The fourth quarter earnings season is picking up speed.

After several big banks reported last week, more financials will deliver results, with reports from Charles Schwab (SCHW) and regional banks like Fifth Third (FITB) on the schedule. But the attention will likely shift to Netflix (NFLX) and Intel (INTC), headlining the earnings calendar.

An optimistic consensus is forming: As of Jan. 16, 7% of S&P 500 (^GSPC) companies have reported fourth quarter results, according to FactSet data, and Wall Street analysts estimate an 8.2% increase in earnings per share for the fourth quarter. If that rate holds, it would represent the 10th consecutive quarter of annual earnings growth for the index.

Heading into the reporting period, analysts were expecting an 8.3% jump in earnings per share, down from the third quarter's 13.6% earnings growth rate. Wall Street has raised its earnings expectations in recent months, especially for tech companies, which have driven earnings growth in recent quarters.

Although Big Tech continues to set the tone, this earnings season promises to test the improved stock market breadth that has emerged at the start of 2026. Plus, the themes that drove the markets in 2025 — artificial intelligence, the Trump administration's tariff and economic policies, and a K-shaped consumer economy — will continue to provide plenty for investors to parse.

In addition to quarterly reports from Netflix and Intel, the earnings releases highlighting this week's schedule include United Airlines (UAL), 3M Company (MMM), D.R. Horton (DHI), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), GE Aerospace (GE), Procter & Gamble (PG), Abbott Laboratories (ABT), and Capital One (COF).

Freeport McMoran (FCX) beat adjusted earnings and revenue estimates for the fourth quarter, but reported lower production of the copper, gold, and molybdenum it mines. The stock fell fractionally in midday trading on Thursday.

Freeport McMoran said it produced 640 million pounds of copper, 65,000 ounces of gold, and 25 million pounds of molybdenum in the fourth quarter, down from the 1.04 billion pounds of copper, 432,000 ounces of gold, and 22 million pounds of molybdenum it produced in the same quarter a year ago.

Copper production was severely hit after a deadly mudslide in September took out the company's Grasberg copper mine in Indonesia, the world's second-largest copper mine. On the earnings call, CEO Kathleen Quirk said the closure impacted copper volumes by 10% for the year compared to its forecasts going into 2025.

Quirk said the company is on track to resume operations at the Grasberg mine in the second quarter of 2026, and Freeport McMoRan COO of the Indonesia business Mark Johnson added that he doesn't see \\"any real hurdles at this point to be able to start up as we planned.\\"

For the fourth quarter, the company posted adjusted earnings of $0.47 on revenue of $5.6 billion. Wall Street analysts were looking for adjusted earnings of $0.32 on revenue of $5.3 billion.

A rally in copper and gold prices last year helped boost the miner's results, though that boom is widely expected to slow or even backtrack in 2026.

\\"Global inventories of copper on exchanges have risen in recent months, during a period of sharp increases in copper prices,\\" Quirk said on the earnings call. \\"Most analysts are projecting that the market will be tightly balanced during 2026 with some projecting deficits and other small surpluses.\\"

McCormick & Co. (MKC) shares dropped after the company posted mixed fiscal fourth quarter results and a softer outlook.

The food company reported adjusted earnings of $0.86 on revenue of $1.85 billion. The Street forecast adjusted earnings of $0.88, alongside revenue of $1.84 billion, according to Bloomberg consensus data.

Volume growth was softer too, up 0.2% compared to expectations of a 0.9% increase. In its total consumer segment, which includes items such as spices, herbs, recipe mixes, and condiments, sales increased by 3.9% for the quarter.

Barclays analyst Andrew Lazar said in a note to clients that \\"the continued top-line strength for the core consumer segment is still a key differentiator.\\"

For fiscal year 2026, McCormick expects adjusted earnings to be in a range of $3.05 to $3.13, less than the $3.23 Wall Street was looking for.

CEO Brendan Foley outlined what was behind the cautious outlook, saying in a call with investors: \\"The environment across our key markets is marked by volatility and continued pressure from inflation, geopolitical and trade uncertainty, and threat of rising unemployment, and overall consumer confidence remains low.\\"

\\"Consumers, especially low- to middle-income households, continue to make more frequent trips to the store while purchasing fewer units per trip, a trend that was evident at the start of the year and accelerated through the fourth quarter,\\" Foley added.

Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi spoke to Procter & Gamble CFO Andre Schulten about the company's mixed quarterly results as consumers traded down to cheaper private label options.

\\"We are seeing sales growth in our categories in the US and Europe, albeit at a slower pace,\\" Schulten told Yahoo Finance.

\\"The consumer is choosing to be a little bit more diligent in terms of using pantry inventory, maybe dosing the product a little bit more carefully, maybe making choices in terms of how frequently they use,\\" Schulten said. \\"None of this is untypical. None of this will sustain. So we firmly believe the category over time will return to three to 4% growth.\\"

The Street has braced for softer results from P&G, with the stock down about 6% in the past six months.

\\"The K-shaped economy powers trade-down in basics but trade-up within the more discretionary Beauty sub-sector,\\" said Evercore analyst Robert Ottenstein on the headwinds consumer products companies are currently experiencing.

Read more about P&G results here.

Procter & Gamble (PG) stock dipped following the consumer packaged goods company's fiscal second quarter results and softer earnings per share outlook.

The Tide laundry detergent maker reported adjusted earnings per share of $1.88 on revenue of $22.2 billion. Wall Street analysts were expecting adjusted earnings of $1.86 on revenue of $22.2 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Net sales grew 1% year over year, with 5% sales growth in the beauty and health care segments, 2% growth in grooming products, 1% growth in fabric and home care, and a 3% decline in sales growth for baby, feminine, and family care.

P&G's new CEO, Shailesh Jejurikar, who began at the start of the year, stated, \\"We have confidence in our plans to deliver stronger results in the second-half of the fiscal year. We remain committed to our integrated growth strategy and are excited by the opportunity ahead to reinvent P&G and create the CPG company of the future, delivering long-term balanced top- and bottom-line growth and value creation.\\"

The company dialed down its full-year outlook for earnings per share growth to a range of 1% to 6% growth from its previous guidance of 3% to 9% as it faces charges from restructuring.

GE Aerospace (GE) reported better-than-expected earnings on Thursday as orders for commercial jet engines and defense technologies surged in the last three months of the year.

Fourth quarter revenue of $12.7 billion rose 18% year over year and beat Wall Street estimates of $11.1 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Adjusted earnings per share of $1.57 also topped estimates of $1.43.

The stock wavered in premarket trading, however.

For the full year, GE expects profits in the range of $7.10-$7.40 per share and adjusted revenue growth in the low double digits, in line with estimates.

Abbott (ABT) stock fell 5% before the bell on Thursday after missing Wall Street estimates for quarterly ​revenue, hit by ‌weakness in its diagnostic and nutrition business.

Reuters reports:

Shares ‌of the Illinois-headquartered company fell nearly 4% in premarket trading after it also forecast current-quarter profit below ⁠market expectations.

Shares ‌of the Illinois-headquartered company fell nearly 4% in premarket trading after it also forecast current-quarter profit below ⁠market expectations.

Abbott ‌has already warned its diagnostics division faces a projected $700 ‍million revenue hit in 2025, driven primarily by the steep drop‑off in ​COVID‑19 testing demand and pricing ‌pressure from China's volume‑based procurement program, which buys laboratory equipment and consumables in bulk at substantial discounts.

Read more here.

Reuters reports:

Self-driving tech company Mobileye Global forecast annual revenue ​below Wall Street expectations on ‌Thursday, a sign that slower electric-vehicle production ‌is weighing on demand for its driver assistance technology.

Shares of the Israel-based company fell 6% in premarket.

U.S. ⁠President Donald ‌Trump's tariffs on the import of vehicles and auto ‍parts have jolted the global automotive industry, forcing several carmakers to abandon forecasts and ​scramble to adjust supply chains ‌to mitigate the impact.

This risk comes as North American carmakers rein in their once‑aggressive electric vehicle push, struggling to keep pace with Chinese ⁠rivals, losing access to ​some tax credits ​and shifting toward more affordable models and hybrids.

