After-Hours Movers: 07/31/2026

After-hours trading generally runs from 4:00pm to 8:00pm Eastern Time on U.S. exchanges such as the NYSE and Nasdaq.

The MarketBeat After-Hours Movers tracker highlights stocks listed on the NYSE and NASDAQ that are experiencing the largest percentage gains and losses after the market closes. The list excludes companies undergoing stock splits or showing unusually low trading volume.

Many companies release major announcements after the closing bell. These can include:

• Quarterly earnings reports
• Updated guidance or corporate news
• Analyst rating changes
• Mergers or acquisitions

Because investors react immediately to this information, stock prices can move significantly in after-hours trading.

Not all stocks trade actively during after-hours sessions. While most stocks listed on major exchanges can technically be traded after the market closes, some securities have little or no trading activity during extended hours.

Stocks with higher trading volume and greater investor interest are more likely to experience meaningful price movements during after-hours trading.

Many publicly traded companies release quarterly earnings reports after the market closes so investors have time to review the information before the next trading session begins. This timing allows analysts, institutional investors, and the media to evaluate financial results and company guidance without the pressure of active market trading.

Because investors often react quickly to earnings results, stocks can experience significant price movements during after-hours trading.

After-hours trading can carry additional risks because liquidity is lower and fewer participants are active in the market. This can lead to larger price swings and wider bid-ask spreads compared to normal trading hours.

Investors may also encounter restrictions such as limited order types or reduced trading volume.

Trading activity is typically lower after the market closes because fewer investors participate in extended-hours sessions. Many institutional traders and market makers reduce activity outside regular market hours, and some brokerages limit certain order types.

With fewer buyers and sellers in the market, liquidity decreases and price movements may become more volatile.

After-hours trading typically has fewer active buyers and sellers than the regular trading session. With lower liquidity in the market, the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay and the lowest price a seller will accept—the bid-ask spread—can widen, which may increase trading costs.

Yes, significant price changes in after-hours trading can influence investor sentiment and sometimes affect the stock’s opening price during the next regular session. However, prices may also change once regular trading volume returns the following day.

Large price movements in after-hours trading can signal increased investor interest or shifting sentiment. By reviewing which stocks are moving and researching the news behind those moves, traders can identify potential opportunities, gauge market sentiment, and prepare trading strategies for the next regular market session.

Yes. Many online brokerages allow individual investors to buy and sell stocks during after-hours trading through electronic communication networks (ECNs). However, brokerages may restrict certain order types, and trading volume is typically lower than during regular market hours.

Pre-market trading occurs before the regular market session (4:00am to 9:30am Eastern Time), while after-hours trading takes place after the market closes (4:00opm to 8:00pm Eastern Time). Both sessions allow investors to trade outside normal hours, but trading volume and liquidity are generally lower than during the regular session.