Dow Jones futures rose early Friday amid weaker-than-expected U.S. retail sales data. Dow Jones stocks JPMorgan (JPM) and UnitedHealth (UNH) rallied following better-than-expected earnings results.

X

September retail sales were flat, missing Econoday estimates for a 0.2% rise.

Stock Market Today: Earnings Season Heats Up

Friday started with a busy mix of earnings news. Banks JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley (MS), Citigroup (C) and Wells Fargo (WFC) reported. So did healthcare giant UnitedHealth.

Citigroup shares rose less than 1% shortly after the company’s report. JPM stock pared gains to about 1.5%, despite better-than-expected third-quarter results, while Morgan Stanley shares declined 3% on weak earnings and sales. UNH shares edged up 0.5% on strong results, along with a positive outlook. And Wells Fargo stock rose 1% despite missing earnings estimates.

Delta Air Lines (DAL) rallied more than 2% on an analyst upgrade, following its third-quarter report on Wednesday. Grocery chains Kroger (KR) and Albertsons (ACI) traded sharply lower, after the companies confirmed Kroger would buy Albertsons, in a bid to better compete with Walmart (WMT) and Amazon (AMZN).

Electric-vehicle leader Tesla (TSLA) rose more than 1% Friday. Among the Dow Jones industrials, tech titans Apple (AAPL) and Microsoft (MSFT) were modestly higher ahead of today’s stock market open.

Cardinal Health (CAH), ConocoPhillips (COP), Denbury (DEN) and Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) — as well as Dow Jones stocks Chevron (CVX) and Merck (MRK) — are among the top stocks to watch. Keep in mind that the ongoing stock market correction is a time for investors to sit on the sidelines and build watchlists of top growth stocks.

Cardinal Health and Vertex are IBD Leaderboard stocks. Chevron and Conoco were featured in this week’s Stock Near A Buy Zone column, along with two other top stock ideas. Vertex was IBD’s Stock Of The Day on Friday. Merck was Tuesday’s IBD 50 Stocks To Watch pick.

Dow Jones Today: Treasury Yields, Oil Prices

Ahead of Friday’s opening bell, Dow Jones futures rose 1.1% above fair value, while the S&P 500 futures moved up 1.15%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 futures gained 1.2% in morning action.

Remember that overnight action in Dow Jones futures and elsewhere doesn’t necessarily translate into actual trading in the next regular stock market session.

Among exchange-traded funds, the Nasdaq 100 tracker Invesco QQQ Trust (QQQ) was up 1.2%, and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY) rose 1.1%.

The 10-year Treasury yield declined Friday, falling to 3.88% following Thursday’s brief jump above 4% after the hot inflation data.

Meanwhile, U.S. oil prices lost about 2% Friday, sending West Texas Intermediate futures below $88 a barrel. Oil prices are threatening to give back a large part of Thursday’s rebound.

Stock Market Rally Attempt

On Thursday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average sold off as much as 1.6% before closing with a 2.8% advance. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite reversed an early dive of more than 3% into a 2.2% climb. The Nasdaq staged its best comeback since Feb. 24, according to Dow Jones Market Data.

Thursday’s The Big Picture commented, “With the market in correction mode, investors should be tracking companies that handily beat earnings results and have strong upside reactions. They could be among the stock market’s leaders if the market is able to extend its rebound.”

Thursday was Day 1 of the stock market’s latest rally attempt, so investors are now patiently awaiting a follow-through day, which can occur as early as Tuesday of next week. A follow-through day confirms the beginning of a new uptrend. Be mindful that not all follow-throughs work, so it’s important to raise exposure slowly and methodically, as the uptrend proves itself.

Check out IBD Stock Lists, like the IBD 50 and Stocks Near A Buy Zone, for stock ideas.

Five Dow Jones Stocks To Watch Now

Dow Jones Stocks To Watch: Chevron, Merck

Energy giant Chevron found support its 50-day line Thursday, with a near-5% advance. Shares are consolidating below a 182.50 buy point ahead of the company’s Oct. 28 earnings release. Chevron shares fell 0.8% early Friday, tracking lower with oil prices.

CVX stock boasts a strong 98 out of a perfect 99 IBD Composite Rating, per the IBD Stock Checkup. Investors can use the IBD Composite Rating to easily gauge the quality of a stock’s fundamental and technical metrics.

Dow Jones member and IBD 50 stock Merck is closing in on a double bottom’s 93.12 buy point, according to IBD MarketSmith pattern recognition. The relative strength line hit a new high this week, as the stock decisively regained its key 50-day moving average. Third-quarter earnings results are due out Oct. 27 before the opening bell.

Merck shares fell 0.6% Friday morning.

4 Top Growth Stocks To Watch In The Current Stock Market Correction

Top Stocks To Watch: Cardinal, Conoco, Denbury, Vertex

IBD Leaderboard stock and medical leader Cardinal Health is shaping a flat base that has a 72.38 buy point, according to IBD MarketSmith chart analysis. Shares of the drug distribution heavyweight are again receiving support around their key 10-week moving average, per Leaderboard commentary. Earnings are due Nov. 4. Shares traded unchanged Friday.

Energy giant ConocoPhillips regained a 118.49 buy point in a cup with handle amid Thursday’s 5.5% advance. The stock’s RS line hit a new high Thursday, illustrating strong stock market outperformance. Earnings are due Nov. 3. Shares moved down 0.2% Friday.

Denbury tested its cup base’s 94.05 buy point Thursday, briefly giving up that level before closing above it. Shares broke out earlier this week following reports that Exxon Mobil (XOM) is considering a takeover. Shares are in the 5% chase zone that runs up to 98.75, though the market remains in a correction. The company will report earnings are Nov. 3. Shares were off 0.6% Friday.

Biotech leader Vertex Pharmaceuticals continues to build a flat base with a 306.05 buy point and an early entry at 296.90. Its RS line made a new high this week, confirming the biotech leader as a key stock to watch. VRTX stock found support at its 50-day line Thursday. Earnings are due out Oct. 27. Shares traded unchanged Friday.

Join IBD experts as they analyze leading stocks in the current stock market rally attempt on IBD Live

Tesla Stock

Tesla stock rose 2.1% Thursday, reversing from big morning losses. Shares are still at their lowest level since early July and about 47% off their 52-week high. Tesla stock climbed more than 1% Friday morning.

The EV giant’s third-quarter results are Oct. 19. Tesla is expected to earn an adjusted $1.03 per share on sales of $22.4 billion.

Dow Jones Leaders: Apple, Microsoft

Among Dow Jones stocks, Apple shares rallied 3.4% Thursday, rebounding from new recent lows. Still, shares are around 22% off their 52-week high and below their 50- and 200-day lines. Apple stock moved up 0.5% Friday.

Microsoft rose 3.8% Thursday, rebounding from this week’s 52-week low price. The software giant is about 33% off its 52-week high. Microsoft shares gained 0.8% early Friday.

Be sure to follow Scott Lehtonen on Twitter at @IBD_SLehtonen for more on growth stocks and the Dow Jones Industrial Average.

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:

Top Growth Stocks To Buy And Watch

Learn How To Time The Market With IBD’s ETF Market Strategy

Find The Best Long-Term Investments With IBD Long-Term Leaders

MarketSmith: Research, Charts, Data And Coaching All In One Place

How To Research Growth Stocks: Why This IBD Tool Simplifies The Search For Top Stocks