The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI), Nasdaq Composite (IXIC), and S&P 500 Index (SPX) are lower this afternoon, brushing off rallying consumer packaged goods and defense stocks. Wall Street is struggling with President Donald Trump's 25% auto tariffs slated to move into effect on April 2, alongside retaliatory levies. The move comes amid threats to Canada and the European Union (EU) of "larger tariffs" should they react, while China could see reduced duties if it agrees to a ByteDance TikTok deal. A handful of fresh economic and jobs data also made headlines this morning.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including: 

• 2 auto stocks struggling in wake of tariff turmoil.
• Verint stock hits 52-week lows after earnings.
• Plus, GME erases Bitcoin-fueled rally; DLTR looks to extend gains; and APT looks to snap win streak.

GameStop Corp (NYSE:GME) stock is getting blasted in the options pits today, with 271,000 calls and 234,000 puts exchanged so far, which is 6 times the intraday average volume. The most active contract is the December 2027 5-strike put, where positions are being sold to open. GME was last seen down 11.8% at $25.01, wiping out yesterday's 11.7% pop after the company revealed it will invest in Bitcoin (BTC), but later privately offered offered $1.3 billion 0% 5-year convertible bonds. The equity has shed 20.7% so far in 2025.

Dollar Tree Inc (NASDAQ:DLTR) is the best stock on the SPX today, last seen up 7.8% to trade at $74.64. On track for its best single-day percentage gain since May 2022, the equity is looking to extend yesterday's surge after the retailer sold its subsidiary Family Dollar for $1 billion. Additionally, Telsey Advisory Group and Truist Securities raised their price objectives to $82 and $84 from $75 and $76, respectively. DLTR still carries a 43.8% year-over-year deficit, however.

Automotive parts maker Aptiv PLC (NYSE:APTV) is near the bottom of the SPX today, down 5.7% at $62.05 at last glance. Today's tumble follows President Trump's auto tariffs, but the stock already carries a 21.1% year-over-year deficit. Shares could snap their three-day win streak with their worst single-day percentage loss since October, amid a retest of the recently supportive 80-day moving average.

Customer experience and artificial intelligence (AI)-related stock Verint Systems Inc (NASDAQ:VRNT) is plummeting to 52-week lows, down 11.4% at $19.15 at last glance, after the company's disappointing fourth-quarter report. Both earnings and revenue missed estimates, while the midpoint of its full-year guidance came in below expectations as well. 

Now trading at its lowest levels since November 2023, VRNT is down roughly 30% year-to-date. The equity is trading below all major moving averages, with the 20-day providing pressure before today's bear gap. 

In the options pits, Verint Systems stock has already seen 8 times its average daily options volume, albeit amid relatively low absolute numbers. The April 20 put is the most popular, with new positions being bought to open there. 

Several analysts have chimed in with price-target cuts, including one from Evercore ISI to $23 from $34. Of the seven analysts in coverage, four carry a "buy" or "strong buy," and three a tepid "hold," while the 12-month consensus price target of $36 sits at an 88.4% premium to current levels. 

President Donald Trump yesterday unveiled a 25% tariff for all cars not made in the U.S, effective next Wednesday, April 2. In response, shares of General Motors Co (NYSE:GM) and Ford Motor Co (NYSE:F) are lower, as both companies manufacture cars in Mexico, Canada, and other countries. J.P. Morgan Securities slashed its price objective on F and GM to $53 and $11 from $64 and $13, respectively.

GM is down 6.8% to trade $47.48, pacing for its worst single-day percentage loss since January. The security already shed 12.4% in 2025, but a familiar floor at the $46 region -- an area that coincides with its 200-day moving average-- looks ready to contain today's gap.

F was last seen 4.4% lower to trade at $9.84, looking to extend its 22.3% year-over-year deficit and snap a three-day win streak. Despite support from its 20-day trendline, the stock is still facing resistance at $10.40, which rejected rallies in January and February. 

Both equities are getting blasted in the options pits today, with volume running at triple the intraday average for GM, and double for Ford. For the former, the most popular contract is the January 2026 55-strike call, while for the latter the weekly 4/4 10.35-strike call is seeing the most activity.

