NewMarket Corporation (NEU) shares plummeted 5.42% in pre-market trading on Thursday, following the release of its second-quarter earnings report after the market close on Wednesday. The significant drop comes despite the company reporting an increase in earnings per share, suggesting that other factors are influencing investor sentiment.

NewMarket reported Q2 earnings of $11.84 per diluted share, up from $11.63 in the same period last year, representing a modest year-over-year increase. However, net sales for the quarter ended June 30 fell to $698.5 million, down from $710.2 million in the previous year, indicating a decline in the company's top-line performance.

The market's negative reaction to NewMarket's earnings report may be attributed to the decrease in net sales, which could be raising concerns about the company's growth prospects. Additionally, the absence of readily available analyst estimates makes it challenging to gauge whether the results met market expectations. Investors might have been anticipating stronger overall performance, particularly in terms of revenue growth, leading to the sell-off in pre-market trading.