Key Highlights

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

Four Value Names Gain After Earnings

Merck (NYSE:MRK) rose about 4% on October 29, 2026 after earnings. eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) rose 3%. Shell (NYSE:SHEL) rose 2.4%. UPS (NYSE:UPS) rose 2%. Defensive and value earnings beats helped fuel a rotation trade while 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 pharmaceutical group, an online marketplace, an energy major and a logistics company are not natural peers, so the common link is the market backdrop and the tone of results, not the business. Earnings reactions in this group were modest compared with the double-digit moves seen elsewhere in the market, which fits the defensive character of the businesses. Readers should confirm the earnings numbers themselves in the company releases.

What the UPS Guidance Raise Implies

UPS reportedly raised 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%. A raise of that size is modest, which fits a gain of about 2%, but the figure appears in a single recap and should be checked against the company release. Guidance matters because it tells investors whether the current trend is expected to continue. Defensive earnings beats can draw buyers when Growth Stocks are volatile, since predictable cash flows look more attractive 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 gains after earnings can fade, and each company carries its own risk. 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 found and is not covered. With the 10-year Yield near 4.94% to 4.98%, valuations of defensive stocks 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 consideration, since a short rotation into defensive names can lift prices without any change in fundamentals. The next set of earnings releases will test whether the trade has staying power.

Where Things Stand

Merck (NYSE:MRK) rose about 4% because earnings beats from defensive and value names fed a rotation trade while technology sold off. The evidence is thin: direction is verified in one recap each, 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 modest size of each move keeps the story in perspective.