The tech sector has been at the front of broader-market volatility over the past month, and today's Big Tech rout is currently dragging the Nasdaq Composite Index (IXIC) toward its first losing day in four. Sentiment waned after Alibaba (BABA) chairman Joe Tsai warned of an artificial intelligence (AI) bubble during an investor conference on Tuesday, but overall, investors are still watching for potential growth plays in the realm of AI. 

Cloud-based data storage name Snowflake Inc (NYSE:SNOW) has been under a microscope after the expansion of its AI offerings and its partnership with Microsoft (MSFT). The stock also received a flood of bull notes before and after its late-February earnings beat. At last glance today, SNOW was down 1.1% at $161, though recently reclaimed support at the $160 level. Year to date, the equity is up 4.2%. 

Trade Desk Inc (NASDAQ:TTD) stock was last seen down 4.7% at $59.09, looking to snap a five-day win streak after bouncing off its March. 18 two-year low of $53.39. The stock is down 50% since the start of 2025, mostly due to its mid-February post-earnings bear gap of 32.9%, and there are surely many traders eyeing a potential entry point. 

Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp (NASDAQ:CTSH) yesterday announced a share buyback plan as well as the expansion of its AI services. TD Cowen also noted the company's "visible progress" this year, though the firm maintained a "hold" rating. On the charts, CTSH just bounced off its 320-day moving average at the $76 level following a pullback from its Feb. 14 nearly three-year high of $90.82. Down 0.7% at $78.23 at last check today, the equity is sporting a slim 1.7% year-to-date lead. 

While the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI) is sporting a midday lead, the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC) is down 178 points this afternoon as tech stocks struggle. The S&P 500 Index (SPX) is lower as well, as investors eye the fast-approaching April 2 tariff deadline, though President Trump said in an interview duties will likely be more “lenient than reciprocal.” After yesterday's dismal consumer confidence reading, Wall Street is also on high alert for signs of a potential economic slowdown.

Continue reading for more on today's market, including: 

• Bitcoin investment plan lifts GameStop stock.
• Dollar Tree set to sell subsidiary for $1 billion.
• Plus, CHWY brushes off quarterly win; Cintas' beat-and-raise; and a struggling chip stock. 

Chewy Inc (NYSE:CHWY) stock is seeing unusual options activity today, with 49,000 calls and 32,000 puts traded so far, which is 5 times the intraday average volume. The most popular contract is the weekly 3/28 37-strike call, but new positions are being sold to open at the 33.50-strike put in the same series. CHWY is down 2.3% to trade at $32.84 at last check, brushing off the pet goods e-tailer's revenue win for the fourth quarter and strong current-quarter revenue forecast. Shares boast an massive 115.9% year-over-year lead, but are struggling with overhead pressure at the 40-day moving average.

Cintas Corp (NASDAQ:CTAS) stock is leading the SPX today, last seen up 7.8% to trade at $208.46 -- its highest level since December. Today's pop follows the company's better-than-expected fiscal third-quarter earnings and revenue, which came alongside a hiked 2025 profit outlook. CTAS already sports a 32.2% year-over-year lead, and is now on track for its best single-day percentage pop since March 2024. 

Meanwhile, Super Micro Computer Inc (NASDAQ:SMCI) stock is at the bottom of SPX today, down 6.2% to trade at $38.11 at last glance. The driver behind this negative price action remains unclear, but shares sport a 63.1% year-over-year deficit and are eyeing for a third-straight loss. The chip stock has struggled with a ceiling at the $45 level since February, but support remains at $35

The below excerpt came from Schaeffer’s annual and exclusive Stock Picks for 2025, each one carefully curated by our team of top traders. Click here to get your hands on our highly anticipated report of 18 stock picks.

German finance firm Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE:DB) has been slowly recovering from the financial crisis that hit more than 15 years ago. During the past decade shares have been very quiet, forming a long-term rounding pattern, suggesting a massive accumulation process. With a breakout above the $15 level in 2024 followed by a couple of retests, we believe 2025 holds promise for DB.

