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Week Ahead: Apple, Oil Majors, the Fed, and More

Apple, Amazon, Chevron, and Exxon will report this week; plus, what to expect from the Fed meeting and first-quarter GDP.

Week Ahead: Apple, Oil Majors, the Fed, and More
Jeremy Glaser

For Morningstar, I'm Jeremy Glaser. Welcome to The Week Ahead, our quick take on what investors should have on their radar screens for the week starting April 18.

It's another busy week as earnings will keep rolling in, the Fed meets, and we get some high-profile economic data.

Here are some of the questions we're hoping to get more insight on from earnings releases:

  • Will currency headwinds, sluggish macroeconomic factors, and a lengthened iPhone replacement cycle weigh on Apple's results?
  • Oil majors, like ExxonMobil and Chevron, have cut back on capital spending to preserve their balance sheets in the face of low energy prices. Will there be any changes to how these two management team are thinking about oil and gas prices?
  • Amazon faced concerns over its profitability last quarter. Can they show the market that they can grow both the top and bottom lines?
  • Twitter's struggles with attracting new users have helped push shares down over 65% in the last 12 months. The market will be closely eyeing engagement metrics in the firm's earnings report.
  • Will there be signs that Procter & Gamble's move to slim down and focus on its core brands is continuing to gain traction?
  • After several food safety scares, how successful have Chipotle's efforts to get diners back been?

Beyond earnings, the Fed's meeting on Wednesday will also be in focus. After some rocky data in the first quarter, it seems very unlikely that rates will rise at this meeting. However, we should still get some insight as to the central bank's assessment of the economy.

Speaking of that rocky first quarter, we will get the advanced reading of GDP this week; don't be surprised by a sharp slowdown in growth.

Consumption data, and its accompanying price index, should provide some more insight as to what is really going on with the consumer right now.

Other releases this week including new homes sales, the Case-Shiller home price index, pending home sales, durable goods orders, and consumer sentiment.

Stay tuned to Morningstar for our take on all of these stories.

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