Investopedia Markets News (all except PF)

Investors are eager to see Nvidia’s quarterly results, which are set to land Wednesday.
Credit: Kiyoshi Ota / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Anxious about Nvidia’s results? You’re likely not alone.

The stock sold off in the wake of its last three quarterly reports. Another re-evaluation could come Wednesday, when the world’s most valuable company hands in its second-quarter results.

The AI chipmaker has had an active summer. CEO Jensen Huang announced a new chip purpose-built to power on-device AI agents, while the company made progress on its attempts to sell chips in China, and struck deals to help finance the AI data center buildout. The stock, meanwhile, has had a volatile year, but it’s mostly risen, up 15% in 2025 though off its May highs.

Last quarter, Nvidia beat expectations and brightened its outlook, with Huang saying demand “has gone parabolic” as companies race to build AI infrastructure. Revenue climbed 85% year-over-year, with data center sales nearly doubling.

There’s a lot riding on Nvidia’s performance. For every $1 it collects, another $8 to $10 is spent on other technology, according to Wedbush estimates. Much of the economy and stock market’s recent growth has been driven by tech giants building AI data centers, pouring money into chips, memory and data storage technology, energy infrastructure and even construction equipment. The investment is so big that the Federal Reserve is monitoring its impact on inflation. 

Other segments of the economy will also get some attention this week. A number of software companies report, including CrowdStrike, Intuit and Salesforce, as well as discount stores, beauty retailers and apparel companies like Gap, Abercrombie & Fitch and Kohl’s.

Market Recap

The major stock indexes fell this week as investors scrutinized bond yields and doubts mounted that the U.S. would reach a deal with Iran. The yield on 30-year Treasury bonds hit levels not seen since 2007 amid concerns about inflation and government debt, though yields temporarily reversed their trajectory when the Treasury announced it would buy back more long-term debt. For more detail on last week’s trading, read Friday’s market recap here.

This Week’s Top Events

Here’s a look at major events in the week ahead. TradingView publishes a more detailed calendar, but clicking the link will take you off the Investopedia site.

• Tuesday, Aug. 25: Intuit (INTU) is slated to publish its fiscal fourth-quarter results after the closing bell and host a conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET. The parent company of TurboTax and QuickBooks beat expectations last quarter and announced plans to shrink its workforce.
• Wednesday, Aug. 26: The Bureau of Economic Analysis is due to publish the July Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index at 8:30 a.m. ET. The cost-of-living index rose 3.7% year-over-year in June, down from 4.1% in May. Other inflation trackers also show inflation has cooled, but the Federal Reserve uses PCE as its benchmark.
• Wednesday: Kohl’s (KSS) is set to host a conference call on its results at 9 a.m. ET, with the numbers expected before then. The department store said earlier this year it was focusing on $10-and-under items and drawing attention to deals on the sales floor. Kohl’s launched a turnaround campaign in 2025 as bargain retailers, including Burlington Stores (BURL) made inroads with shoppers. Burlington reports before markets open on Thursday.
• Wednesday: Nvidia (NVDA) is slated to publish its results at 4:20 p.m. ET, followed by a conference call at 5 p.m. ET. 
• Wednesday: CrowdStrike (CRWD) is set to release its results after the market closes and host a conference call at 5 p.m. ET. The cybersecurity firm beat expectations last quarter. Analysts have signaled that they see AI expanding demand for cybersecurity software companies, including SentinelOne (S), which reports after the close on Thursday. 
• Wednesday: Salesforce (CRM) is set to release its results after the closing bell and host a conference call at 5 p.m. ET. The software company handed in strong numbers last quarter, but its guidance disappointed investors.
• Thursday, Aug. 27: Best Buy (BBY) is scheduled to host a conference call on its results at 8 a.m. ET, with the numbers expected before then. The electronics retailer is in the midst of a leadership transition and has launched a digital marketplace as it tries to revive sales.
• Thursday: Dollar General (DG) is slated to release its results and host a conference call at 9 a.m. ET. The discount store posted better-than-expected profit last quarter and raised its outlook. Dollar Tree (DLTR) also reports on Thursday morning.
• Thursday: Gap Inc. (GAP) is scheduled to publish its results at 4:15 p.m. ET, followed by a conference call at 5 p.m. ET. The company trimmed its outlook last quarter. Peers Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) and Urban Outfitters (URBN) are both slated to report on Wednesday.
• Thursday: Ulta Beauty (ULTA) plans to release its results after the closing bell and host a webcast and conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET. Shares of the beauty company slipped after each of its earnings reports earlier this year. Bath & Body Works (BBWI) reports on Wednesday morning.
• Thursday: Marvell Technology (MRVL) is set to release its second-quarter results and hold a conference call at 4:45 p.m. ET. The AI chip designer recently joined the S&P 500 and received a shout-out from Nvidia’s Huang, who said Marvell could be “the next trillion-dollar company.”
• Friday, Aug. 28: Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh is expected to speak at the Jackson Hole Symposium, where he could discuss the economy and the interplay between the Fed and bond market, per CNBC.

