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Retail earnings put consumer in focus

Wall Street will get a series of fresh reads on the health of the U.S. consumer next week, with earnings from Walmart, Target, and Home Depot taking center stage during a relatively quiet stretch for economic data.

Home Depot (HD) kicks off the retail reports Tuesday, giving investors a look at demand for home improvement as consumers continue to contend with elevated borrowing costs and a sluggish housing market.

Target (TGT) follows Wednesday, with investors watching for signs of strength in discretionary spending and an update on the retailer’s outlook for the second half of the year.

Walmart (WMT) takes center stage Thursday. Investors will be looking for the retail giant’s latest read on consumer spending as well as the impact of tariffs and pricing. Walmart has topped earnings estimates in 15 of the past 16 quarters, while its outlook could move other retailers, including Costco (COST), Kroger (KR), and Albertsons (ACI).

Other notable earnings reports include Baidu (BIDU) on Tuesday; Analog Devices (ADI), TJX Companies (TJX), Lowe’s (LOW), and Estee Lauder (EL) on Wednesday; and Alibaba (BABA), Deere (DE), and Ross Stores (ROST) on Thursday.

On the economic front, the Federal Reserve will release minutes from its July meeting Wednesday. Investors will be looking for more detail on the debate among policymakers after the central bank held rates steady despite three hawkish dissents from Lorie Logan, Beth Hammack, and Neel Kashkari.

Friday’s global PMI reports will provide a fresh look at economic activity, while regional U.S. manufacturing data include Monday’s Empire State index and Thursday’s Philly Fed manufacturing report.

Elsewhere, Reddit (RDDT) joins the S&P 500 on Tuesday, replacing AvalonBay Communities (AVB).

And the English Premier League season kicks off Friday, putting Manchester United (MANU) and sports betting operators DraftKings (DKNG), Flutter Entertainment (FLUT), and BetMGM parent MGM Resorts (MGM) in focus.

Earnings spotlight: Tuesday, August 18: BHP Group (BHP), Home Depot (HD), Baidu (BIDU). See the full earnings calendar.

Earnings spotlight: Wednesday, August 19: Target (TGT), Lowe’s (LOW). See the full earnings calendar.

Earnings spotlight: Thursday, August 20: Walmart (WMT), Alibaba (BABA). See the full earnings calendar.

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Investing Group Spotlight

BridgeBio Pharma is entering an important stage of growth, driven by the continued commercial success of Attruby and Beyonttra and a promising pipeline of late-stage therapies. With multiple potential product launches ahead and improving financial prospects, the company is attracting increased investor attention. In the following analysis, ONeil Trader explores BridgeBio’s recent performance, growth opportunities, and outlook. The following article provides a more detailed overview of the company’s prospects and key catalysts.

(Free Full Article) Here’s a brief summary of the article:

BridgeBio Pharma delivered a strong second quarter, beating consensus estimates by $24 million and reaffirming expectations for more than $1 billion in 2026 Attruby/Beyonttra sales. Attruby continued its strong U.S. growth, with sales rising 311% year over year to $222.4 million, while Beyonttra royalties in Europe increased 62% sequentially. Management also highlighted encouraging evidence of Attruby’s potential kidney benefits and initiated a trial in a new rare kidney disease.

BridgeBio completed FDA submissions for three late-stage candidates, BBP-418, encaleret, and infigratinib, with potential launches through mid-2027 and combined peak sales estimates of $4 billion. A $1 billion preferred equity raise also strengthened the balance sheet and supports continued commercial investment.
With Attruby and Beyonttra continuing to grow and three potential product launches approaching, the author expects BridgeBio to become cash flow positive within 3 to 4 quarters and significantly profitable by early 2028. The author remains bullish despite the stock’s recent consolidation.

If you’re looking for high-growth opportunities, particularly in biotech, ONeil Trader’s Growth Stock Forum offers focused research, portfolio insights, and ongoing analysis of stocks with attractive risk/reward potential. Members get access to a model portfolio, Top Picks, Momentum Ideas, investment thesis summaries, weekly and monthly reviews, upcoming catalyst tracking, and in-depth stock analysis. Start with an introductory price of just $50 for the first month, then continue at $599/year. Learn more >>

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Insider Watch

Check out the week’s top insider trades, highlighting significant purchases and sales by investors, directors, and executives. Notable transactions took place at Netflix (NFLX), Merck (MRK), and Pfizer (PFE).