Soft Jobs Report Could Impact Stock Market Next Week
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 10h ago
0mins
Should l Buy MCD?
Source: Newsfilter
- Job Data Focus: Cramer emphasized the importance of the nonfarm payroll report due next Wednesday, suggesting that a soft reading could lead the Fed to continue cutting rates, which would positively impact the stock market and reflect market expectations of economic slowdown.
- Earnings Reports Ahead: Several companies, including CVS Health, Robinhood, and DuPont, are set to report earnings next week; Cramer believes CVS is the only drug retailer worth owning amid Medicare reform, showcasing its competitive edge in the market.
- DuPont's Strong Performance: Cramer anticipates that DuPont's earnings report will highlight CEO Lori Koch's effective management, particularly after the spinoff of its electronics business, with the stock soaring 58% over the past six months, indicating the success of the company's restructuring.
- McDonald's and Cisco Outlook: Cramer noted that McDonald's maintains a competitive advantage despite beef inflation, while Cisco's stock has risen 10% year-to-date, with both earnings reports expected to provide critical market signals for investors.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy MCD?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on MCD
Wall Street analysts forecast MCD stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for MCD is 337.63 USD with a low forecast of 300.00 USD and a high forecast of 375.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
23 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
11 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 323.480
Low
300.00
Averages
337.63
High
375.00
Current: 323.480
Low
300.00
Averages
337.63
High
375.00
About MCD
McDonald's Corporation is a global foodservice retailer. Its segment includes U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate. The U.S. segment is its largest market and is 95% franchised. The International Operated Markets segment is comprised of markets, or countries in which it operates and franchises restaurants, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom. This segment is 89% franchised. The International Developmental Licensed Markets & Corporate segment is comprised of developmental licensee and affiliate markets, including equity method investments in China and Japan. This segment is 99% franchised. Its menu features hamburgers and cheeseburgers, the Big Mac, the Quarter Pounder with Cheese, the Filet-O-Fish, and several chicken sandwiches, such as the McChicken and McCrispy as well as Chicken McNuggets, Fries, shakes, sundaes, cookies, soft drinks, coffee, and other beverages.
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.
McDonald's Q4 Earnings Expectations and Analyst Upgrades
- Earnings Expectations: Analysts forecast McDonald's Q4 revenue at $6.8 billion, surpassing the $6.39 billion reported in the same quarter of 2024, with expected earnings per share of $3.04, indicating the company's ongoing growth potential.
- Price Target Increase: Guggenheim analyst raised McDonald's price target from $310 to $325 while maintaining a ‘Neutral’ rating, reflecting a cautiously optimistic outlook on the company's future performance.
- Same-Store Sales Growth: Guggenheim anticipates a 6.0% increase in U.S. same-store sales, alongside an upward revision of the 2026 EPS estimate to $13.55, demonstrating the company's strong performance in a competitive market.
- Market Sentiment: Despite retail sentiment remaining neutral, McDonald's stock has gained 11% over the past 12 months, showcasing investor confidence in the company's future developments.
See More
Investors Nervous About Robinhood's Bitcoin Correlation
- Labor Data Impact: The upcoming nonfarm payroll report on Wednesday is expected to show an addition of 80,000 jobs, and if the data comes in weak, it could lead the Fed to continue cutting rates, which would positively impact the stock market, reflecting concerns about economic slowdown.
- CVS Health Earnings Outlook: CVS Health is set to report quarterly results on Tuesday, and despite being affected by the Trump administration's proposed reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage, Cramer believes CEO David Joyner's management is impressive and the stock is worth owning.
- DuPont Performance Highlights: DuPont's earnings report on the same day is expected to showcase CEO Lori Koch's success in improving the company's performance, with the stock soaring 58% over the past six months, reflecting the effectiveness of its electronics business spin-off strategy.
- Robinhood Trading Risks: Robinhood will report earnings on Tuesday, and due to its close correlation with cryptocurrency markets, investors are concerned, as the stock has dropped nearly 27% year-to-date, significantly underperforming the S&P 500's 1.3% gain.
See More
Soft Jobs Report Could Impact Stock Market Next Week
- Job Data Focus: Cramer emphasized the importance of the nonfarm payroll report due next Wednesday, suggesting that a soft reading could lead the Fed to continue cutting rates, which would positively impact the stock market and reflect market expectations of economic slowdown.
