Stock Market Outlook: Earnings Season Begins
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jan 26 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Earnings Season Begins: Wall Street prepares for a busy earnings week with major companies like Apple, Microsoft, and Starbucks reporting, which could significantly influence market movements based on performance expectations.
- Weather Boosts Retail: A massive snowstorm in the southern and eastern U.S. is likely to drive sales for Home Depot and Costco as consumers turn to these retailers to prepare for and recover from severe weather conditions.
- Eaton Spin-off Plan: Eaton announced plans to separate its vehicle and e-mobility businesses, which is expected to unlock immediate value for shareholders, leading to a nearly 2% premarket stock increase.
- Nvidia's AI Investment: Nvidia's $2 billion investment in AI infrastructure provider CoreWeave comes amid concerns over rising memory prices, yet analysts predict revenue acceleration into 2027, indicating strong long-term growth potential.
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Analyst Views on AXP
Wall Street analysts forecast AXP stock price to rise
21 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
12 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 301.000
Low
280.00
Averages
379.06
High
425.00
Current: 301.000
Low
280.00
Averages
379.06
High
425.00
About AXP
American Express Company is a global payments and premium lifestyle brand powered by technology. Its card-issuing, merchant-acquiring and card network businesses offer products and services to a broad range of customers, including consumers, small businesses, mid-sized companies and large corporations around the world. Its range of products and services includes credit and charge cards and complementary products and services, including travel, dining, lifestyle and expense management products and services; banking and other payment and financing products and services, including deposits and non-card lending; merchant acquisition and processing, servicing and settlement, fraud prevention, and point-of-sale marketing and information products and services, and network services. These products and services are offered through various channels, including mobile and online applications, affiliate marketing, customer referral programs, third-party service providers, and business partners.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Stock Trading Dynamics: The company has been a net seller for the 13th consecutive quarter, primarily raising funds through sales of Apple and Bank of America stocks, reflecting its ongoing focus on these core holdings and risk management strategies.
- Buyback Strategy Adjustment: Although the company has not repurchased shares for six straight quarters, it began buying back stock earlier this month, indicating a reassessment of current stock prices, particularly as the price-to-book ratio has decreased from 1.8 to 1.4.
- CEO Strategic Outlook: New CEO Abel emphasized patience in managing the cash reserves in his annual letter, stating the need for disciplined investment timing while also highlighting the importance of risk management beyond its large insurance operations.
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- Stock Trading Strategy: The company has been a net seller for the 13th consecutive quarter, primarily raising funds through sales of Apple and Bank of America stocks, indicating a cautious approach to these holdings, while Apple remains its largest investment, reflecting stability in its long-term investment strategy.
- Stock Buyback Decision: Berkshire has not repurchased any shares for six consecutive quarters, although it has recently begun to reconsider its buyback strategy, indicating a more cautious approach to assessing the intrinsic value of its stock, especially with the current P/B ratio at 1.4.
- Impact of Management Changes: New CEO Abel emphasizes the importance of patience and risk management, and while investors express frustration over the company's inaction, he believes that maintaining discipline and a prudent investment strategy is wise in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
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- Doubling Dividends: Over the past five years, American Express has increased its dividend from $0.43 per quarter to $0.95, representing a 121% rise and an average annual growth rate exceeding 17%, although the latest increase is slower than its historical average.
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See More
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- Net Stock Selling: During Buffett's last three years, he was a net seller of stocks for 13 consecutive quarters, totaling nearly $187 billion, reflecting his cautious stance on current market valuations, which could lower investor expectations for future earnings.
- No Stock Buybacks: Over the past 19 months, Buffett did not repurchase any of Berkshire's stock despite having $373.3 billion in cash and equivalents, indicating his conservative view on the company's stock valuation, which may affect shareholder returns.
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See More
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- Cash Reserve Status: Berkshire Hathaway ended 2025 with a cash reserve of $373.3 billion, down from $381.6 billion in Q3, yet still demonstrating strong financial strength, indicating the company's resilience amid market fluctuations.
- Stock Trading Dynamics: The company has been a net seller for the 13th consecutive quarter, primarily raising funds through sales of Apple and Bank of America stocks, reflecting its ongoing focus on these core holdings and risk management strategies.
- Buyback Strategy Adjustment: Although the company has not repurchased shares for six straight quarters, it began buying back stock earlier this month, indicating a reassessment of current stock prices, particularly as the price-to-book ratio has decreased from 1.8 to 1.4.
- CEO Strategic Outlook: New CEO Abel emphasized patience in managing the cash reserves in his annual letter, stating the need for disciplined investment timing while also highlighting the importance of risk management beyond its large insurance operations.
