While bulls continue to lead the markets forward, investor focus will likely shift to macro indicators, such as interest rates and , as the Federal Reserve begins its two-day this week.
Although the central bank is unlikely to make any moves on rates, it could provide some insights into how it sees the economic rebound progressing and whether the need to remove some monetary stimulus has indeed arrived.
So far, stocks investors don’t see any danger to their favorable views on the market. The finished on Friday at a new high, posting a 0.4% gain for the week. Keeping this macro picture in mind, following are three stocks we’ll be monitoring in the coming week.
1. Oracle
Oracle Corporation (NYSE:) will release its fiscal 2021, fourth-quarter earnings report on Tuesday, June 15, after the market close. Analysts are projecting $1.31 a share profit on sales of $11.02 billion.
The shares of the software company are surging this year on for the tech giant’s cloud computing services after years of stagnant sales. Its stock closed on Friday at $82.90 after climbing 28% this year, more than three times the return produced by the benchmark Index.
Growth prospects are improving as the company focuses on cloud computing services in an effort to accelerate revenue growth at the world’s second-largest software maker. Customer interest in the firm’s internet-based applications has finally offset declining demand for its legacy tools.
2. Adobe Systems
Another stock that will come under investor scrutiny this coming week is Adobe Systems (NASDAQ:). The software manufacturer, whose product lineup includes Photoshop, will release its fiscal 2021, second quarter earnings on Thursday, June 17 after the close. Wall Street expects $2.81 EPS and $3.73 billion of revenue.
Adobe’s during the pandemic showed that the software maker’s cloud-based creative tools are in great demand. Chief Executive Officer Shantanu Narayen has offered new creative software tools to clients to accelerate Adobe’s revenue growth.
In March, the company raised its 2021 fiscal year revenue forecast to $15.45 billion from $15.15 billion and said sales in its main digital media segment would increase 22% after earlier projecting 19% growth. Adjusted earnings will be about $11.85 a share, an increase from $11.20 previously forecast.
The company introduced a version of its popular app—Illustrator—for Apple’s (NASDAQ:) iPad, back in October, as part of an effort to expand its products’ footprint to include more devices used by professionals and hobbyists.
Consumers of Document Cloud products—including Adobe Acrobat PDF and electronic signature software—have surged with millions working from home. Adobe shares closed on Friday at $541.26 after rising 8% this year.
3. Kroger
Supermarket behemoth, Kroger Company (NYSE:) will report its Q1, 2021 earnings on Thursday before the market opens. Analysts are expecting $0.98 a share profit on sales of $39.56 billion.
Kroger’s stock has gained 22% this year on the grocer’s surging and its participation in the U.S. vaccination campaign against COVID-19. The company is delivering millions of vaccinations to people nationwide, creating more repeat customers for its pharmacies and supermarket offerings. Kroger generated record sales of $132.5 billion in the year ended Jan. 30.
Kroger is betting that its in-store pharmacies and clinics can keep its supermarkets central to consumers’ lives even as the coronavirus recedes. Next week’s earnings could provide some insight to investors regarding the path it intends to take once the pandemic is contained.
“COVID has taught us that pharmacy is always really important and will be important as we go forward,” Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chief executive, told WSJ.com in March.