Ever have one of those evenings where the closing bell rings and you think the action is over—then the real fireworks start? That was Tuesday night.
While most of us were grabbing dinner or scrolling through whatever drama is trending, a handful of companies dropped news that sent their shares swinging wildly in after-hours trading. Some moves were celebratory, others painful, and a few just left everyone scratching their heads.
Let me walk you through the names that actually mattered when the regular session ended on December 9, 2025.
The Night’s Biggest Winner: GE Vernova Steals the Show
If you only read one part of this, make it this: GE Vernova reminded everyone why the energy transition trade is still very much alive.
Shares ripped higher by roughly 7% after the company basically threw everything investors love into one press release. We’re talking a dramatically higher revenue outlook for 2026, a doubled dividend, and—drumroll—a fresh $10 billion share repurchase authorization.
Let that sink in for a second. Ten. Billion. Dollars.
In a market that’s been obsessed with capital return lately, that kind of commitment turns heads. The new 2026 revenue guidance sits between $41 billion and $42 billion. That’s a massive leap from the $36–37 billion range the street was modeling for the current year.
When a company this size accelerates guidance by that much and doubles the payout at the same time, you pay attention.
Power demand—especially from data centers and AI infrastructure—has been the gift that keeps on giving for GE Vernova this year. The old General Electric spin-off is riding the wave perfectly, and management clearly feels confident enough to let shareholders feast a little early.
In my view, moves like this separate the companies that are just along for the ride from the ones actually shaping the next leg of the market.
AeroVironment: When Revenue Beats but Profits Don’t
Not every defense name had a good night.
AeroVironment, known for its drones and loitering munitions, saw shares slide more than 4% even though revenue actually topped estimates ($473 million vs $468 million expected). The problem? Earnings per share clocked in at 44 cents—way below the 78 cents analysts were looking for.
It’s the classic “good but not good enough” scenario that the market loves to punish in the short term. Margin pressure or higher costs probably explain the miss, but we’ll need the conference call for the full story.
Longer term, the defense tech space still looks solid—especially with global tensions what they are—but missing the bottom-line number by that much stings.
Cracker Barrel Serves Up a Disappointment
Sometimes you just feel bad for a brand.
Cracker Barrel dropped about 9% after first-quarter revenue came in light at $797.2 million against an $800.3 million consensus. Yes, the adjusted loss was narrower than feared, but when consumers are tightening belts, the casual-dining segment feels it first.
Traffic trends have been shaky across the industry, and Cracker Barrel’s nostalgic roadside vibe isn’t immune. Management has work to do on the cost side and probably on the menu pricing perception as well.
- Revenue miss by roughly $3 million
- Same-store sales likely under pressure
- Shares already down big year-to-date
It’s never fun watching an American classic struggle, but the reality is diners have more choices than ever, and many are choosing to cook or grab something faster and cheaper.
GameStop: The Meme Lives… Sort Of
Ah, GameStop. The stock that refuses to act like a normal company.
Third-quarter revenue fell about 4.5% year-over-year to $821 million, and shares shed more than 5% after hours. The company still managed an adjusted 24 cents per share, but top-line contraction is never what the meme crowd wants to hear.
Look, I’ve followed this story for years now, and every quarter feels like a Rorschach test. Bulls see cash on the balance sheet and the potential for another squeeze. Bears see a shrinking brick-and-mortar video game retailer in a digital world.
Tonight the bears barked louder.
Braze: The One Bright Tech Spot
Not all software names got punished.
Braze, the customer engagement platform, jumped 10% after posting $191 million in third-quarter revenue—nicely ahead of the $184 million estimate. Earnings came in right on target at 6 cents per share.
In a quarter where many SaaS companies are guiding cautiously, beating on the top line still carries weight. Braze continues to win deals in the crowded marketing tech space, which honestly surprises me a little given the competition.
Credit where it’s due—execution matters, and they showed it tonight.
What It All Means for Wednesday
After-hours moves don’t always carry into the next day, but they do set the tone.
GE Vernova will almost certainly open strong and could drag other energy infrastructure names higher. The combination of growth, dividends, and buybacks is tough to bet against when sentiment flips even slightly positive.
On the flip side, continued weakness in consumer discretionary—Cracker Barrel, GameStop—might keep some defensive rotation chatter alive.
And AeroVironment? Probably gaps down but could find support if the broader defense theme stays intact.
One night doesn’t make a trend, but nights like this are why a lot of us still watch the tape after 4 p.m.
Markets never really sleep. They just take a quick coffee break.
See you at the open.
