commodity prices put a bid under energy and materials, while more rate‑sensitive and growth‑oriented pockets gave back some of their recent outperformance.
- Walmart’s earnings dominated the corporate tape, with results and guidance feeding into a cautious tone on the consumer and margins, adding to today’s equity consolidation.
- Volatility represented by the VIX moved higher by 3.11% to $20.23.
VP Watchlist Updates
Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals (EPRX)
- Eupraxia closed at $8.12 and priced a US$55 million public offering of 6.43 million common shares at 7.00 and pre‑funded warrants at 6.99999, with closing expected tomorrow, February 20, pending customary conditions and listings. Proceeds are earmarked to advance EP‑104GI in eosinophilic esophagitis and other GI indications and to expand the Diffusphere pipeline.
Modular Medical (MODD)
- Closed at $.5091, +12.86% Has been trading as a diabetes‑tech name, with shares reacting to execution milestones around its Pivot tubeless patch pump platform.Earlier this month, the company began production of validation lots for its disposable cartridge and infusion set, keeping it on track for a planned commercial launch in the first quarter of 2026, contingent on FDA 510(k) clearance—an event path that positions upcoming regulatory decisions as key stock catalysts.
- Earlier this month, the company began production of validation lots for its disposable cartridge and infusion set, keeping it on track for a planned commercial launch in the first quarter of 2026, contingent on FDA 510(k) clearance—an event path that positions upcoming regulatory decisions as key stock catalysts.
GeoVax Labs (GOVX)
- GeoVax announced on Wednesday, Feb. 18 that it has entered into an exclusive worldwide license agreement with Emory University for intellectual property covering the use of Gedeptin(R) in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
- On February 17, GOVX issued a statement endorsing the urgent call to action articulated by Rosamund Lewis, MD (WHO Head, Poxviruses Programme) and colleagues in their recently published PLOS Medicine article, “The mpox epidemic is not over: Reducing disproportionate burden in Africa and persistent global risk require a sustained response.” (https://journals.plos.org/plosmedicine/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pmed.1004893&type=printable)
- Shares can gap sharply on any trial or regulatory update, positive or negative.
DoubleVerify (DV)
- Today’s broad tape saw growth and ad‑tech‑related names give back some recent gains, and DV traded in the context of that modest risk‑off tone closing at $9.59, +.10%; no major company‑specific headline surfaced in the reviewed sources.
The InterGroup Corporation (INTG)
- The InterGroup Corporation, a small‑cap real estate and hospitality‑focused holding company, and closed at $28.36, +3.50%. Recent filings and commentary highlight that results for the quarter ended December 31, 2025, benefited from improved hotel metrics and gains on real estate transactions, even as the company continues to carry substantial mortgage and subordinated note obligations. With a market capitalization in the low‑$60 million range and thin trading, INTG remains a tightly held, event‑driven real estate story where periodic asset sales and refinancing activity can materially influence quarterly earnings.
Serina Therapeutics (SER, $1.73, +2.98%)
- Serina Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotechnology company advancing drug candidates enabled by its proprietary POZ Platform™ drug optimization technology, today announced that the first patient has been enrolled in the Company’s Phase 1b registrational trial evaluating. The Phase 1b registrational study is designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy of SER-252 in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease whose symptoms are inadequately controlled by current standard-of-care therapies. Serina remains on track to initiate dosing during the current quarter, consistent with previously disclosed guidance.
Volato Group, Inc. (SOAR) & M2i Global, Inc. (MTWO, +10%)
- Volato and M2i Global reaffirmed their goal of closing their business combination in the first quarter of 2026, citing steady advancement through SEC review and integration planning as they move toward a combined listing. The deal, originally announced in 2025, will effectively transition Volato from a pure‑play private aviation operator into a diversified platform spanning aviation technology and critical minerals, with M2i shareholders expected to own the majority of the combined entity. Operationally, the partnership is already visible: the two companies recently initiated their first shipment of titanium ore from Western Australia to the United States from Titanium X, underscoring how the critical‑minerals vertical could become a meaningful growth engine as domestic supply‑chain security rises in strategic importance.
