24 days ago
CNBC Aug 29, 2026

Here are the 3 big things we’re watching in the stock market in the week ahead

This week, broad market attention centers on key earnings reports, particularly from AI chipmaker Broadcom and cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks. Broadcom will release its fiscal 2026 third-quarter results on Wednesday, with Wall Street expecting $3.24 earnings per share on $29.24 billion in revenue. Notably, its AI semiconductor revenue forecast of $15.23 billion marks substantial growth from last year, reflecting demand from major customers like Google, Meta, and OpenAI. Analysts are keen to see if Broadcom will raise its fiscal 2027 AI revenue guidance, currently exceeding $100 billion, amid challenges such as memory supply constraints and political scrutiny around data centers.

Palo Alto Networks reports earnings Tuesday night, with consensus estimates pointing to $3.35 billion in revenue and 98 cents earnings per share. Investors will closely watch for signs of AI-driven demand translating into robust growth, following last week’s positive results from cybersecurity peers like CrowdStrike and Okta. CEO Nikesh Arora has tempered expectations for an immediate surge, but the market looks for evidence of increased traction in next-generation security subscriptions and the performance of recent acquisitions such as CyberArk and Chronosphere. Guidance for fiscal 2027 will be critical in shaping investor sentiment.

CrowdStrike’s annual Fal.Con conference in Las Vegas is another focal point, starting Monday and featuring keynotes from CEO George Kurtz, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, and Intel’s Lip-Bu Tan. The event arrives amid heightened concerns over AI security threats, with CrowdStrike expected to unveil advancements in AI defense technologies and possibly update investors on growth targets. Last year’s conference helped propel CrowdStrike’s stock, raising expectations for new product launches and strategic partnerships this time around.

On the economic front, labor market data will be in sharp focus, with Friday’s August nonfarm payrolls report serving as the week’s centerpiece. Expectations are modest job growth of 62,500 with a slight uptick in unemployment to 4.2%, while the ADP private employment report and July JOLTS data provide earlier insights. Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s recent remarks underscore the Fed’s priority on price stability over employment, increasing market speculation of a September rate hike should jobs data come in hot. Additional reports on manufacturing and services PMI will provide broader context on the U.S. economy as investors weigh growth prospects amid inflation uncertainties.

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