More Investopedia Reads

The government bought back long-term bonds after the yield on 30-year Treasury bonds hit a nearly two-decade high, Polo Rocha reports. The Fed is talking about raising interest rates and meeting less frequently, Diccon Hyatt writes. Costco plans to sell Medicare Advantage plans, Peter Gratton reports. And in other health care news, a public long-term insurance program in Washington has caught the attention of experts nationwide.

BJ’s CEO Bob Eddy said customers “continued to seek us out for the value we offer at the pump.”
Credit: Jim Franco / Albany Times via Getty Images

Key Takeaways

• BJ’s Wholesale Club topped second-quarter earnings and revenue expectations, with revenue rising nearly 16% year-over-year.
• Gasoline sales were a key driver of growth, with pump gallons increasing by double digits.

BJ’s Wholesale Club posted better-than-expected second-quarter results. CEO Bob Eddy said a big reason was the “value we offer at the pump.”

Shares of BJ’s (BJ) were up nearly 5% in recent trading after the wholesale retailer’s second-quarter profit, revenue, and comparable club sales growth topped analysts’ estimates and the company raised its full-year earnings forecast.

The Marlborough, Mass.-based firm reported adjusted earnings of $1.36 per share on revenue that jumped nearly 16% year-over-year to $6.23 billion. Analysts surveyed by Visible Alpha had expected $1.17 per share and $5.95 billion, respectively. Comparable club sales of 11.9% topped estimates of 10.2%, while comparable club sales excluding gasoline sales rose 3.1%, ahead of expectations of 2.5%.

“Gas prices remained elevated during the quarter and our members continued to seek us out for the value we offer at the pump,” Eddy said on Friday’s earnings call, according to an AlphaSense transcript. “Pump gallons were up double digits, accelerating from the strong results we saw in Q1 and a clear signal of the share we continue to take. Gas prices are about as visible as it gets for consumers.”

Eddy said the “K-shaped economy persists,” and although BJ’s “drove comp growth across all income cohorts ... the vast majority of our growth continues to be driven by our higher income members, which is consistent with what we’ve seen for some time now.”

Gold was priced above $4,600 an ounce Friday, up nearly 5% this week.
Credit: Issarawat Tattong / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

• Gold futures reached above $4,600 an ounce Friday, as the metal headed for its biggest monthly gain since 1999.
• The rally followed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s plan to at least double buybacks of long-dated government debt—a move that knocked the dollar down about 1% since Tuesday.
• Even with the rally, gold remains below its record of just under $5,600 record set in January.

Gold is closing in on its biggest monthly gain since the dot-com era as a sagging dollar and mounting U.S. debt worries send investors scurrying for alternatives.

