Today's Morning Movers and Top Ratings: META, IBM, AAL, CAT and More

$American Airlines (AAL.US)$ stock increased by 5.2% as the company predicted profits for the current quarter that are largely above expectations, fueled by a resurgence in business travel and the prospect of strong demand during the summer season.

$Ford Motor (F.US)$ stock climbed 1.1% due to robust first-quarter earnings, a strong showing from its commercial vehicle division, rising hybrid vehicle sales, and optimistic future guidance.

$Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG.US)$ stock gained 3.3% after the restaurant chain surpassed earnings expectations for the first quarter, with raised menu prices leading to better margins.

$Merck & Co (MRK.US)$ stock went up by 1.9% following the pharmaceutical company's upward revision of its annual profit and revenue forecasts, propelled by strong sales of its cancer drug Keytruda and HPV vaccine Gardasil.

$Royal Caribbean (RCL.US)$ stock advanced 3.4% as the cruise line operator increased its full-year profit outlook for the second time, capitalizing on record cruise demand and high onboard spending.

$Harley-Davidson (HOG.US)$ stock rose 3.5% after the motorcycle manufacturer reported first-quarter profits that exceeded analyst projections, bolstered by a surge in North American sales.

$Comcast (CMCSA.US)$ stock edged up 1.2% after the media conglomerate reported quarterly revenues that beat estimates, supported by unexpected subscriber growth for its Peacock streaming service and well-attended theme parks.

$Meta Platforms (META.US)$ stock plunged 14% as the company projected rising expenses and revenues that fell short of expectations, sparking concerns that the soaring costs associated with AI development are not being offset by its benefits.

$Microsoft (MSFT.US)$ and $Alphabet-A (GOOGL.US)$ both saw their shares pull back in anticipation of their earnings reports, set against the backdrop of Meta's gloomy outlook and dampened overall expectations. Social media firms $Snap Inc (SNAP.US)$ and $Pinterest (PINS.US)$ experienced sharp declines following Meta's disappointing forecasts.

$IBM Corp (IBM.US)$ stock dropped 8.6% on the back of weak first-quarter earnings and despite the announcement of a $6.4 billion acquisition of software company Hashicorp, which saw its shares increase by 4%.

$Caterpillar (CAT.US)$ stock decreased by 4% after reporting lower sales volumes due to a downturn in demand following the previous year's surge, even as quarterly profits rose due to higher pricing.

$Southwest Airlines (LUV.US)$ stock tumbled 7.2% after the airline cut its forecast for Boeing aircraft deliveries in 2024 for the third time and announced plans for cost-reduction measures.

$Boeing (BA.US)$ 's own stock dipped slightly by 0.3% in the wake of Southwest's revised delivery schedule.