Next week promises to be particularly riveting for keen observers and investors alike. Giants from various sectors are on the radar, each bringing its own set of jubilations and tribulations. Here’s a brief yet meticulously curated list of the stocks you should keep a keen eye on next week: Apple, GameStop, Inditex, Oracle, and WH Smith.
Apple: The Evergreen Tech Titan
Apple, the veritable juggernaut of the tech world, continues to captivate investors with an unceasing flow of innovations and revenue streams. With a market cap that hovers in the stratospheric ranges, Apple remains a stalwart in both tech and investment circles.
- Product Pipeline: Apple will unveil its latest iPhone 16 in what looks set to be an exciting start to the week in tech, along with other anticipated updates around its hardware and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.
- Bloomberg reported that the company will release Apple Intelligence as part of a software update in October.
- Earnings Report: Apple’s quarterly earnings report is due, and analysts are holding their breath. Past performances have set a high bar, and deviation from the anticipated results could lead to substantial market movements.
- Apple’s third quarter results beat Wall Street expectations, with it posting earnings of $1.40 per share, above estimates of $1.35. Revenue came in at $85.78bn versus the expected $84.46bn..
GameStop: The Surprising Comeback Kid
The saga of GameStop has been nothing short of a modern-day epic. From being the darling of Reddit’s WallStreetBets to capturing the imagination of the broader market, the stock has had its fair share of dizzying highs and perilous lows.
- Financial Health: Meanwhile, so-called “meme stock” GameStop is due to report its second-quarter results after the bell on Tuesday.
- Strategic Initiatives:GameStop’s share price spiked again in early June, but the trend has since fizzled out, though the stock is up 28% year-to-date.
- In terms of company performance, GameStop posted a net loss of $32.2m in its first quarter results released in June, though this was lower than the $50.5m it reported for the same period last year.
- The company also reported that net sales had fallen to $882m in the first quarter, down from $1.2bn for the same three months in 2023.
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Inditex: The Fashion Powerhouse
While not as headline-grabbing as Apple or GameStop, Inditex is a behemoth in the fashion industry. Known for its flagship brand Zara, Inditex operates a colossal network of retail stores globally.
- Sales Performance: Expect a significant update on sales performance, especially considering the combination of reopening physical stores and a pronounced ecommerce push.
- Sustainability Efforts: Investors are increasingly focusing on sustainability, and Inditex has been making strides in this domain. Any new announcements related to eco-friendly initiatives could influence stock performance.
- The owner of other high street favourites including Pull&Bear and Bershka, said in June that sales had risen 7% to €8.2bn in the first quarter, as spring/summer collections proved to be a hit with customers.
- Inditex also reported a 7% increase in gross profits to €4.9bn for the period and an almost 11% rise in net income to €1.3bn.
Oracle: The Enterprise Software Maestro
In the world of enterprise software, Oracle stands as a colossus. Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle, said: “Throughout fiscal year 2025, I expect continued strong AI demand to push Oracle sales and RPO [remaining performance obligation] even higher — and result in double-digit revenue growth this fiscal year.”
- Cloud Expansion: Recent quarters have shown impressive growth in Oracle’s cloud segment. Updates on this front will captivate investors, particularly any news of new client acquisitions.
- Financial Results: As Oracle prepares to release its financial results, the market’s eyes will scrutinize earnings and revenue numbers, hoping for strong figures that exceed expectations.
- Acquisitions and Partnerships: Oracle’s strategy often involves key acquisitions and partnerships, and any such announcements will definitely stir the market.
WH Smith: The Retail Veteran
An age-old name in British retail, WH Smith has showcased remarkable resilience over the years. Offering a mix of books, magazines, and an assortment of general goods, the brand has a special place in the hearts of many.
Shares in WH Smith are no higher than were they stood a decade ago, point out AJ Bell’s investment experts Russ Mould, Danni Hewson and Dan Coatsworth.
They said that the stock has been “hindered by COVID-19 and its effects upon domestic and global travel, rail strikes in the UK and weaker newspaper and magazine volumes, thanks to the rise of online sources of news and entertainment”.
- Travel Sector Exposure: With significant operations in travel hubs like airports and train stations, any news related to changes in travel-related retail will be significant.
- Store Reopenings: Monitoring how store reopenings are performing will offer insights into consumer confidence and spending behaviors.
- Digital Sales: WH Smith has been making advances in its digital sales strategy, and any updates here could positively influence stock performance.
Each of these companies has its own unique set of catalysts that could drive stock prices in a favorable direction. Rest assured, these stocks are more than mere entities on a spreadsheet; they represent the ingenuity, resilience, and ever-evolving strategies of modern businesses. Monitoring these key stocks will keep both seasoned investors and avid market watchers on their toes, and who knows, next week might just bring more windfalls than wipeouts. Here’s to informed investing and a hopeful outlook!