5 things to know before the stock market opens Feb. 18, 2021

Here are the most important news, trends and analysis that investors need to start their trading day:

1. Dow set to drop as Walmart declines on disappointing earnings

Traders on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange

Source: The New York Stock Exchange

U.S. stock futures fell Thursday, after Dow stock Walmart dropped 4.5% in the premarket on disappointing earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average on Wednesday erased a 180-point loss and ended 90 points higher for another record close. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq closed slightly lower for the second straight session. The S&P 500 pared losses after minutes from the Fed’s last meeting signaled easy monetary policy for longer with the economy…