Read more here.

Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley previews what to expect for Big Tech earnings, which are right around the corner:

The first Big Tech earnings of the new year kick off this week, with Intel (INTC) set to report its results after the bell on Thursday.

AI will undoubtedly lead the conversation. As in prior quarters, questions remain about how companies are monetizing their vast investments in the red-hot technology and whether hyperscalers like Amazon (AMZN), Google (GOOG, GOOGL), and Microsoft (MSFT) and social media giant Meta (META) will continue to increase spending.

Investors will also be interested in PC chip sales from AMD (AMD) and Intel, which could get a boost thanks to Microsoft’s decision to end support for Windows 10. But the ongoing global memory shortage could put a damper on their sales outlooks.

Apple’s earnings will also be in the spotlight, as investors anticipate solid growth on the back of strong iPhone sales in the fourth quarter.

And then there’s Nvidia (NVDA). The company’s future in China remains a major question mark as the chipmaker attempts to reestablish its business in one of the world’s most important AI markets.

Read more here.

Charles Schwab (SCHW) stock rose over 1.7% on Wednesday after the brokerage and asset manager posted 22% annual revenue growth, supported by record trading volumes, but missed the high expectations set by Wall Street.

Fourth quarter earnings per share of $1.33 fell short of analyst estimates of $1.35 per share, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Revenue of $6.33 billion also came up short of expectations for $6.39 billion.

\\"While we had anticipated some moderation in client trading activity towards the back end of the year, we instead saw an acceleration in activity, which contributed to higher volume-related costs, inclusive of performance-based compensation,\\" Charles Schwab CFO Michael Verdeschi said on the earnings call.

Net interest revenue grew 25% year over year to 3.1 billion. Asset management revenue increased 14% to $1.7 billion. And revenue from trading surged 22% to $1 billion.

Schwab brought in record client assets during the quarter, the company said, as total client accounts grew 6% year-over-year to 46.5 million.

The latest quarter from Netflix (NFLX) left Wall Street wanting more, Yahoo Finance's Brian Sozzi writes.

Netflix stock tanked 6% in premarket trading on Wednesday as its initial outlook for 2026 fell shy of analyst forecasts. Netflix sees 2026 sales growth of 12% to 14%, short of the \\"whisper numbers\\" of 16% that circulated ahead of the report.

The company also earmarked $275 million in costs related to the $72 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), impacting operating margin potential.

Adding to the list of concerns, Netflix said viewing hours in the second half of 2025 only increased 2% — well below the full-year growth rate of 9%. Moreover, with 325 million subscribers, Netflix trailed some analyst estimates on this key metric.

\\"We remain concerned that short-form entertainment (such as TikTok, Insta, X, YouTube shorts and Snap) is doing to streaming what streaming has done to traditional TV as consumers (especially younger ones) spend an ever-increasing time on these platforms amidst plummeting attention spans,\\" said Guggenheim analyst Jeff Wlodarczak.

He noted this shift is \\"fundamentally negative for long-form content.\\"

Read more here.

Oil services provider Halliburton (HAL) posted better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the fourth quarter, sending its shares up 2%.

The Houston-based company reported profits of $0.70 per diluted share, beating Wall Street estimates of $0.55 per share, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Profits were flat from a year ago, when the company also posted earnings of $0.70 per share.

Revenue of $5.7 billion also came in stronger than the $5.4 billion estimated. It was also higher than the $5.6 billion in revenue reported a year ago.

Halliburton's revenue in its Completion and Production segment was roughly unchanged from a year ago at $3.3 billion, while revenue in the Drilling and Evaluation unit was $2.4 billion, also flat.

While the oil majors have shown reluctance in exploring Venezuelan oil following the US's removal of Nicolás Maduro (ExxonMobil's (XOM) CEO called it \\"uninvestable\\"), oil infrastructure companies like Halliburton have shown more eagerness to revisit the country.

Reuters reported on Tuesday that the company has started looking at resumes for roles in the country, in a sign that Halliburton may be ready to reenter Venezuela.