- Earnings Reports Ahead: Several companies, including CVS Health, Robinhood, and DuPont, are set to report earnings next week; Cramer believes CVS is the only drug retailer worth owning amid Medicare reform, showcasing its competitive edge in the market.
- DuPont's Strong Performance: Cramer anticipates that DuPont's earnings report will highlight CEO Lori Koch's effective management, particularly after the spinoff of its electronics business, with the stock soaring 58% over the past six months, indicating the success of the company's restructuring.
- McDonald's and Cisco Outlook: Cramer noted that McDonald's maintains a competitive advantage despite beef inflation, while Cisco's stock has risen 10% year-to-date, with both earnings reports expected to provide critical market signals for investors.
See More
Next Week's Market Focus: Super Bowl and Earnings Reports
- Super Bowl Event: This Sunday, the Patriots will face the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, expected to attract a large audience and boost related advertising revenues, further solidifying the significance of sporting events in the market.
- Earnings Season Arrives: Companies like Coinbase, Ford, McDonald's, and Moderna will report earnings next week, with analysts focusing on McDonald's same-store sales, which are expected to rise due to promotional activities, reflecting consumer demand for value products.
- Economic Data Release: The delayed January jobs report will be released on Wednesday, with economists forecasting the addition of 70,000 jobs in the U.S., providing the market with the latest dynamics on the labor market.
- Inflation Indicator Focus: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) will be released on Friday, with the market closely monitoring this key indicator's impact on future economic outlook and Federal Reserve policy, potentially influencing interest rate decisions.
See More
Dow Jones Index Surpasses 50,000 for the First Time
- Historic Milestone: The Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassed 50,000 for the first time in 2026, marking a significant achievement since its inception in 1896, reflecting sustained investor confidence amid economic fluctuations.
- Tech Stock Influence: This milestone was largely driven by strong performances from technology stocks, particularly Nvidia's replacement of Intel, highlighting the market's heightened focus and investment enthusiasm in the artificial intelligence sector.
- Market Rebound: Following a downturn in 2022, the Dow rebounded nearly 13% in 2023, with this breakthrough occurring against the backdrop of the index climbing over 1,100 points, demonstrating a robust market recovery.
- Changing Economic Landscape: Despite concerns over Trump's tariff policies and the impact of AI spending, the market has shown resilience, indicating investor optimism regarding future economic growth.
See More
Tech Stocks Rebound, Broadcom Rating Upgraded
- Market Rebound: After a tough week, tech stocks rebounded on Friday, although Amazon pulled back post-earnings, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq still lower for the week, indicating ongoing volatility and investor focus on the tech sector.
- Surge in Capital Expenditures: Meta's capital expenditures reached $72.22 billion for the full year 2025, with plans to invest up to $135 billion in 2026, reflecting strong demand for AI infrastructure that is expected to boost earnings and backlogs for various companies.
- Broadcom Rating Upgrade: Given the capital expenditure plans from Alphabet and Meta, Broadcom's rating has been upgraded to buy, with expectations that it will exceed earnings estimates, and the current stock pullback presents an attractive entry point, showcasing confidence in the semiconductor sector.
- Economic Data Focus: Important economic data will be released next week, including the January employment report, with economists expecting nonfarm job gains of about 70,000 and an unchanged unemployment rate of 4.4%, as the market remains sensitive to changes in the employment landscape.
See More
McDonald's Q4 Earnings Expectations and Analyst Upgrades
- Earnings Expectations: Analysts forecast McDonald's Q4 revenue at $6.8 billion, surpassing the $6.39 billion reported in the same quarter of 2024, with expected earnings per share of $3.04, indicating the company's ongoing growth potential.
- Price Target Increase: Guggenheim analyst raised McDonald's price target from $310 to $325 while maintaining a ‘Neutral’ rating, reflecting a cautiously optimistic outlook on the company's future performance.
- Same-Store Sales Growth: Guggenheim anticipates a 6.0% increase in U.S. same-store sales, alongside an upward revision of the 2026 EPS estimate to $13.55, demonstrating the company's strong performance in a competitive market.
- Market Sentiment: Despite retail sentiment remaining neutral, McDonald's stock has gained 11% over the past 12 months, showcasing investor confidence in the company's future developments.
See More
Investors Nervous About Robinhood's Bitcoin Correlation
- Labor Data Impact: The upcoming nonfarm payroll report on Wednesday is expected to show an addition of 80,000 jobs, and if the data comes in weak, it could lead the Fed to continue cutting rates, which would positively impact the stock market, reflecting concerns about economic slowdown.
