Key Highlights

  • Merck (NYSE:MRK) gained about 4 percent on October 29, 2026 after earnings, with defensive and value Earnings beats fueling a rotation trade, according to one recap.
  • eBay rose 3 percent, Shell 2.4 percent and UPS 2 percent in the same earnings-driven rotation, as defensive and value names drew buyers during the wider technology sell-off.
  • UPS reportedly lifted its 2026 Revenue guidance to USD 92.6 billion from USD 91.2 billion. That figure comes from one recap and is unconfirmed.
  • The direction of each move was verified in one recap per company, but the Mastercard reaction could not be located and is not covered in this article.

Four Value Names Gain After Earnings

Merck (NYSE:MRK) gained about 4 percent on October 29, 2026 after earnings. eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) rose 3 percent. Shell (NYSE:SHEL) rose 2.4 percent. UPS (NYSE:UPS) rose 2 percent. Defensive and value earnings beats helped drive a rotation trade as technology sold off. The direction of each move was verified in one recap per company, but the underlying earnings figures were not in the material. A drugmaker, an online marketplace, an energy major and a logistics company are not natural peers, so the common thread is the market backdrop and the tone of results rather than the Business itself. Earnings reactions in this group were modest next to the double-digit moves seen elsewhere, which fits the defensive character of these businesses. Readers should confirm the earnings numbers in the company releases.

What the UPS Guidance Raise Implies

UPS reportedly lifted its 2026 revenue guidance to USD 92.6 billion from USD 91.2 billion. Simple arithmetic puts the increase at USD 1.4 billion, or about 1.5 percent. A raise of that size is modest, which fits a gain of about 2 percent, but the figure comes from one recap and should be checked against the company release. Guidance matters because it signals whether the current trend is expected to continue. Defensive earnings beats can attract buyers when Growth Stocks are volatile, since predictable cash flows look more appealing during a sell-off. The same logic applies to Shell, where energy prices and refining margins matter, and to eBay, where consumer Demand and marketplace volumes drive results. None of those drivers was verified for this quarter in the material reviewed.

Risks and What to Watch Next

Modest post-earnings gains can fade, and each company carries its own risks. Merck (NYSE:MRK) faces Patent expirations and drug-pricing pressure, eBay depends on consumer spending, Shell on oil prices, with Brent near USD 113 to 118, and UPS on freight volumes. Mastercard's reaction could not be located and is not covered here. With the 10-year Yield near 4.94 percent to 4.98 percent, defensive valuations are also sensitive to rates. Watch the full releases, analyst revisions and whether the rotation continues. Nothing here confirms that value stocks will keep outperforming. Valuation is another factor, since a short-lived rotation into defensive names can lift prices without any change in fundamentals. The next round of earnings releases will test whether the trade has staying power.

Where Things Stand

Merck (NYSE:MRK) gained about 4 percent because earnings beats from defensive and value names fed a rotation trade while technology sold off. The evidence is thin: the direction is verified in one recap per company, the earnings figures are missing and the UPS guidance is single-source. The balance favors a modest earnings-driven rotation rather than a major change in outlook. The next catalyst is the full company releases and further earnings from large-cap peers. The small size of each move keeps the story in perspective.