See More
Berkshire Ends 2025 with Record Cash Reserves
- Cash Reserve Status: Berkshire ended 2025 with a cash reserve of $373.3 billion, down from $381.6 billion in Q3, yet still demonstrating strong financial strength that allows for flexibility in future investment opportunities.
- Stock Trading Strategy: The company has been a net seller for the 13th consecutive quarter, primarily raising funds through sales of Apple and Bank of America stocks, indicating a cautious approach to these holdings, while Apple remains its largest investment, reflecting stability in its long-term investment strategy.
- Stock Buyback Decision: Berkshire has not repurchased any shares for six consecutive quarters, although it has recently begun to reconsider its buyback strategy, indicating a more cautious approach to assessing the intrinsic value of its stock, especially with the current P/B ratio at 1.4.
- Impact of Management Changes: New CEO Abel emphasizes the importance of patience and risk management, and while investors express frustration over the company's inaction, he believes that maintaining discipline and a prudent investment strategy is wise in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.
See More
Warren Buffett to Step Down as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway by End of 2025
- Portfolio Overview: As of now, Berkshire Hathaway's stock portfolio is valued at $307 billion, and although Buffett is set to step down as CEO, his investment philosophy will continue to provide valuable insights for new investors.
- Strength of Apple and American Express: Apple and American Express account for 19.1% and 14.6% of Berkshire's portfolio, respectively, both regarded as reliable long-term investments, with analysts projecting revenue and EPS growth rates of 8% and 11% from 2025 to 2028 for Apple.
- American Express's Resilience: American Express's business model insulates it from interest rate fluctuations, with expected revenue and EPS growth rates of 9% and 15% respectively over the next few years, highlighting its potential as a quality investment.
- Challenges for Kraft Heinz: Despite Kraft Heinz accounting for 2.6% of Berkshire's portfolio, its poor performance amid health food trends has led analysts to predict continued revenue decline, indicating significant investment risks through 2028.
See More
American Express Announces 16% Dividend Increase
- Dividend Growth: On March 2, American Express's Board of Directors approved a 16% increase in its quarterly dividend from $0.82 to $0.95, reflecting the company's commitment to rewarding shareholders amid strong financial performance.
- Doubling Dividends: Over the past five years, American Express has increased its dividend from $0.43 per quarter to $0.95, representing a 121% rise and an average annual growth rate exceeding 17%, although the latest increase is slower than its historical average.
- Market Performance: American Express stock has doubled in value over the past five years, with net income reaching $10.7 billion in 2025, a 45% increase from $7.4 billion in 2022, indicating significant improvement in profitability.
- Investment Appeal: Despite a dividend yield of approximately 1.3%, slightly above the S&P 500's 1.2%, American Express remains an attractive option for low-risk investors seeking quality dividend stocks due to its consistent dividend growth and strong financial results.
See More
Three Major Companies from Different Industries Increase Dividends by 15% or More
Dividend Increases: Major companies across financial, industrial, and technology sectors have announced significant dividend increases, with some firms raising dividends by over 15%, reflecting strong performance and confidence in future growth.
AI Demand Impact: Companies benefiting from artificial intelligence demand are seeing substantial revenue growth, with one firm expecting to double its AI revenue in the upcoming fiscal year, leading to a 20% dividend increase.
Stock Performance: American Express and Waste Management have shown solid stock performance, with American Express experiencing a three-year total return exceeding 70%, while Waste Management has been able to pass on inflationary costs to customers, enhancing margins.
Dell's Growth and Dividends: Dell Technologies has reported impressive growth, with a nearly 300% increase in stock value over three years, and plans to increase its quarterly dividend by 20%, reflecting strong demand for its AI-optimized services.
See More
Buffett's Retirement Marks Shift in Berkshire's Investment Strategy
- Buffett's Retirement: Warren Buffett officially retired on December 31, 2025, concluding his six-decade tenure as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, although he remains chairman, which may impact the company's investment decisions and market confidence.
- Net Stock Selling: During Buffett's last three years, he was a net seller of stocks for 13 consecutive quarters, totaling nearly $187 billion, reflecting his cautious stance on current market valuations, which could lower investor expectations for future earnings.
- No Stock Buybacks: Over the past 19 months, Buffett did not repurchase any of Berkshire's stock despite having $373.3 billion in cash and equivalents, indicating his conservative view on the company's stock valuation, which may affect shareholder returns.
- Successor's Strategy: New CEO Greg Abel commits to continuing Buffett's value investment philosophy, emphasizing share buybacks when stocks trade below intrinsic value, which could create long-term value for shareholders, but short-term market volatility remains a concern.
See More