- CVS Health Earnings Outlook: CVS Health is set to report quarterly results on Tuesday, and despite being affected by the Trump administration's proposed reimbursement rates for Medicare Advantage, Cramer believes CEO David Joyner's management is impressive and the stock is worth owning.
- DuPont Performance Highlights: DuPont's earnings report on the same day is expected to showcase CEO Lori Koch's success in improving the company's performance, with the stock soaring 58% over the past six months, reflecting the effectiveness of its electronics business spin-off strategy.
- Robinhood Trading Risks: Robinhood will report earnings on Tuesday, and due to its close correlation with cryptocurrency markets, investors are concerned, as the stock has dropped nearly 27% year-to-date, significantly underperforming the S&P 500's 1.3% gain.
See More
Soft Jobs Report Could Impact Stock Market Next Week
- Job Data Focus: Cramer emphasized the importance of the nonfarm payroll report due next Wednesday, suggesting that a soft reading could lead the Fed to continue cutting rates, which would positively impact the stock market and reflect market expectations of economic slowdown.
- Earnings Reports Ahead: Several companies, including CVS Health, Robinhood, and DuPont, are set to report earnings next week; Cramer believes CVS is the only drug retailer worth owning amid Medicare reform, showcasing its competitive edge in the market.
- DuPont's Strong Performance: Cramer anticipates that DuPont's earnings report will highlight CEO Lori Koch's effective management, particularly after the spinoff of its electronics business, with the stock soaring 58% over the past six months, indicating the success of the company's restructuring.
- McDonald's and Cisco Outlook: Cramer noted that McDonald's maintains a competitive advantage despite beef inflation, while Cisco's stock has risen 10% year-to-date, with both earnings reports expected to provide critical market signals for investors.
See More
Next Week's Market Focus: Super Bowl and Earnings Reports
- Super Bowl Event: This Sunday, the Patriots will face the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX, expected to attract a large audience and boost related advertising revenues, further solidifying the significance of sporting events in the market.
- Earnings Season Arrives: Companies like Coinbase, Ford, McDonald's, and Moderna will report earnings next week, with analysts focusing on McDonald's same-store sales, which are expected to rise due to promotional activities, reflecting consumer demand for value products.
- Economic Data Release: The delayed January jobs report will be released on Wednesday, with economists forecasting the addition of 70,000 jobs in the U.S., providing the market with the latest dynamics on the labor market.
- Inflation Indicator Focus: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) will be released on Friday, with the market closely monitoring this key indicator's impact on future economic outlook and Federal Reserve policy, potentially influencing interest rate decisions.
See More
Dow Jones Index Surpasses 50,000 for the First Time
- Historic Milestone: The Dow Jones Industrial Average surpassed 50,000 for the first time in 2026, marking a significant achievement since its inception in 1896, reflecting sustained investor confidence amid economic fluctuations.
- Tech Stock Influence: This milestone was largely driven by strong performances from technology stocks, particularly Nvidia's replacement of Intel, highlighting the market's heightened focus and investment enthusiasm in the artificial intelligence sector.
- Market Rebound: Following a downturn in 2022, the Dow rebounded nearly 13% in 2023, with this breakthrough occurring against the backdrop of the index climbing over 1,100 points, demonstrating a robust market recovery.
- Changing Economic Landscape: Despite concerns over Trump's tariff policies and the impact of AI spending, the market has shown resilience, indicating investor optimism regarding future economic growth.
See More
Tech Stocks Rebound, Broadcom Rating Upgraded
- Market Rebound: After a tough week, tech stocks rebounded on Friday, although Amazon pulled back post-earnings, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq still lower for the week, indicating ongoing volatility and investor focus on the tech sector.
- Surge in Capital Expenditures: Meta's capital expenditures reached $72.22 billion for the full year 2025, with plans to invest up to $135 billion in 2026, reflecting strong demand for AI infrastructure that is expected to boost earnings and backlogs for various companies.
- Broadcom Rating Upgrade: Given the capital expenditure plans from Alphabet and Meta, Broadcom's rating has been upgraded to buy, with expectations that it will exceed earnings estimates, and the current stock pullback presents an attractive entry point, showcasing confidence in the semiconductor sector.
- Economic Data Focus: Important economic data will be released next week, including the January employment report, with economists expecting nonfarm job gains of about 70,000 and an unchanged unemployment rate of 4.4%, as the market remains sensitive to changes in the employment landscape.
See More
