A tough week for the market, and growth stocks in particular, saw the Nasdaq drop to its worst week since November. IBD backed off its Stock Market Exposure Guide to the 20% to 40% range. Still, the week ended with the Nasdaq lodging a 1.6% gain Friday as it rebounded from support at its 200-day moving average. That was enough to launch, technically speaking, a rally attempt.
That's good news for Action Plan readers, but the coming week will put that attempt to the test. President Donald Trump's tariffs against Canada and Mexico, and amplified tariffs against China are set to take effect on Tuesday. Friday's payrolls report could set the foreseeable policy tone for the Federal Reserve.
Earnings season is in its final rounds, but a raft of retailers report in the coming week. Costco Wholesale (COST) and AutoZone (AZO) sit atop solid gains heading into their reports. Cybersecurity will be in focus, as CrowdStrike (CRWD) leads a handful of key players.
Flutter (FLUT) provides a post-Super Bowl betting checkup. Broadcom (AVGO) delivers another round of chip-industry intel. Tariffs and Friday's payrolls data appears to be the week's big economic news. But in an upended world, there is no telling what news could break earlier in the week. So stay alert and ready, keep a close eye on the Stock Market Today updates and the more extensive market overviews provided IBD's daily Big Picture articles.
↑ X NOW PLAYING Is This The Bounce We Needed After A Tough Week? Tradeweb, Nutanix, Carpenter Technology In FocusThe stock market is struggling — particularly the big tech growth names. Still, a number of more diverse firms are doing well, including TradeWeb Markets (TW), Urban Outfitters (URBN), 3M (MMM), Carpenter Technology (CRS) and Brown & Brown (BRO). Insurance broker Brown & Brown is up 14% year to date and in a buy zone. Urban Outfitters and Dow giant 3M are offering early entries. Urban snapped above a downtrend on Thursday, putting it in a buy zone. 3M has lodged a five-day rally. TradeWeb and Carpenter Tech are setting up in shallow consolidations. Both have fashioned handle-like early entry points.
Stakes are high in the week ahead as data hints at slowing growth. Still, Wall Street expects Friday's February jobs report to hold to its recent moderate trend. Economists see 160,000 new jobs, most in the private sector, according to FactSet. The unemployment rate is seen holding at 4%. And jobs could rebound after a hitefrom January weather and the Los Angeles fires. The DOGE job cuts aren't expected to show up until March. Jobless claims, out Thursday, will be in focus after the past week's surprising jump. The Institute for Supply Management manufacturing survey index and ISM services index will provide an early read on economic growth in February.
Key Fed Inflation Gauge Cools As Spending Slows; S&P 500 Rises
CrowdStrike Holdings reports Q4 earnings on Tuesday. The stock has climbed 15% in 2025, rebounding from a global IT outage in July. Analysts predict adjusted EPS down 10% from a year earlier, with revenue rising 22%. Analysts expect subscription-based annual recurring revenue of $4.210, up 22% from a year. Amid the IT outage, analysts expect lower growth for "net new" ARR because of delays in signing contracts and expectations that renewing customers will seek discounts after the disruptions. Net new ARR is expected to fall 33% to $187 million. Okta (OKTA) reports Q4 earnings late on Tuesday. Zscaler (ZS) reports fiscal Q2 results on Wednesday afternoon.
Chipmaker and infrastructure software provider Broadcom reports its fiscal first-quarter results late Thursday. Wall Street expects the second largest fabless chipmaker, behind Nvidia (NVDA), to earn an adjusted $1.51 a share, up 37% year over year, on sales of $14.62 billion, up 22%. In the current quarter, analysts expect a 36% earnings gain and an 18% increase in sales. Analysts will key on Broadcom's custom AI chip business.
Amid Heavy Tech Selling, AI Stocks Broadcom, Marvell Set To Report Quarterly Results
The Healthcare Information and Management Systems society runs its annual conference from Monday through Thursday in Las Vegas. The confab is a showcase and forum discussing the intersection of healthcare and technology. This year's speakers will focus on medical data analysis, AI and cybersecurity in patient-centered care, as well as the future of mental health and addiction treatment. Among the keynote speakers is Olympic champion and mental health advocate Simon Biles.
Flutter Entertainment reports Q4 results late Tuesday, just as college basketball fans are gearing up for the NCAA March Madness tournament, which runs from March 18 to April 7. FactSet expects earnings of $1.96 per share, compared to a loss of $4.95 last year, and an 11% rise in revenue. U.S. commercial gaming revenue in 2024 rose 7.5% to $71.92 billion in 2024, according to the American Gaming Association. Sports betting increased 25.4% to $13.71 billion. The Super Bowl in early February generated a record $1.39 billion in legal sports wagers. Legal wagers topped $2.72 billion for last year's tournament. Meanwhile, FLUT stock is trading below a 273.69 cup-with-handle buy point.
Gambling Stock Up 94% Since June; Company Announces Record Preliminary Q4 Revenue
Target (TGT) on Tuesday headlines another busy retail earnings week. Expectations are low. Costco Wholesale has the best looking chart, and aims for single digit sales and EPS gains. AutoZone is in a buy zone. The chart for BJ's Wholesale (BJ) looks good, but analysts expect a 22% earnings drop. Best Buy (BBY), Macy's (M), Ross Stores (ROST) and others also report.
AeroVironment (AVAV) reports Q3 2025 results Tuesday. FactSet expects earnings for the drone and missile maker to fall 9.5% to 57 cents per share on 3% revenue growth to $192.4 million. Shares have been under pressure since November.
JD.com (JD) reports fourth quarter earnings early Wednesday. Earnings are seen rising 17% to 85 cents per share while sales are forecast to grow 8% to $46 billion. U.S.-listed JD shares have rallied 23% amid a strong start to the year for China stocks. JD has formed a cup base ahead of its report.
Veeva Systems (VEEV) is on deck to report its fourth-quarter earnings after the stock market closes on Wednesday. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expect adjusted profit of $1.58 a share on $699 million in sales, up a respective 14.5% and 11% vs. the year-earlier period. Shares are testing 10-week support within a consolidation.
Samsara (IOT) reports Q4 earnings after the market close on Thursday. Analysts predict adjusted profit of 7 cents per share, up 76%, with revenue rising 21% to $335.3 million. San Francisco-based Samsara provides sensors and cloud-based software to manage vehicle fleets and industrial operations. Its Internet of Things platform provides GPS tracking for trucks, and monitors routes and vehicle performance.
Funko (FNKO) reports Q4 results late Thursday. FactSet expects the collectibles company to report earnings of $0 per share for the period on a 2% decline in revenue to $286 million. FNKO stock has rallied about 129% from its April 2024 low. Shares are trading in a flat base with a 14.65 buy point.
Guidewire Software (GWRE) reports Q2 earnings late Thursday. Analysts project adjusted earnings of 52 cents, up 12%, with revenue growing 19% to $285.5 million. Foster City, Calif.-based Guidewire makes software for insurance companies.
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