Gold futures rose 2.2% Friday to about $4,670 an ounce, up more than 5% for the week and more than 13% in August—on pace for the metal’s strongest month since 1999. The rally picked up speed after the Treasury Department said Wednesday it would at least double its buybacks of 10- to 30-year government debt to steady a selloff in longer-dated Treasurys.

The move initially nudged yields lower—they later bounced back and then some—but pushed the dollar down about 1% against a basket of currencies since Tuesday.

The buyback plan also landed just as U.S. government debt topped $40 trillion for the first time, helping revive what traders call the “debasement trade”—buying assets expected to hold their value as government currencies lose purchasing power.

Bitcoin, the other big winner, jumped 23% this week to its highest level since May.

Despite the comeback, gold remains below its nearly $5,600 record from earlier this year.

Samsung stock is up 135% since the start of the year.
Credit: Klaudia Radecka / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Key Takeaways

• Samsung on Friday announced a 2026 share repurchase plan valued at up to about $80 billion.
• While Samsung doesn’t have U.S.-listed shares like SK Hynix, it is a big holding of a popular exchange-traded fund, the Roundhill Memory ETF.

For the second time this week, a major South Korean technology company has announced a massive stock buyback plan.

Samsung Electronics on Friday said its board approved a 2026 share repurchase plan valued at roughly 90 trillion won ($64.95 billion) to 110 trillion won ($79.38 billion)—about five times larger than its previous record and the largest ever by a Korean firm. 

On Wednesday, memory-chip rival SK Hynix (SKHY) said it planned to buy back 40 trillion South Korean won ($28.79 billion) worth of shares over the next three months. 

While Samsung doesn’t have U.S.-listed shares like SK Hynix, it is a big holding of a popular exchange-traded fund, the Roundhill Memory ETF (DRAM), which invests in companies focused on dynamic random access memory (DRAM), high-bandwidth memory (HBM), and NAND flash—what Roundhill calls “the bottleneck of the AI revolution.” At more than 25.5%, Samsung is the largest holding of the ETF, followed closely by Micron Technology (MU) and SK Hynix. 

Shares of Samsung rose nearly 4% in South Korean trading today and have soared 135% since the start of the year amid the AI boom.

Burrito discourse heated up this month on social media, and it reflects Americans’ feelings about the rising cost of living.
Credit: Deb Lindsey / For The Washington Post via Getty Images

Key Takeaways

• A viral social media post about a hypothetical $20 burrito has ignited a debate about the rising cost of living.
• Typical burrito prices aren’t $20, but the debate reflects widespread angst over rising costs of everyday expenses.
• By one measure, the cost of a burrito is actually lower than it was in 2010 after accounting for rising average wages.

A specter is haunting the U.S. economy—the specter of a $20 burrito.

Burrito discourse heated up this month when Andrew Kolvet, spokesman for the conservative activist group Turning Point USA, posted on social media that one of the college students in his organization told him, “A burrito shouldn’t cost $20.”

Kolvet’s post exploded into the discourse about the rising cost of living, reaching 3.7 million views on the X platform, and provoked debate about which economic policies were more to blame for the rising cost of food.

“It just feels like basic things cost too much,” Kolvet wrote.

The complaint symbolized the widespread feeling among consumers that prices for basic items have risen too much, too fast, since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government data backs up the gripes. The cost of food away from home, the statistical category that includes take-out burritos, is up 37% from February 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

What This Means For The Economy

The debate over $20 burritos crystalizes consumer discontent with inflation, which has exceeded the Federal Reserve’s goal of a 2% annual increase since 2021.

There are a few reasons the $20 burrito has captured the public imagination, Jadrian Wooten, a professor of economics at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, told Investopedia in an interview.

One is that people’s expectations about how much things should cost are set in stone at a certain point and don’t really adjust to inflation. For example, if you remember Subway’s $5 foot-long ad campaign from the early 2000s, you might have cemented that in your mind as a reasonable price for a hoagie despite the two decades of inflation since then.

