Premarkt Movers | ATAI Soars 42%; JBHT Jumps 8%; UAL Drops 2%; TSM Drops 3%; ASTS Drops 11%

Atai Beckley Inc stocks jumped 42% in premarket trading. Eli Lilly is in talks to acquire psychedelic drugmaker AtaiBeckley and a deal could be announced as soon as this week, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

JB Hunt Transport shares gained 8% after the freight logistics giant delivered a definitive Q2 earnings beat, posting an EPS of $1.91 against the $1.73 Wall Street estimate. Revenue for the quarter also comfortably outpaced predictions, coming in at $3.5 billion versus the expected $3.23 billion. The robust performance signals a healthier-than-expected recovery in intermodal volume and underlying freight demand.

United Airlines dropped 2% despite technically beating Q2 expectations with an EPS of $1.99 and revenues of $17.7 billion. The sell-off was triggered by a disappointing forward outlook, with the carrier projecting Q3 EPS between $2.50 and $3.50, notably missing the $3.62 consensus target. Rising fuel costs and minor ticket pricing pressures continue to cast a shadow over near-term airline profitability.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, the world's main producer of advanced ‌AI chips and a major supplier to Nvidia, on Thursday posted a 77% jump in second-quarter profit to a record that was far ahead of market forecasts. Thriving on surging demand for advanced chips used in AI applications, TSMC's further $100 billion investment in Arizona would add to already-announced investments of $165 billion to build chip factories there.

Despite strong earnings and upbeat guidance, some investors remain cautious over the sustainability of AI infrastructure investments, sending the stock down 3%.

AST SpaceMobile, Inc. fell 11% following the announcement of a massive private capital raise. The satellite broadband developer intends to offer $1.0 billion in convertible senior notes due 2034, with the potential for underwriters to purchase an additional $150 million. While the funding secures critical runway for its space-based cellular network, investors are reacting to the imminent threat of future equity dilution.