Wall Street Week Ahead When Perfect Is not Good Enough

 StocksRunner
 
  StocksRunner
 
Follow  Message
 
 
 
Find out what happening right now and get all the pieces of the puzzle on important data activity before the major news sources break the story and see what are the trends
 

•  09 Nov 2025
 

•   AMAT  
   
  0.00%
•   ARCO  
   
  0.00%
•   ASTS  
   
  0.00%
•   BILI  
   
  0.00%
•   BITF  
   
  0.00%

Something strange is happening in the markets. Over 80% of S&P 500 companies have beaten earnings expectations this quarter the strongest performance since 2021. Yet the index has climbed just 1.3% since mid-October. Goldman Sachs found that stocks beating estimates are gaining only 0.3% the day after reporting, half the historical average. The market has reached a point where excellence is expected, and anything less faces immediate punishment.

Last week illustrated this shift. The Nasdaq dropped 3% in its sharpest weekly decline since April, while the S&P 500 fell 1.6%. Major tech companies delivered strong results but sold off anyway as investors grew concerned about massive AI spending with uncertain returns. Even Bitcoin briefly dipped below $100,000 as selling pressure spread across asset classes. After four consecutive months of gains, the market appears exhausted and searching for direction.

Valuations tell part of the story. The Shiller CAPE ratio has climbed to levels only seen once before during the dot-com bubble. Tech stocks trade at stretched multiples while investors question when billions in AI investments will translate to actual profits. The bar for positive surprises has never been higher.

This week brings crucial tests. Around 50 major companies still need to report, and the lineup is packed with market-moving names.

Monday features $PGY, $RGTI, $MNDY, $BXSL, $CART, $ASTS, $OXY, $PLUG, and $BTDR.

Tuesday brings $NBIS, $SE, $BYND, $DAVA, $OKLO, and $CWCO.

Wednesday roster includes $CRCL, $ARCO, $INVZ, $GFS, $GILT, and $CSCO.

Thursday delivers the week heaviest hitters with $WMT, $DIS, $BITF, $JD, $BILI, $AMAT, $NICE, $GLOB, and $SPCE but all eyes will be on $NVDA, which reports after the close. As the architect of the AI revolution, NVIDIA faces intense scrutiny, and any miss could trigger broader selling.

Friday wraps with $TWST $MNKD $SRRK.

The economic calendar is equally important, with October inflation data expected Thursday showing the slowest annual price growth since 2022. Retail sales figures and unemployment claims will provide fresh insight into consumer health and labor market strength.

The Federal Reserve recent quarter-point rate cut came with noticeable hesitation from Chair Powell about future moves. Markets currently price in 65% odds of another December cut, but the data presents a mixed picture. Job growth has slowed dramatically, with just 42,000 positions added in October. Consumer sentiment dropped to its lowest level since 2022, with 71% of respondents expecting unemployment to rise. Yet corporate profitability remains robust, creating uncertainty about the Fed next steps.

We're clearly at an inflection point. Valuations are elevated, economic signals point in different directions, and the market has stopped celebrating good news. The companies reporting this week and the economic data being released will help determine whether we see a year-end rally or a more substantial pullback. In this environment, every piece of guidance and every data point carries extra weight.

View All Headlines