“We remember the $5 footlong,” Wooten said. “We forget that that was like 20 years ago. We just have this idea in our mind that fast food is the cheap thing, and then suddenly we’re checking out and things are $15, $20.”

Wooten said he had a bit of sticker shock recently at a sandwich shop when his bill came to $15—a pretty typical price that shouldn’t have surprised him, but it still felt a bit steep.

Economists call this phenomenon “money illusion,” meaning people’s tendency to think of money in terms of nominal value rather than purchasing power, even over long periods during which inflation has eroded the value of a dollar.

But could the $20 burrito itself be something of an illusion? As Wooten noted in a blog post, the $20 is actually fairly rare.

For instance, a basic chicken burrito at fast-casual chain Chipotle will set you back less than half that, an average of $9.42 nationwide, if you pick it up at the store, according to a website that tracks Chipotle prices. Only by piling up premium toppings or having it delivered could you push the price tag to the $20, Wooten noted.

Another issue is whether the price of burritos has truly increased at all, relative to incomes, since the pandemic began.

Wooten found that although the Chipotle chicken burrito has risen significantly from its $7.35 price in 2022, wages have risen even faster.

One way of analyzing the proportionate change is to calculate how many burritos a typical worker could buy with an hour’s labor, a metric similar to the famous Big Mac Index.

Jeremy Horpedahl, a professor of economics at the University of Central Arkansas, figured that at the average wage in 2010, it would take 20 minutes for the average worker to earn enough money to buy a burrito, and 18 minutes in 2026.

None of that means the burrito outrage isn’t rooted in real hardship.

In a column this week for the New York Times, economist Justin Wolfers pointed out that regardless of the actual outcome of the tug-of-war between prices and wages, high inflation can be especially painful. A raise feels like something that you’ve earned, while inflation seems like something that forces beyond your control have taken away from you, even though both are influenced by broad economic currents.

Statistical averages can also paper over vast differences between the experiences of individual people. For instance, people who stayed in the same job through the pandemic were less likely to receive raises that kept pace with inflation than those who switched employers for higher pay, according to a separate study released Monday.

“The ‘average worker’ is a statistical construct, not an actual person,” Wooten wrote. “If your wages have outpaced inflation, you may not understand what all the fuss is about. But for every worker whose earnings have outpaced prices, there’s someone else watching prices rise faster than their paycheck.”

All of these factors make the $20 burrito a tangible discussion point for economic topics that are often presented in charts, graphs, and figures.

“The burrito discussion is helpful because it reduces the economy to something you can wrap your hand around and taste,” Wolfers wrote.

The price of bitcoin has surged this week.
Credit: Andrey Rudakov / Bloomberg via Getty Images

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Bitcoin surged to its highest level in months, recently trading near $78,000.
• Cryptocurrency-related stocks, including Coinbase and MicroStrategy, also saw significant gains.

Cryptocurrencies and related stocks surged, extending their recent rally, as the price of bitcoin came as close to $80,000 as it has in months.

The price of bitcoin rose for a third straight day, recently trading near $78,000 after climbing above $79,000, its highest level in three months, overnight. The cryptocurrency has gained some 20% this week, putting it on pace for its best week in years. 

Cryptocurrency-related stocks also climbed. Shares of Strategy (MSTR), the world’s largest corporate holder of bitcoin, were up about 8% in recent trading. Coinbase (COIN) was up more than 9%, making it one of the best-performing stocks in the S&P 500. (For more on today’s trading, click here.)

The gains follow encouraging comments from President Donald Trump and a series of small regulatory wins for the cryptocurrency industry. 

Analysts at Jefferies told clients in a note yesterday that they believe it “remains premature to declare that the next leg higher has begun” for bitcoin and other digital assets. They’re continuing to watch for progress on the passage of the Clarity Act, as well as on new SEC regulations governing tokenized securities.

