Wall Street is gearing up for a significant week of earnings reports, with 70 S&P 500 companies, including tech giants Meta Platforms and Tesla, set to release their latest quarterly results. Investors will be closely monitoring these reports for insights into corporate health amid market concerns over AI build-out debt, high inflation, and geopolitical tensions. Despite these broader challenges, the earnings season has begun strongly, with a majority of reporting companies exceeding estimates thus far.
The corporate earnings season is kicking into high gear, with a flurry of major S&P 500 companies scheduled to release their latest quarterly results next week. Investors are eagerly awaiting these reports for crucial insights into corporate performance amidst a volatile stock market landscape.
A significant 70 S&P 500 constituents are set to report, featuring tech giants like Meta Platforms, fresh off the launch of its viral AI agent Muse, and fellow "Magnificent Seven" member Tesla. Streaming behemoth Netflix will also report after a week of substantial organizational changes. Automaker General Motors is another key company on the docket. The broader market saw the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite dip last week, as traders shifted away from tech stocks, citing concerns over the escalating debt associated with artificial intelligence development. High inflation and persistent geopolitical tensions further add to market complexities. Despite these headwinds, many major companies are still projected to deliver robust earnings this week.
The earnings season commenced last week with major U.S. banks. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup surpassed both earnings and revenue estimates. Wells Fargo presented a mixed bag of results, while JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America missed on both top and bottom lines. Overall, the reporting period has started on a strong note, with FactSet data indicating that approximately 85% of the 45 S&P 500 companies that have reported so far have exceeded earnings estimates.
Tuesday's Key Reports (All times ET)
General Motors
General Motors is expected to report earnings before the market opens, with a conference call scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Last quarter, GM significantly boosted its 2026 guidance, driven by stellar performance in its North American operations. For this quarter, LSEG analysts anticipate a nearly 30% surge in earnings per share, but foresee flat revenue compared to the same period last year. JPMorgan analysts recently maintained an "overweight" rating on GM but lowered their price target, projecting a cautious 2027 outlook partly due to affordability concerns. The automaker also experienced a 5.5% decline in vehicle sales last quarter. Historically, Bespoke Investment Group data shows GM beating analyst earnings estimates 89% of the time, with shares rising after each of the last four earnings releases.
Netflix
Netflix is slated to report after the closing bell, followed by a call at 4:45 p.m. Last quarter, NFLX shares dropped over 7% despite in-line results, as Wall Street keenly observed its engagement metrics. This quarter, the streaming giant is projected to report a substantial 40% growth in earnings compared to the year-ago period, according to LSEG data. Barclays analyst Kannan Venkateshwar noted last week that, despite Originals comprising over 60% of Netflix's titles, many viewers still primarily view it as a "service for library content" as engagement choices become more deliberate. Venkateshwar suggested the challenge might not be Netflix itself, but rather its slow adaptation to the evolving streaming landscape. Additionally, Netflix recently announced plans to cut around 1,000 employees (6% of its workforce) and replaced its chief content officer. Netflix's stock has notably struggled after its reports in the last five consecutive quarters.
United Airlines
United Airlines is set to release its earnings after the bell, with a conference call following on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. In the previous quarter, UAL's earnings were pressured by high fuel costs, exacerbated by the U.S.-Iran war, with rising jet fuel prices potentially adding an extra $6 billion to 2026 expenses. For this quarter, LSEG-polled analysts expect more than 15% revenue growth but a decline in EPS year-over-year. Investors will be watching whether United can defy the continuous pressure of increasing energy costs, especially after competitor Delta Air Lines slashed its full-year forecast earlier this month due to high fuel prices, despite strong consumer demand. United boasts a strong track record, beating analyst expectations 75% of the time, and has done so every quarter since July 2022.
Wednesday's Key Reports
AT&T
AT&T will report earnings before the opening bell, with its conference call at 8:30 a.m. Last quarter, T shares rose 3% on better-than-expected earnings, despite a slight revenue miss. LSEG data indicates analysts expect nearly 11% earnings growth year-over-year but slower top-line growth at 3.2% for the same period. Bernstein recently downgraded AT&T to market perform from outperform following news that SpaceX would acquire a nationwide spectrum portfolio, which triggered a sell-off in telecom stocks. Investors will be seeking clarity on how AT&T plans to tackle intensifying competition. According to Bespoke, AT&T only beats bottom-line estimates 59% of the time, but its stock typically sees little change following earnings reports.
Meta Platforms
Meta Platforms is scheduled to report earnings after the bell and host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. In its previous quarter, META's cash flow took a significant hit, causing shares to fall 8%. This quarter, Meta's earnings per share are projected to have surged an astounding 460% compared to a year earlier, based on LSEG data. Analysts widely maintain a bullish outlook on Meta after the company launched its AI agent Muse on September 8th. The Magnificent Seven titan's stock has climbed more than 15% since Muse's introduction, and investors are eager to see how this translates to its bottom line. While Meta beats expectations 88% of the time (Bespoke data), its stock suffered nearly an 8% hit after a top-line miss last quarter, and also fell sharply after its Q1 2026 and Q3 2025 releases.
Tesla
Tesla is set to report earnings after the market closes, with a conference call at 5:30 p.m. Last quarter, TSLA delivered weaker-than-expected earnings, with margins under pressure and cash flow turning negative. For this quarter, LSEG data projects declines in both revenue and earnings per share, with a 14.5% drop in earnings and nearly a 1% decline in revenue from the prior year. Wolfe Research is closely watching for potential positive developments like a merger with SpaceX and advancements in Tesla's robotaxi business. However, they are estimating earnings below consensus, anticipating a "tough quarter for Auto stocks." Despite a 2% decline in third-quarter delivery numbers year-over-year, they still topped estimates, leading to a stock surge. Tesla has missed analyst earnings estimates in two of the last four quarters and only beats top-line estimates 58% of the time, according to Bespoke.
Thursday's Key Reports
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is slated to report earnings before the bell, with a conference call scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Last quarter, PG's beauty division was its strongest performer, though the company only recorded volume growth in one quarter for the 2026 fiscal year. This quarter, Procter & Gamble is expected to post revenue growth just under 2% and a 5.4% decline in earnings, per LSEG data. Citi recently reaffirmed its "buy" rating on the personal goods stock, expressing an optimistic outlook for PG's upcoming earnings. Analyst Filippo Falorni anticipates a narrowing of the gap versus consumption in the U.S. in fiscal Q1 2027 and potential upside in China, especially in diapers, projecting organic sales growth to re-accelerate to approximately 3%. Procter & Gamble has a strong history of beating earnings expectations 86% of the time, doing so every quarter since April 2023, Bespoke data shows.
American Airlines
American Airlines is set to report earnings in premarket, followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. In the previous quarter, AAL once again reduced its full-year earnings outlook due to elevated fuel costs. For this quarter, LSEG data predicts the airline will post an 18% increase in top-line growth. American has been strategically moving towards premium offerings over the past quarter to narrow its profit gap with rivals United and Delta, adding more first-class seats and rolling out redesigned Boeing planes. CEO Robert Isom stated last month at a conference that 30% of the airline's seats generate half of its revenue. Historically, American Airlines exceeds earnings estimates 88% of the time, but its stock typically sees an average decline of 0.4% on earnings days, according to Bespoke.
