Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insightsASX today – We’re heading into Thursday morning on the upswing in Australia, mainly thanks to Wall Street continuing its advance. Next, things turn to the biggest reporting day of the February earnings season Down Under.Listen to the HotCopper podcast for in-depth discussions and insights on all the biggest headlines from throughout the week. On Spotify, Apple, and more.There’s a chance New York’s tech rally (Nasdaq +1.3%) falters som ...

Key Takeaways Q4 oil slumped on oversupply, while gas surged on LNG demand and winter boost.Q4 earnings for the Energy sector are seen up 14% YoY despite flat revenues and pricing strain.PBA, CTRA and LNG show weak ESP signals, limiting clear beat visibility.We are entering the thick of the fourth quarter earnings season for the Oil/Energy sector, with some of the S&P 500 companies expected to come up with results tomorrow. Energy investors are bracing for a mixed but potentially rewarding stretch. Oil pric ...

In this article, we will look at the 10 Best Pet Stocks to Buy According to Hedge Funds.On February 12, Tom Lee of Fundstrat and Bitmine appeared on CNBC’s ‘Closing Bell’ to discuss the state of the markets and large themes moving stocks. He was of the view that stocks took a hit, partly due to the software downturn and the rotation out of the Mag 7 armies into the bullet makers for AI, along with a general risk-off as gold surged. However, the earnings have been delivered solidly according to him, with us ...

Core Insights - The upcoming earnings releases from major Retail-Wholesale players are expected to shape near-term market sentiment, with modest growth anticipated in sales and earnings following the holiday shopping season [1] - The sector is projected to achieve fourth-quarter revenue growth of 6.7% year over year, while earnings are expected to rise by 3.5%, indicating a slowdown from previous growth rates [2] Group 1: Earnings Trends - Consumer spending trends significantly influenced retail performance during the holiday season, with December retail sales unchanged month over month, reflecting a slowdown from November's 0.6% gain [4] - Year-over-year retail sales increased by 2.4% in December and 3.3% in November, indicating some resilience despite the month-over-month stagnation [4] - The slowdown in consumer spending is attributed to moderating job growth, policy uncertainty, and elevated household cost pressures, leading consumers to prioritize essentials and seek discounts [5] Group 2: Margin Pressures - Inflation trends, although moderating, continue to impact consumer budgets and retailers' cost structures, exerting pressure on margins for those unable to pass on higher costs [6] - Retailers with strong pricing power and efficient supply-chain management are better positioned to protect profitability amid these challenges [6] Group 3: E-commerce and Inventory Management - E-commerce and omnichannel execution are critical differentiators, with retailers that integrate digital and physical channels effectively capturing demand during peak shopping periods [7] - Inventory discipline is vital for profitability, with retailers using advanced analytics to align stock levels with demand, thus avoiding excessive markdowns [8] Group 4: Company-Specific Insights - **Dollar General**: Positioned well with a Zacks Rank 2 and an Earnings ESP of +16.26%, supported by market share gains and strategic initiatives like "Project Elevate" [10][11] - **Walmart**: Holds a Zacks Rank 3 and an Earnings ESP of +1.31%, leveraging e-commerce momentum and a commitment to low prices, with a stable earnings estimate suggesting a 10.6% year-over-year increase [14][15] - **Home Depot**: Also a Zacks Rank 3 with an Earnings ESP of +5.61%, focusing on professional contractors and utilizing AI tools to enhance project planning [16][17] - **Dollar Tree**: With a Zacks Rank 3 and an Earnings ESP of +1.63%, the company is enhancing its value proposition and operational discipline following the decision to move forward without the Family Dollar brand [18][19][20]

The current earnings season cycle is delivering a consistent message across the ROBO Index universe: the sector is moving at two speeds, and both are heading in the right direction. A first cohort of ... ...

Industry Overview - The fourth-quarter 2025 reporting season for the Medical sector is nearing its final stretch, with only a few pharma and biotech companies left to report [1] - As of February 11, 73.3% of companies in the Medical sector, representing 91% of the sector's market capitalization, reported quarterly earnings, with 86.4% exceeding both earnings and sales estimates [2][10] - Overall, fourth-quarter earnings in the medical sector are expected to decrease by 0.6%, while sales are projected to rise by 10.4% compared to the previous year [4] Company Performance Johnson & Johnson - Reported strong fourth-quarter results, beating estimates for both earnings and sales [3] Novartis - Beat earnings estimates but faced revenue pressure due to generic competition for key drugs like Entresto and Promacta [3] Bristol Myers Squibb - Beat both earnings and sales estimates and issued encouraging guidance [3] Gilead Sciences - Earnings exceeded both top and bottom lines, supported by higher sales of HIV and Liver Diseases drugs [3] Bausch Health - Mixed performance with two earnings beats and two misses in the last four quarters, delivering a four-quarter average negative surprise of 6.26% [5] - Scheduled to report on February 18, with an Earnings ESP of -8.84% and a Zacks Rank 3 [7] Amicus Therapeutics - Disappointing earnings track record with three misses and one beat in the last four quarters, averaging a negative surprise of 20.21% [8] - Set to be acquired by BioMarin, with its lead drug Galafold showing solid uptake [9] BioMarin Pharmaceutical - Impressive track record, beating earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters with an average surprise of 66.51% [11] - Scheduled to report with an Earnings ESP of -3.23% and a Zacks Rank 3, driven by strong demand for its dwarfism drug Voxzogo [12] Insmed - Poor earnings track record with four consecutive misses, averaging a negative surprise of 20.64% [13] - Scheduled to report on February 19, with an Earnings ESP of +7.01% and a Zacks Rank 3 [14] - Lead drug Arikayce gaining traction, with a new drug approval marking a significant milestone [15] Madrigal Pharmaceuticals - Missed earnings expectations in three of the last four quarters, with an average negative surprise of 17.17% [16] - Scheduled to report on February 19, with an Earnings ESP of -852.37% and a Zacks Rank 4 [16][17]

