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This week is all about the American pocketbook, with a new jobs report offering a view of the labor market and earnings from food and travel giants shedding light on how people are spending.
April jobs data, due Friday, could help clarify whether March’s jump in hiring was an anomaly, or the beginning of a trend. Employers added more jobs than expected in March, breaking from months of relatively low hiring and firing. Many companies have avoided shaking up their workforces too much while waiting to see how the economy reacts to tariffs, an immigration crackdown, and rising energy prices brought on by war with Iran. The Fed will also be watching the job market as it plots its next interest-rate moves.
Big tech companies dominated last week’s earnings headlines. This week, attention shifts to consumer goods and services companies ranging from The Walt Disney Co. to Wendy’s. Americans, especially higher-income households, have continued spending, despite feeling downbeat about the economy in recent months.
Consumer spending fuels the majority of economic growth in the U.S., and economic activity—as measured by GDP—came in below expectations last quarter. Investors will be on the lookout for signs that consumers are cutting back.
Results from Marriott International and Airbnb may shed light on how rising airfares and gas prices are impacting travel. Earnings from fast-food companies, including the parent company of Burger King, are slated to land as the industry grapples with sluggish demand from lower-income customers.
Market Recap
The three major U.S. indexes all logged weekly gains as the calendar turned to a new month after a blockbuster April. Earnings results from tech giants shaped the week as investors showed a renewed appetite for risk. On Friday, the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite finished at record highs. For more, read Friday markets roundup here.
This Week’s Top Events
Here’s a look at notable events in the week ahead. TradingView publishes a more detailed calendar, but clicking the link will take you off the Investopedia site.
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Monday, May 4: Palantir Technologies (PLTR) is set to release its first-quarter results after the closing bell and host a webcast at 5 p.m. ET. The software company beat expectations last quarter and got a nod of approval from the president. Shares have recently slumped as investors are wary of competition from Anthropic.
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Tuesday, May 5: Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) is scheduled to report first-quarter results after the stock market closes, and hold a conference call at 5 p.m. ET. AMD shares have climbed as recent headlines suggest the AI expansion is fueling demand for its chips. The company announced plans to raise prices and a massive deal with Meta (META).
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Wednesday, May 6: Marriott International (MAR) is slated to release its first-quarter results at 7 a.m. ET, followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET. Airbnb (ABNB), is set to report Thursday. Travel spending has held up, according to United Airlines (UAL), although the carrier also expects higher prices to weigh on sales in the back half of the year.
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Wednesday: Restaurant Brands Group (QSR), which owns Popeyes and Burger King, is set to release first-quarter results, followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET. McDonald’s (MCD) first-quarter call is on Thursday, while Wendy’s (WEN) earnings are due Friday.
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Wednesday: Walt Disney Co. (DIS) is scheduled to publish its fiscal second-quarter results before the opeaning bell, and hold a live webcast at 8:30 a.m. ET. Investors will look for details on how CEO Josh D’Amaro plans to grow Disney’s streaming, theme park and cruise businesses.
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Friday, May 8: The Bureau of Labor Statistics is set to release April job market data at 8:30 a.m. ET. Employers added some 178,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.3%.
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Friday: The University of Michigan is scheduled to release May data on consumer sentiment at 10 a.m. ET. The index recorded a 6% drop from February to March, though there are signs the ceasefire with Iran has brightened the mood.
