The stock market in 2026 has dealt a tough blow to small- and mid-cap stocks, and the Q4 earnings season has been a rough cycle for any companies in the midst of uncomfortable business transitions. Amid a very nervous stock market that hasWith combined experience of covering technology companies on Wall Street and working in Silicon Valley, and serving as an outside adviser to several seed-round startups, Gary Alexander has exposure to many of the themes shaping the industry today. He has been a regular con ...

Core Insights - The stock market in 2026 is experiencing significant volatility, particularly during the Q4 earnings season, which is leading to substantial post-earnings reactions [1] Group 1: Market Trends - The primary theme for investors is the ongoing volatility in the stock market, exacerbated by the Q4 earnings season [1] Group 2: Analyst Background - Gary Alexander has extensive experience in covering technology companies on Wall Street and has worked in Silicon Valley, providing insights into current industry themes [1] - He has been a contributor on Seeking Alpha since 2017 and has been featured in various web publications, with his articles reaching popular trading apps like Robinhood [1]

Core Theme - The stock market in 2026 is experiencing significant volatility, particularly during the Q4 earnings season, which is leading to substantial post-earnings reactions [1] Industry Insights - The technology sector is heavily influenced by various themes, as highlighted by the experience of analysts who have worked in both Wall Street and Silicon Valley [1]

This live blog is refreshed periodically throughout the day with the latest updates from the market.To find the latest Stock Market Today threads, click here. Happy Friday. This is TheStreet’s Stock Market Today for Jan. 16, 2026. You can follow the latest updates on the market here in our daily live blog. Update: 4:03 p.m. ET Closing Bell The U.S. markets are now closed for the day. It was a pretty negative one on the whole, with about 55.8% (3,086) U.S. issues declining against 40.3% (2,230) advancin ...

Core Insights - The Q4 earnings season began positively with JPMorgan and Delta Air Lines reporting favorable results, although both stocks fell over 2% due to cautious economic outlooks [1][2] JPMorgan's Q4 Results - JPMorgan reported Q4 sales of $45.79 billion, a 7% increase from $42.76 billion in the previous year, surpassing expectations of $45.69 billion [4] - The bank's net income was $13 billion, with adjusted EPS of $5.23, exceeding Q4 earnings expectations of $4.87 per share by 7% and rising 9% from $4.81 a year ago [6] - A 17% increase in market revenue, driven by fixed income, currencies, commodities, and equities, was a key growth factor, while investment banking continued to struggle [4][6] - JPMorgan's full-year sales increased 3% to $185.6 billion, with full-year EPS rising 1% to $20.02 [10] Delta Air Lines' Q4 Results - Delta's Q4 sales rose 3% to $16 billion, exceeding estimates of $15.62 billion, despite a 2% revenue reduction due to the U.S. government shutdown [8] - The airline reported a net income of $1.22 billion, with adjusted EPS of $1.55, slightly above estimates of $1.53 but down from $1.85 in the previous year [9] - Delta's full-year sales reached a record $63.4 billion, with management highlighting strong free cash flow generation of $4.6 billion [11] Economic Insights - JPMorgan's CEO noted the resilience of the U.S. economy but warned of geopolitical tensions and potential inflation challenges [2] - Delta indicated a bifurcation in consumer spending, with high-income travelers maintaining strong spending while price-sensitive consumers show signs of fatigue [3] Future Guidance - JPMorgan expects FY26 net interest income to rise to $103 billion, with projected sales of $190.86 billion and EPS of $20.97 [10] - Delta anticipates FY26 EPS between $6.50 and $7.50, indicating over 20% growth, with Q1 EPS expected at $0.50-$0.90 [12] Valuation and Investment Considerations - Both JPMorgan and Delta are considered attractively valued, with JPM trading at 15X forward earnings and Delta at 9X [13] - Analysts may find it appealing to buy into these stocks post-earnings selloff, provided economic outlooks and EPS revisions remain stable [14]