Earnings season comes calling for three popular stocks.Don't let this holiday-shortened trading week lull you into a sense of financial slumber. Earnings season continues, and more than a few stocks will be on the move after their respective companies' latest quarterly numbers come out.A few of the stocks I hope will step up nicely this week include Palo Alto Networks (PANW +2.52%), Booking Holdings (BKNG 0.52%), and Walmart (WMT +0.19%). They have a lot to prove in the next four trading days. Let's take a ...

Lots of ASX 200 companies report this week, and earnings season volatility could intensify as expectations are tested.Last week reminded us how quickly sentiment can turn. AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP) tumbled 30% after its update. REA Group Ltd (ASX: REA) shares opened down 18% on results day before clawing back some ground. CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL) fell 11% following its interim numbers, adding to an already tough 12 months.As we covered in our recent earnings watchlist, reporting season is rarely about headlines alone. I ...

Core Insights - The Consumer Discretionary sector is experiencing stronger-than-expected momentum during the earnings season, particularly in lifestyle-driven businesses such as apparel, footwear, fragrances, and accessories [1][5] Industry Overview - The sector is showing renewed strength as consumers prioritize brands that offer authenticity, innovation, and emotional connection over discounts [2] - Companies are tightening inventory and leveraging data analytics to better align supply with demand, enhancing operational efficiency [2][3] Digital Engagement - Digital engagement through direct-to-consumer platforms and influencer marketing is driving growth, allowing brands to deepen customer relationships and capture higher margins [3] - Accessories are particularly benefiting from trend-driven purchases and repeat buying behavior, contributing to both revenue growth and profitability [3] Challenges - Despite the positive trends, the sector faces challenges such as macroeconomic volatility, cautious consumer spending, and currency fluctuations [4] - Fast-changing fashion trends and shorter product cycles increase execution risks, especially for apparel and accessories brands [4] Earnings Expectations - The Consumer Discretionary sector is projected to see year-over-year earnings growth of 4.8% and revenue growth of 5.9% this earnings season [6] Stock Picks - Four lifestyle-focused Consumer Discretionary stocks are highlighted for their potential: Carter's Inc. (CRI), Interparfums, Inc. (IPAR), Savers Value Village, Inc. (SVV), and Cintas Corporation (CTAS) [9] - Carter's is leveraging strategic pricing to sustain profitability amid rising costs, with an Earnings ESP of +3.93% and a Zacks Rank 1 [10][11] - Interparfums is focusing on brand expansion and has an Earnings ESP of +2.56% with a Zacks Rank 2 [12][13] - Savers Value Village is benefiting from steady traffic and operational efficiency, with an Earnings ESP of +1.08% and a Zacks Rank 3 [14][15] - Cintas is positioned for long-term growth with an Earnings ESP of +0.89% and a Zacks Rank 3 [16][17]

Market Overview - US futures showed modest positivity in early morning trading, with the Dow Jones futures up 0.1%, indicating potential further record territory [1] - S&P 500 futures also increased by 0.1%, while Nasdaq 100 futures rose by 0.2% [2] Previous Market Performance - The Dow achieved its third consecutive record close, finishing up 52 points or 0.1% at 50,188 [3] - In contrast, the S&P 500 fell by 0.3% to 6,942, the Nasdaq decreased by 0.6% to 23,102, and the Russell 2000 lost 0.4% to close at 2,679 [3] Economic Indicators - The market is awaiting the delayed January non-farm payrolls (NFP) report, expected to show an increase of 66,000 jobs, up from 50,000 in December [7] - The dollar index (DXY) was down 0.1% at 96.72, reflecting a softer dollar ahead of the jobs report [5] Commodity Prices - Crude oil prices strengthened, rising by 2.1% to $65.32 per barrel of West Texas Intermediate [6] - Precious metals such as gold, silver, and copper also saw price increases [6] Analyst Insights - Market analysts suggest that a weak jobs report could influence Federal Reserve policy, with a 40% chance of an interest rate cut in March or April being priced in by the markets [7] - There is a noted divergence between the strong GDP growth rate of 4.4% for Q3 and the weakness in the jobs market, indicating potential economic concerns [8] - A weak NFP report followed by weak inflation data could push the Fed closer to a rate cut [9]