The earnings season picks up even more steam this week, with investors looking for clues on how companies are doing at a critical time for the stock market. There are 70 S & P 500 companies reporting this week, including Meta’s first quarterly results since the launch of viral AI agent Muse and “Magnificent Seven” counterpart Tesla . Netflix also reports after making multiple big organizational changes last week, as does automaker General Motors . Both the S & P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite fell last week as traders rotated out of tech stocks over concerns of mounting debt from the artificial intelligence build-out. Markets are also contending with high inflation and continued geopolitical tensions . Earnings results are still expected to be strong this week for many of the major companies reporting, however. The quarterly earnings season began in earnest last week, with major U.S. banks reporting . Goldman Sachs , Morgan Stanley and Citigroup beat earnings and revenue estimates. Wells Fargo reported mixed results, while JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America fell short on both the top and bottom lines. Overall, the reporting period is off to a strong start. About 45 S & P 500 companies have reported thus far, with 85% of those exceeding earnings estimates, FactSet data shows. All times ET. Tuesday General Motors is set to report earnings before the bell. Management will then hold a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Last quarter: GM raised its 2026 guidance as its North American business drove strong results . This quarter: According to LSEG, analysts expect nearly a 30% jump in earnings per share but flat revenue compared to this time last year. What to watch: Last week, JPMorgan analysts maintained their overweight rating on the stock but lowered their price target amid expectations of a 2027 outlook “likely to present a cautious tone” in part due to affordability concerns. Vehicle sales for the automaker declined by 5.5% this past quarter. What history shows: Data from Bespoke Investment Group shows General Motors beats analyst earnings estimates 89% of the time. Shares have risen after each of the last four earnings releases. Netflix is set to report earnings after the bell, with a call slated for 4:45 p.m. Last quarter: NFLX shares sank more than 7% after in line results as Wall Street closely watched its engagement numbers. This quarter: The streaming giant is expected to post 40% in earnings growth compared to the year-earlier period, according to LSEG data. What to watch: Barclays analyst Kannan Venkateshwar noted last week that, with engagement choices on streaming services becoming more deliberate, many viewers still view Netflix “as a service for library content,” despite Originals making up more than 60% of Netflix’s titles. “The issue may not be Netflix itself but rather that the world around Netflix has changed and Netflix hasn’t really changed enough with it,” Venkateshwar wrote. On top of that, Netflix last week announced plans to lay off around 1,000 employees, or 6% of its workforce, and replaced its chief content officer. What history shows: Netflix’s stock has struggled after reports in five straight quarters. United Airlines is set to report earnings after the bell, with a conference call on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Last quarter: UAL’s high fuel costs due to the U.S.-Iran war pressured earnings, with increased jet fuel prices potentially adding $6 billion more to expenses in 2026 than expected. This quarter: Analysts polled by LSEG expect revenue growth of more than 15% — but declining EPS compared to a year earlier. What to watch: Will earnings be able to defy the pressure of still-increasing energy costs? Competitor Delta Air Lines was forced to slash its full-year forecast when it reported earlier this month due to the high fuel prices, despite strong consumer demand. What history shows: United beats analyst expectations 75% of the time, and has done so in every quarter since July 2022. Wednesday AT & T will report earnings before the bell, with a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Last quarter: T rose 3% on better-than-expected earnings despite missing slightly on revenue. This quarter: LSEG data shows analysts expect nearly 11% in earnings growth from the year-earlier period but slower topline growth for the same period at 3.2%. What to watch: Bernstein downgraded T to market perform from outperform after news that SpaceX will acquire a nationwide spectrum portfolio sparked a sell-off of telecom stocks. Investors will look for clues on how the company can contend with the growing competition. What history shows: AT & T only beats bottom line estimates 59% of the time, according to Bespoke. But on average, AT & T’s stock is little changed following earnings reports. Meta Platforms will report earnings after the bell and host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. Last quarter: META’s cash flow took a big hit , sending shares down 8%. This quarter: Meta’s earnings per share are expected to have grown a whopping 460% compared to a year earlier, LSEG data shows. What to watch: Analysts across the board are bullish on Meta after the company released its AI agent Muse Sept. 8. The Magnificent Seven titan’s stock has shot up more than 15% since Muse’s release. Investors now wonder how that will translate to the company’s bottom line. What history shows: Meta beats expectations 88% of the time, Bespoke data shows, but its stock took nearly an 8% hit after its topline miss last quarter. Shares also fell sharply after the company’s Q1 2026 and Q3 2025 releases. Tesla is set to report earnings after the bell, with a conference call to follow at 5:30 p.m. Last quarter: TSLA posted weaker-than-expected earnings , with margins coming under pressure and cash flow turning negative. This quarter: According to LSEG, Tesla’s revenue and earnings per share are expected to have declined, with a 14.5% drop in earnings and close to a 1% decline in revenue from the year prior. What to watch: Wolfe Research is eyeing a potential merger with SpaceX and Tesla’s robotaxi business as potential positive developments for the Elon Musk-led automaker, but says they are estimating earnings below consensus in a “tough quarter for Auto stocks.” Tesla’s third-quarter delivery numbers declined 2% from the year prior but nevertheless topped estimates, sending the stock surging. What history shows: Tesla has fallen short of analyst earnings estimates in two of the last four quarters and only posts a beat on the topline 58% of the time, per Bespoke. Thursday Procter & Gamble is set to report earnings before the bell, with a call slated for 8:30 a.m. Last quarter: PG’s beauty division was its top performer, but the company only reported volume growth in one quarter for the 2026 fiscal year. This quarter: Procter & Gamble is expected to post revenue growth just shy of 2% and a 5.4% decline in earnings, LSEG data shows. What to watch: Citi last week maintained its buy on the personal goods stock and said it has an optimistic outlook on PG heading into earnings. “We expect a closing of the gap vs. consumption in the US in F1Q27 and potential upside in China given the competitive dynamics in diapers, resulting in OSG re-accelerating to ~3%,” analyst Filippo Falorni wrote. What history shows: Procter & Gamble beats expectations on earnings 86% of the time and has done so for every quarter since April 2023, Bespoke data shows. American Airlines is slated to report earnings in premarket, with a conference call to follow at 8:30 a.m. Last quarter: AAL cut its full-year earnings outlook once again due to high fuel costs. This quarter: LSEG data shows the airline is expected to post top line growth of 18%. What to watch: American has made a push toward premium over the past quarter as it tries to close its profit gap to rivals United and Delta, adding more first class seats and rolling out redesigned Boeing planes . CEO Robert Isom said at a conference last month that 30% of seats generate half of the airline’s revenue . What history shows: The airline exceeds earnings estimates 88% of the time. However, the stock averages a 0.4% decline on earnings days, according to Bespoke.
