Market Watch: S&P 500 Edges Higher as Investors Eye Tech Earnings and Economic Data
Based on the information gathered, I’ll now write a comprehensive article about today’s stock market.
Major Indexes Show Mixed Performance Amid Earnings Season
The stock market showed mixed performance on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, as investors carefully weighed upcoming earnings reports from tech giants and fresh economic data. The S&P 500 edged up 0.14% in early trading, continuing its five-day winning streak, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.12%, adding about 50 points. The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite moved up 0.2% as traders positioned themselves ahead of crucial earnings announcements.
This cautious optimism follows Monday’s choppy session where major indexes swung between gains and losses. The Dow experienced significant volatility, tumbling more than 240 points at its low before rallying approximately 300 points to close 0.36% higher at 40,256.45. Similarly, the S&P 500 finished Monday with a minimal gain of less than 0.1% at 5,528.75, while the Nasdaq slipped 0.1% to close at 17,348.35.
Tech Earnings Take Center Stage This Week
Big Tech earnings dominate this week’s financial calendar, with several industry giants scheduled to report their quarterly results. Meta Platforms (META) and Microsoft (MSFT) are set to announce their earnings on Wednesday, followed by Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN) on Thursday.
Investors are particularly focused on how these tech behemoths are navigating current economic challenges and implementing artificial intelligence strategies. For Meta, Wall Street expects sales to increase 14% to $41.4 billion with earnings rising 12% to $5.28 per share. Microsoft is projected to report an 11% revenue increase to $68.4 billion with earnings up 10% to $3.22 per share.
Amazon is anticipated to show 8% revenue growth to $154.9 billion with a substantial 39% earnings increase, while Apple is expected to report more modest gains with sales up 4% to $94.1 billion and earnings increasing 5% to $1.61 per share.
Larry Tentarelli, founder of the Blue Chip Daily Trend Report, noted, “Any pullbacks have turned to be buyable. I think the bulls are back in control.”
Today’s Key Earnings Reports
Several major companies are reporting earnings today, including:
– AstraZeneca (AZN): Expected to report earnings per share of $1.10, representing a 6.80% increase year-over-year
– Honeywell International (HON): Projected to report $2.21 per share, a slight decrease of 1.78% from last year
– Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (REGN): Expected to post earnings of $6.61 per share, down 17.06% from the previous year
– PayPal (PYPL): Anticipated to report $1.15 per share, a 5.50% increase year-over-year
– Kraft Heinz (KHC): Expected to report $0.60 per share, down 13.04% from the same quarter last year
Other notable companies reporting today include General Motors (GM), Visa (V), Coca-Cola (KO), Novartis (NVS), HSBC Holdings (HSBC), Booking Holdings (BKNG), S&P Global (SPGI), Pfizer (PFE), Spotify (SPOT), and Starbucks (SBUX).
Economic Data in Focus
Investors are closely monitoring several key economic reports released today, including:
– Advanced trade balance for March
– S&P Case-Shiller home price index for February
– Consumer confidence for April
– Job openings for April
The job openings report is particularly significant as it measures demand for labor. Forecasts suggest a decrease of 68,000 to 7.5 million openings, which could impact market sentiment as it indicates businesses may need fewer workers—potentially signaling a slowdown in economic activity.
Later this week, investors will receive crucial data including first-quarter GDP (expected to show growth slowing to 0.4%, the lowest reading in three years) and the April jobs report, with non-farm payrolls forecast to add 130,000 jobs, significantly down from March’s 228,000 figure.
Market Concerns and Outlook
The market continues to grapple with uncertainty surrounding trade policies and potential tariffs. With just two trading sessions left in April, the Dow and S&P 500 are on track to finish the month in negative territory, having tumbled more than 4% and 1%, respectively. The Nasdaq Composite, however, is up 0.4% for the month.
Year-to-date figures show declines for all three major indices, with the Dow Jones down 5.38%, the Nasdaq down 10.14%, and the S&P 500 down 5.99%.
Adidas recently warned about potential impacts from U.S. tariffs while confirming its guidance for the year. “While the company confirms its outlook, the range of possible outcomes has increased,” the company stated, noting the uncertainty around higher U.S. tariffs on imported goods from major sourcing hubs for footwear and apparel.
Sector Performance and Notable Movers
Among individual stocks, Monday’s top gainers on the Nasdaq included Peloton Interactive (PTON), which rose 5.18%, Intel (INTC), up 3.39%, and Charter Communications (CHTR), which gained 2.55%. Notable losers on the Dow Jones included Nvidia (NVDA), which fell 1.97%, Coca-Cola (KO), down 0.57%, and Amazon (AMZN), which slipped 0.31%.
Looking Ahead
As earnings season continues with approximately one-third of S&P 500 companies reporting this week, investors will be watching closely for signs of how businesses are navigating current economic challenges. So far this earnings season, about 73% of reporting S&P 500 companies have exceeded Wall Street expectations, slightly below the 5-year average of 77%.
The market’s performance in the coming days will likely be influenced by the major tech earnings reports, economic data releases, and any developments regarding trade policies and tariffs. Investors should remain vigilant as these factors could introduce further volatility into an already uncertain market environment.
