Tripadvisor, Xponential Fitness, Valley National Bancorp

U.S. stock index futures held steady on Thursday as investors awaited monthly jobs data for insights on the health of the labor market and the Federal Reserve's plans for monetary easing.

** Tripadvisor Inc <TRIP.O>:

BUZZ - Gains on report Starboard Value has built stake

** Xponential Fitness Inc <XPOF.N>:

BUZZ - Jumps after SEC investigation concludes sans action

** AeroVironment Inc <AVAV.O>:

** Karman Holdings Inc <KRMN.N>:

** Kratos Defense & Security <KTOS.O>:

BUZZ - RBC lifts PT on US defense firms, citing AI and missile growth

** Valley National Bancorp <VLY.O>:

BUZZ - Morgan Stanley upgrades Valley National to 'overweight' on balance sheet improvement