Reuters reports:

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) on Wednesday forecast 2026 sales and profit ahead of Wall Street estimates, even when including a hit of \\"hundreds of millions of dollars\\" from ​the drug pricing deal it signed with the Trump administration earlier this month.

J&J is one of ‌16 big pharmaceutical companies that have reached agreements to lower U.S. drug prices in exchange for exemptions from Trump-imposed tariffs.

\\"We can't disclose ‌specific details, but it's hundreds of millions of dollars,\\" Chief Financial Officer Joseph Wolk said in an interview. \\"It's a credit to the team here that we were able to surpass what (analyst) expectations are for 2026 by a pretty sizable amount while digesting that impact.\\"

The company forecast 2026 operational sales of $99.5 billion to $100.5 billion, exceeding analysts' estimates ⁠of $98.9 billion, according to LSEG data.

Read more here.

Reuters reports:

TE Connectivity (TEL) projected second-quarter profit above Wall Street estimates on Wednesday, as the ​electronic component maker banks on a surge in ‌demand for its AI-related tools and products.

The company forecast second-quarter adjusted profit ‌per share at about $2.65, compared with analysts' expectations of $2.63 per share, according to data compiled by LSEG.

The growing global demand for AI-related tools and products has boosted investments in ⁠data centers and network ‌equipment, benefiting companies like TE.

First-quarter sales in the company's industrial solutions segment surged more than ‍38% year-over-year. The unit makes electrical connector systems and components for factory automation, and equipment used in data centers.

Read more here.

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) stock dipped in extended trading after beating expectations for the fourth quarter.

The online broker reported better-than-expected earnings per share of $0.63, compared to Wall Street estimates of $0.58 per share, as compiled by S&P Global Market Intelligence. Revenue rose to $1.64 billion, versus estimates of $1.63 billion.

Interactive Brokers benefited from a surge in trading activity during the final quarter of the year. The company reported that customer trading volume in options, futures, and stocks increased by 27%, 22%, and 16%, respectively, year over year.

The stock has started the year off strong, with an 11% gain since the beginning of 2026.

Listen to the earnings call here.

Netflix (NFLX) stock dropped more than 4% in after-hours trading as the company's fourth quarter earnings were closely scrutinized amid Netflix's bid to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).

The creator of \\"Squid Game\\" and other popular shows said it would ramp up new content in the year ahead and pause its share repurchase program, given the M&A deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.

Netflix posted diluted earnings per share of $0.56, coming in ahead of Wall Street's forecasts of $0.55 per share. Revenue of $12 billion also beat estimates of $11.96 billion, according to Bloomberg data.

The company's operating margin declined slightly to 24.5% from 28.2% last quarter but increased from Q4 2024. For the current quarter, Netflix guided for an operating margin of 32.1%, which was a bit lighter than the Street expected.

Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma reports:

The company also disclosed that it now has more than 325 million members worldwide.

Revenue for the full year came in at a tick higher than expected at $45.2 billion, compared to Wall Street's forecast of $45.1 billion. That's higher than the $39 billion for fiscal year 2024.

Adjusted earnings per share for the full year came in at $2.53, just a tad higher than estimates of $2.52. Last year, the company posted adjusted earnings of $1.98.

Read the full breakdown of Netflix earnings here.

Yahoo Finance's Pras Subramanian reports:

United Airlines (UAL) reported a fourth quarter earnings beat after the bell on Tuesday, a week after rival Delta (DAL) saw premium and business travelers boost its results.

Chicago-based United posted record operating revenue of $15.4 billion vs. $15.37 billion per Bloomberg consensus, slightly higher than in Q3 and up nearly 5% compared to a year ago. United reported adjusted earnings per share of $3.10 vs. $2.92 expected, with available seat miles coming in at 83.37 billion.

In terms of guidance, United sees 2026 adjusted EPS in a range of $12 to $14, compared to estimates of $13.04, and adjusted capex of below $8 billion.

United shares climbed 2% in after-hours trade.

\\"Our results are built on winning more and more brand-loyal customers — it's clear they get the most value flying United,\\" United CEO Scott Kirby said in a statement. \\"This was the highest-revenue quarter in United's history and the highest quarterly RASM [revenue per available seat mile] of the year providing strong revenue momentum that is continuing into 2026.\\"

Read more about United earnings here.