Another supporting factor is that the 50-week moving average (red line) crossed over a rising 200-week trendline (gold line). Short interest peaked in 2020 and has been moving lower since, but there remains potential buying power, as it would take five days for shorts to fully cover their positions.

Despite a 12-month average price target of $20.57, there is still pessimism among analysts, with three "hold" or worse ratings. In other words, Deutsche Bank stock looks ripe for bull notes.

Discount retail stock Dollar Tree Inc (NASDAQ:DLTR) was last seen up 5.2% at $70.63, after the company announced it would be selling its Family Dollar business to Brigade Capital Management, LP and Macellum Capital Management, LLC for $1 billion. The company also reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and revenue, though net sales missed estimates. 

On the charts, DLTR has been middling between $60 and $80 since August, hitting a Nov. 12 four-year low of $60.49 during this time. Today's pop is testing a layer of overhead moving averages, including the 50-day and 80-day trendlines. Year-to-date, the equity is down 6.2%. 

Options traders are chiming in after the news, with 25,000 calls and 15,000 puts exchanged so far -- five times the overall options volume typically seen at this point. The May 90 and 85 call contracts are the most popular, with new positions opening at the weekly 3/28 68-strike call. 

Today's options activity represents a bullish shift, as puts were much more popular than usual leading up to today. This is per DLTR's 10-day put/call volume ratio of 2.09 at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX), which ranks higher than 98% of readings from the past year.

GameStop Corp (NYSE:GME) stock is up 12.6% to trade at $28.60 at last glance, after the company's board approved a plan to use corporate dollars to buy Bitcoin (BTC) as pat of its investment strategy.

Should today's gains hold, the security will enjoy its best day since October, and notch its third win in the last four sessions. The equity already boasts an impressive 80.8% year-over-year, and earlier hit its highest level since January in addition to topping its 80-day moving average.

Short sellers are already hitting the exits, with short interest down 5.7% over the last two reporting periods. However, the 28.52 million shares sold short still account for 7% of the stock's available float, indicating a further winding on pessimism could boost GameStop stock.

Drilling down to today's options activity, with 231,000 calls and 90,000 puts have crossed the tape, which is 11 times the intraday average volume. Most popular is the weekly 3/28 30-strike call, where new positions are being opened.

From a volatility perspective, now may be an opportune time to trade GME options. Its Schaeffer's Volatility Index (SVI) of 76% stands in the 9th percentile of its annual range, suggesting relatively low option premiums -- favorable for buyers initiating long volatility strategies.

Playtika (NASDAQ:PLTK) stock is heading for its best session on record today, after Bank of America issued a rare double-upgrade to “buy” from “underperform.” The brokerage firm called the mobile gaming company a standout in a maturing -- but still expanding -- sector. That sudden sentiment flip could mark the beginning of a broader shift in analyst tone, especially if today’s price action holds.

At last glance, PLTK was up 21.7% to trade at $5.36. A sharp pivot from its March 21, all-time low of  $3.97, though the stock still sports a 24.2% year-to-date deficit. The bounce has the equity reclaiming most short-term moving averages, but longer-term trendlines continue to loom overhead, and any rally may hit turbulence if the broader skepticism doesn’t fully unwind.

A staggering 73% of analysts still rate the stock a "hold" or worse. In other terms, should this bearish sentiment begin to unwind, it could catapult PLTK higher. Short interest is up 31.6% over the last two reporting periods, with nearly 9.9% of the float sold short. That’s ample potential for a squeeze, should today’s rally spooks bears.

Options traders have also been leaning bearish, with PLTK’s 50-day put/call volume ratio at the International Securities Exchange (ISE), Cboe Options Exchange (CBOE), and NASDAQ OMX PHLX (PHLX) ranking in the 92nd percentile of annual readings. However, given today's pop, this put-heavy activity appears to be shifting. The typically sleepy options pits have already seen 4,273 calls cross the tape -- 67 times the average intraday volume -- with the May 5 call seeing the most attention.