Stock Market Today: Stocks Close Higher After GDP, Tesla Earnings
Government data showed the U.S. economy remained resilient at the end of 2023.


Stocks opened higher Thursday after data showed the U.S. economy remained strong in the final three months of 2023. However, the main indexes ran out of steam around midday, pressured by a negative earnings reaction for Magnificent 7 stock Tesla (TSLA).
Ahead of the opening bell, the Bureau of Economic Analysis said gross domestic product (GDP) increased at a 3.3% annual rate in Q4, quicker than the 2.0% economists were expecting but slower than Q3's 4.9% spike. GDP growth for all of 2023 was 2.5%, more than 2022's 1.9% rise.
The data points to an economy that remained resilient even as the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates to a 22-year high in order to tame red-hot inflation. The next Fed meeting kicks off Tuesday, with the central bank widely expected to keep rates unchanged.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
However, a string of economic reports recently has echoed today's data and lowered market assumptions for a March rate cut. Indeed, according to CME Group's FedWatch tool, futures traders are now pricing in a 49% chance the Fed will keep rates the same at its March meeting, up from 12% one month ago. The likelihood for a May rate cut is also now at 49%, up from last month's 12% probability.
Tesla stock spirals after earnings
In single-stock news, Tesla slumped 12.1% after the electric vehicle maker reported earnings. In the fourth quarter, TSLA disclosed earnings of 71 cents per share on $25.2 billion in revenue, while analysts were expecting earnings of 74 cents per share on $25.6 billion in sales. And while operating margin improved on a quarter-over-quarter basis to 8.2%, it was much lower than the 16% operating margin reported in the year-ago period.
Still, CFRA Research analyst Garrett Nelson kept a Buy rating on Tesla. While the analyst admits the earnings miss was "disappointing" and "uncharacteristic," the company's rumored plans to launch its mass market electric vehicle later this year "could be the catalyst the stock needs."
PARA pops on buzz the company could be taken private
Elsewhere, Paramount Global (PARA) – a member of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway equity portfolio – climbed 4.5% after media reports indicated the company is laying off employees. According to CNBC, Paramount CEO Bob Bakish wrote in a memo to employees that the Showtime parent's "priority is to drive earnings growth," and it will do so in part by operating "a leaner company." No details were given on how many job cuts there will be.
The layoff news comes on the heels of Wednesday's headlines that Skydance Media, the production company founded by David Ellison, is considering taking Paramount private. Skydance is reportedly in talks to buy National Amusements, a holding company owned by the Redstone family that is the majority stakeholder in PARA.
As for the main indexes, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.6% to 38,049, the S&P 500 gained 0.5% to 4,894, and the Nasdaq Composite rose 0.2% to 15,510.
Related content
- Kiplinger's Earnings Calendar for This Week
- Home Sales Hit Lowest Level in Nearly 30 Years
- Netflix Password Sharing Fees: What You Need to Know
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

With over a decade of experience writing about the stock market, Karee Venema is the senior investing editor at Kiplinger.com. She joined the publication in April 2021 after 10 years of working as an investing writer and columnist at a local investment research firm. In her previous role, Karee focused primarily on options trading, as well as technical, fundamental and sentiment analysis.
-
Ten Cheapest Places to Live in Texas
Property Tax Looking for a cheap place to live in Texas? Look no further. These counties have the lowest property tax bills in the Lone Star State.
-
AI Is Missing the Wisdom of Older Adults: What It Means for You
AI will increasingly affect your healthcare and finances, but young workers are primarily designing the systems and getting most of the jobs.
-
Stock Market Today: Good Feelings and Solid Data Lift Stocks
Resilience and de-escalation defined another generally positive day for financial markets.
-
Stock Market Today: Tesla Drags on Stocks Amid Musk-Trump Feud
Sentiment has soured between President Trump and his once-loyal ally, Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Brush Off Weak Jobs Data
The yields on the 2-year and 10-year Treasury notes fell sharply after a pair of weak economic reports.
-
Stock Market Today: Rally Extends on Good-Enough Expectations
Fiscal policy still has markets' attention, but taxes rather than tariffs and deficits rather than inflation are participants' primary focus.
-
Stock Market Today: Markets Move With Fresh Trade War Winds
The new uncertainty is the same as the old uncertainty, which is fine with investors, traders and speculators.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Bounce as US-China Tensions Escalate
Stocks were volatile to end the week and the month amid concerns a trade truce between the U.S. and China is splintering.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Chop as Judges Block Then Reinstate Tariffs
The Trump administration has asked for and received a stay in a case that seems headed for the Supreme Court.
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Struggle Ahead of Nvidia Earnings
The three main indexes closed lower as Wall Street awaited the AI bellwether's quarterly results.