Industrial bellwether Fastenal (FAST) is battling a \\"sluggish industrial economy,\\" the company's executives said on an earnings call on Tuesday.

After reporting earnings per share of $0.26, in line with analyst estimates, the company's new CFO Max Tunnicliff said that the industrial sector has \\"continued to see mixed signals.\\" Tunnicliff noted that \\"while some areas showed resilience, others faced continued headwinds that impacted demand and supply chains.\\"

Shares of Fastenal, which produces an array of products such as bolts, nuts, screws, and studs for industrial manufacturing and construction materials, fell more than 2.5% in afternoon trading Tuesday.

Sales of $2.02 billion slightly missed analyst estimates for $2.04 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Touching on the company's heavy manufacturing markets, Fastenal president Jeffery Watts added that, while the company hasn't seen declines, demand has been flat.

\\"We're not really seeing [the economy improve], but we're also not seeing any declines in our manufacturing as far as the year-over-year usage,\\" he said.

U.S. Bancorp (USB) gained about 1% in midmorning trading on Tuesday after the Minneapolis-based super-regional bank reported better-than-expected earnings for the fourth quarter on the back of strong consumer deposits.

The U.S. Bank parent reported $4.31 billion in net interest income, a 3.3% annual rise that topped Wall Street estimates for $4.28 billion. Revenue of $7.36 billion also beat estimates of $7.31 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Earnings of $1.26 per share came in higher than the $1.19 per share the Street was expecting.

U.S. Bancorp said it achieved record consumer deposits in the fourth quarter and saw green shoots in the beaten-down commercial real estate sector.

\\"The effectiveness of products like bank smartly, more sophisticated pricing capabilities, and a significant overhaul of skills, training, digital tools and incentives, together with investments in our branches drove our performance,\\" CEO Gunjan Kedia said on the earnings call. \\"Additionally, commercial real estate loans also showed modest growth after 11 quarters of decline.\\"

Like other bank executives, Kedia weighed in on the proposed 10% credit card rate limit President Trump has floated. Kedia estimated that over 90% of U.S. Bancorp's clients would see \\"a detrimental impact\\" if that rate cap were enacted, and that 50% would face a \\"crushing\\" impact.

\\"We have observed that just in the last few days, the conversation around the rate cap has shifted more productively to options for customers to help them in the short term,\\" Kedia added.

Homebuilder D.R. Horton's (DHI) first quarter earnings were better than expected, but a sluggish housing market marked by affordability concerns weighed on results.

The company reported earnings per share of $2.03, beating estimates of $1.93, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Revenue of $6.8 billion also topped expectations of $6.6 billion, but fell from $7.6 billion a year ago.

Net sales orders increased 3% to 18,300 homes, which was slightly below estimates. Homebuilders have increased sales incentives in recent months to try and entice buyers off the sidelines. That, coupled with lower mortgage rates, has sparked some optimism that the housing market could improve.

D.R. Horton reiterated its full-year 2026 guidance for revenue in a range of $33.5 billion to $35 billion. The company expects to close 86,000 homes to 88,000 homes by the end of the year.

Listen to the earnings call here.

Post-it Note maker 3M (MMM) reported adjusted earnings per share that beat Wall Street expectations on Tuesday, but the stock fell 5% as part of a broader market sell-off.

The Minnesota-based company posted adjusted earnings, which strip out one-time costs, of $1.83, compared to analysts' forecasts of $1.80, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The company expected temporary charges from tariffs and stranded costs from removing PFAS materials from its products. In Q4, 3M realized $0.56 per share in net costs from litigation.

Sales grew 2.1% in Q4 to $6.1 billion, topping expectations for $6 billion in sales.

For 2026, the company expects adjusted sales growth of around 4% for full-year adjusted EPS of $8.06. Full-year operating cash flow is expected to be $2.3 billion.

\\"2025 was an important year for 3M as we build a strong foundation that is reshaping our operating model and driving sustainable value creation,\\" 3M CEO William Brown said.

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