- On Feb. 4, M2i Global,Inc.along with Volato Group, Inc. announced that Titanium X has initiated its first shipment of titanium ore from Western Australia to the U.S. under its collaboration agreement.
NVIDIA (NVDA)
- NVDA closed near $187.90, with intraday trading showing a range roughly between the high‑185s and high‑188s, as the name remains a focal point for the AI trade despite mixed near‑term technicals.
- Recent analysis suggests the stock is in a broad, modestly rising short‑term trend but currently carries more “sell” than “buy” signals on key moving averages, making it sensitive to profit‑taking on down days for growth stocks.
McDonald’s (MCD)
- Options data around the February 2026 expiries highlight active positioning near the 300–305 strike range, consistent with expectations for steady but not explosive upside from here.
- Fundamental commentary continues to emphasize McDonald’s as a defensive compounder, with its 2026 margin targets and “value leadership” strategy underpinning its role as a lower‑risk anchor in many portfolios.
Nokia (NOK)
- Nokia closed at $7.60, +2.29% and remains a value‑tilted telecom and network‑equipment play that is trading more with global cyclical and communications hardware sentiment than with high‑beta tech, and it did not appear as a major driver in today’s U.S.‑centric headlines.
Opendoor (OPEN)
- Opendoor Technologies, a leading e-commerce platform for residential real estate transactions, today reported financial results for its fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2025. They highlighted the following: October 2025 acquisition cohort tracking as best-performing October in Company history; acquisitions increased 46% quarter-over-quarter while inventory days in possession reduced 23%.
- OPEN shares closed at $4.65, +.43% and has jumped to $5.32, +14.41% in the aftermarket.
The Sources
- Investopedia – Stock Market Today: S&P 500, Dow Snap Winning Streak as U.S. Stocks Fall
https://www.investopedia.com/stock-market-today-dow-jones-s-and-p-500-02192026-11909546[investopedia] - Trading Economics – United States Stock Market Index
https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/stock-market[tradingeconomics] - FXDailyReport – US Stock Market Technical Analysis | February 19, 2026
https://fxdailyreport.com/us-stock-market-technical-analysis-february-19-2026/[fxdailyreport] - Yahoo Finance / MSN – Stock Market Today, Feb. 19: Stocks decline after perplexing Fed minutes
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/stock-market-today-feb-19-181748533.html[finance.yahoo] - Federal Reserve – Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee, January 27–28, 2026
https://www.federalreserve.gov/monetarypolicy/fomcminutes20260128.htm[federalreserve] - EquityClock – Stock Market Outlook for February 19, 2026
https://equityclock.com/2026/02/18/stock-market-outlook-for-february-19-2026/[equityclock] - XTB – Daily summary: Moderate risk, moderate declines
https://www.xtb.com/int/market-analysis/news-and-research/daily-summary-moderate-risk-moderate-declines[xtb] - Zacks Investment Research – Stock Market News for Feb 19, 2026
https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2871984/stock-market-news-for-feb-19-2026[zacks] - Finviz – Stock Market News for Feb 19, 2026
https://finviz.com/news/315880/stock-market-news-for-feb-19-2026[finviz] - 24/7 Wall St. – 3 Tips You Need To Know If Market Slides
https://247wallst.com/investing/2026/02/19/3-tips-you-need-to-know-if-market-slides/[247wallst] - Finviz – The Week Ahead: February Closes with Inflation Data, Dow Earnings
https://finviz.com/news/316308/the-week-ahead-february-closes-with-inflation-data-dow-earnings[finviz] - The Wall Street Journal – Walmart Earnings, Inflation, GDP Data: Still to Come This Week
