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Meta Platforms ( NASDAQ:META ) had been trading near its 52-week low in early January 2026, as investors worried about its heavy reliance on advertising for 98% of revenues, making earnings volatile compared to its diversified peers. ...

Core Viewpoint - Options markets are indicating significant post-earnings volatility for several stocks, particularly regional banks, with expectations of price swings being amplified by the Federal Reserve's policy decision [1][2]. Group 1: Implied Moves and Earnings Reports - Options markets are pricing in double-digit to near-50% post-earnings swings for a group of regional banks [2]. - Ten stocks are highlighted with implied moves of approximately 30% or more ahead of their earnings reports this week [3]. - Capitol Federal Financial, Inc. is expected to have the highest implied move at 48.48%, with earnings per share projected at 15 cents and revenue at $57.51 million [5][6]. - First Financial Bancorp follows closely with a 47.50% implied move, expecting earnings per share of 56 cents and revenue of $245.83 million [5][6]. - Other notable stocks include Provident Financial Services, Inc. (39.22% implied move), First BanCorp (39.09% implied move), and West Bancorporation, Inc. (35.92% implied move) [5][6]. Group 2: Specific Stock Details - Beacon Financial Corp. anticipates earnings per share of 79 cents and revenue of $224.81 million, with an implied move of 29.48% [5]. - ConnectOne Bancorp, Inc. expects earnings per share of 73 cents and revenue of $110.15 million, with an implied move of 29.51% [5]. - High Tide Inc., the only non-bank on the list, is set to report earnings per share of $0.01 and revenue of $114.95 million, with an implied move of 30.12% [5]. - Primis Financial Corp. is projected to have earnings per share of $1.10 and revenue of $34.98 million, with an implied move of 31.17% [5]. - Hope Bancorp, Inc. expects earnings per share of 26 cents and revenue of $142.91 million, with an implied move of 32.94% [5].

Core Viewpoint - Goldman Sachs faces challenges in managing earnings volatility, impacting its stock performance ahead of the fourth-quarter financial results announcement [1] Earnings Forecast - Analyst estimates for Goldman Sachs' fourth quarter include an EPS estimate of $11.67 (down from $11.95 year-over-year) and a revenue estimate of $14.12 billion (up from $13.87 billion year-over-year) [9] Analyst Consensus & Recent Actions - The stock carries a Hold rating with an average price target of $765.47. BofA raised its target to $1,050 from $900 while maintaining a Buy rating, citing earnings volatility as a significant challenge for CEO David Solomon [4][10] - Other analysts have also raised their targets: JP Morgan to $775.00, Barclays to $1,048.00, and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods to $971.00 [10] Revenue and Growth Insights - Goldman Sachs has beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share for nine consecutive quarters and for revenue for ten consecutive quarters [3] - The capital markets business, which accounts for approximately 70% of total revenue, presents inherent swings that concern investors. However, a 20% year-over-year rebound in investment banking revenue is estimated for FY26, alongside mid-single-digit growth in trading and financing [5] Stock Performance and Trends - Goldman Sachs shares have increased 62.03% over the past 12 months and are currently trading 1.8% above its 20-day simple moving average and 14% above its 100-day simple moving average, indicating a strong long-term trend [8] - The stock was down 1.24% at $933.50 at the time of publication, with a 52-week trading range between $439.38 and $961.69 [15] Market Position and Importance - Goldman Sachs is a significant component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, currently the top holding at 11.74% of assets in the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average ETF Trust [6] - A strong earnings report from Goldman Sachs could positively influence the overall Dow Jones Industrial Average and related ETFs [7] Valuation Insights - The stock trades at a fair P/E multiple of 19.1x, with analysts viewing the expected 2% earnings decline as justifiable for the current valuation [12] - The Benzinga Edge scorecard indicates strong momentum and a healthy balance sheet for Goldman Sachs, suggesting it is outperforming the broader market [13][16]

Core Viewpoint - Apple is set to release its fourth-quarter earnings on October 30, with strong investor confidence reflected in a 27% stock gain over the past three months, reaching an all-time high of $271.41, primarily driven by robust demand for its latest iPhone lineup [1]. Group 1: Earnings Expectations - The iPhone remains the largest revenue contributor for Apple, and strong sales of the newest models are expected to significantly boost both top and bottom lines, potentially allowing the company to outperform analysts' estimates [2]. - Apple has guided for total revenue growth in the mid-to-high single digits year over year, with results likely landing toward the upper end of that range due to recent trends [6]. Group 2: Historical Performance and Volatility - Despite healthy fundamentals, Apple stock has historically closed lower after earnings in each of the past four quarters, indicating that high expectations can lead to post-earnings volatility even when solid numbers are reported [3]. - In the previous quarter, Apple reported $66.6 billion in Products revenue, an 8% year-over-year increase, driven by strong iPhone and Mac sales, with iPhone revenue specifically reaching $44.6 billion, marking a 13% year-over-year increase [4][7]. Group 3: Market Dynamics - Options market data suggests a potential post-earnings swing of about 3.16% in either direction for contracts expiring on October 31, which is slightly above Apple's average move of 2.2% after recent earnings reports [5]. - Heightened competition in China and tariff-related charges could contribute to volatility in Apple stock [5].

Core Insights - Earnings volatility is increasing in both the US and Europe, with investors preparing for significant stock movements on earnings days as the market shows signs of faltering after reaching record highs [1][5]. Group 1: Earnings Volatility - Options on S&P 500 Index members indicate an average expected fluctuation of 4.7% following corporate results, which is close to the highest anticipated move since 2022 [2]. - Actual stock fluctuations after earnings have peaked in the US last quarter and have been trending higher since 2021, with similar trends observed in Europe [4]. Group 2: Market Conditions - The increase in options prices reflects challenges for investors, particularly in a market characterized by rare drops, such as a 2.7% decline following tariff threats from President Trump [3]. - The current environment is described as a "macro catalyst vacuum" due to the government shutdown, leading to stretched positioning in single-stock options [5]. Group 3: Investor Sentiment - Investors are anticipating that stock-specific narratives will drive volatility in the near term, with option prices rising in expectation of this volatility [6]. - The rally in stock prices has been primarily led by high-flying AI and tech stocks, raising questions about valuations and future earnings outlooks [4].