https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-02-19-2026[wsj] - Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals – Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals Announces Pricing of US$55 Million Public Offering
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/eupraxia-pharmaceuticals-announces-pricing-us-071800533.html[finance.yahoo] - StockTitan – Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals announces pricing of US$55 million public offering
https://www.stocktitan.net/news/EPRX/eupraxia-pharmaceuticals-announces-pricing-of-us-55-million-public-xm2xm2aei01d.html[stocktitan] - Nasdaq – Eupraxia Pharma Prices $55 Mln Offering Of Shares And Warrants
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/eupraxia-pharma-prices-55-mln-offering-shares-and-warrants-stock-down[nasdaq] - Nasdaq – Eupraxia Prices $55 Mln Offering To Advance Diffusphere Pipeline
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/eupraxia-prices-55-mln-offering-advance-diffusphere-pipeline[nasdaq] - Investing.com – Eupraxia Pharmaceuticals stock falls after pricing $55 million offering
https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/eupraxia-pharmaceuticals-stock-falls-after-pricing-55-million-offering-93CH-4512681[investing] - TipRanks – Eupraxia Raises US$55 Million to Accelerate EP‑104GI and GI Pipeline
https://www.tipranks.com/news/company-announcements/eupraxia-raises-us55-million-to-accelerate-ep-104gi-and-gi-pipeline[tipranks] - Yahoo Finance – M2i Global, Inc. (MTWO) Stock Price, News, Quote & History
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/MTWO/[finance.yahoo] - YouTube – Trading Day for Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUfGY3n8sTY[youtube] - NVIDIA Newsroom – NVIDIA Announces Financial Results for Second Quarter Fiscal 2026
https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/nvidia-announces-financial-results-for-second-quarter-fiscal-2026[nvidianews.nvidia] - Yahoo Finance – NVIDIA Corporation (NVDA) Stock Historical Prices & Data
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/NVDA/history/[finance.yahoo] - YouTube – NVDA NVIDIA: Meta Deal Shock – 3 Stock Moves + …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCwmGMRmgEY[youtube] - Yahoo Finance – Modular Medical, Inc. (MODD) Stock Price, News, Quote & History
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/MODD/[finance.yahoo] - StockTitan – MODD – Modular Med Inc Latest Stock News & Market Updates
https://www.stocktitan.net/news/MODD/[stocktitan] - StockAnalysis – Modular Medical (MODD) Stock Price History 2018–2026
https://stockanalysis.com/stocks/modd/history/[stockanalysis] - Intellectia – Price Prediction for 2026. Should I Buy MODD?
https://intellectia.ai/stock/MODD/forecast[intellectia] - Yahoo Finance – GeoVax Labs, Inc. (GOVX) Stock Historical Prices & Data
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/GOVX/history/[finance.yahoo] - Tickeron – GOVX stock forecast, quote, news & analysis
https://tickeron.com/ticker/GOVX/[tickeron] - Intellectia – Price Prediction for 2026. Should I Buy GOVX?
https://intellectia.ai/stock/GOVX/forecast[intellectia] - Yahoo Finance – Modular Medical, Inc. (MODD) Historical Data
https://markets.financialcontent.com/dailynews/quote/historical?Symbol=NQ%3AMODD[markets.financialcontent] - Yahoo Finance – MCD Feb 2026 342.500 call (MCD260220C00342500)
https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/MCD260220C00342500/history/[finance.yahoo] - Nasdaq – MCD February 2026 Options Begin Trading
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/mcd-february-2026-options-begin-trading[nasdaq] - The Motley Fool via Yahoo – MCD and TXRH: 2 Low-Risk Restaurant Stocks With Upside
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/mcd-txrh-2-low-risk-131900545.html[finance.yahoo] - Polymarket – NVIDIA (NVDA) Up or Down on February 19?
https://polymarket.com/event/nvda-up-or-down-on-february-19-2026[polymarket]