Ross Stores shares have added nearly a third of their value in 2026
Credit: Marcin Golba / NurPhoto / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

• Ross Stores shares gained Friday, a day after the off-price retailer reported better-than-expected earnings.
• The company raised its full-year earnings guidance and said it plans to open 115 new locations this year.

Ross Stores (ROST) stock jumped Friday after the discount retailer topped quarterly estimates and raised its full-year outlook, citing strong demand for discounted offerings. 

The off-price retailer’s revenue rose 13% year-over-year to $6.3 billion in the second quarter, with same-store sales increasing 10%. Net income rose 68% to $851 million, or $2.66 per diluted share. A $253 million tariff refund boosted earnings by about 60 cents per share, but profits would have still exceeded the company’s guidance without the refund. 

The company attributed its double-digit sales growth to higher traffic, as it attracted new customers and drove higher engagement from existing ones. “These trends reinforce our belief that the actions we are taking are not only driving the current business performance but that we can continue to build on our early successes,” CEO Jim Conroy said in the company’s earnings release.

Ross Stores raised its same-store sales forecast for the third and fourth quarters, as well as its full-year earnings guidance. The company now expects same-store sales to grow between 6% and 7% in the current quarter, and between 4% and 5% in the fourth. Full-year earnings are expected to be in the range of $8.61 to $8.77, up from the prior estimate of $7.50 to $7.74. The company also upped its full-year expansion plans to 115 new locations from last quarter’s forecast of 110. 

Ross Stores shares were up about 4% Friday morning. The stock has risen about 32% so far this year. 

Salesforce shares have lost more than a fifth of their value since the start of the year.
Credit: Joan Cros / NurPhoto / Getty Images

Key Takeaways

• Salesforce is due to report earnings Wednesday afternoon, with the software maker’s stock seen potentially jumping to its highest point since January in the following days.
• Analysts expect Salesforce to report growing sales and profits, as the company looks to prove to investors that its business isn’t being disrupted by AI.

Salesforce is scheduled to report earnings after the closing bell on Wednesday, with the software maker’s stock seen potentially reaching its highest point since January following the results.

Based on current options pricing, Salesforce (CRM) shares are seen swinging up to 7% in either direction by the end of the week. From Thursday’s close, a move of that size could see shares rise as high as $220, their highest point since January, or drag them below $191.

Shares of Salesforce have lost more than a fifth of their value since the year began. Salesforce, along with many other software stocks, have been pressured by fears that growing AI adoption could lead companies to build their own tools and cut back spending on external software.

Why This Matters to Investors

Investors and analysts will likely be watching Wednesday’s report for signs Salesforce’s business isn’t being disrupted by AI.

Earlier this month, JPMorgan analysts relaunched their coverage of Salesforce with an “overweight” rating and $250 price target, anticipating an acceleration in Salesforce’s core business in the second half of the year, and that AI disruption could be “limited to a small portion of the business.”

Salesforce is projected to report second-quarter revenue of $11.33 billion, up about 11% year-over-year, according to estimates compiled by Visible Alpha. Adjusted earnings per share are seen coming in at $3.28, up from $2.91 the same time a year ago.

Wall Street analysts are more bullish than bearish on Salesforce. Of the 18 analysts tracked by Visible Alpha, 12 consider it a “buy,” while five have neutral ratings, and only one has issued a “sell” rating. Their average price target of $252 would suggest more than 20% upside from Thursday’s close.

News of the day for August 21, 2026

The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite are all on track to post losses for the week
Credit: Michael Nagle / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Stock futures are pointing higher Friday after the major indexes lost ground Thursday; Treasury yields are holding steady; bitcoin and cryptocurrency-related stocks are extending their recent winning streak; SpaceX is on pace to close out the week in the red; and Ross Stores stock is surging after a strong earnings report. Here’s what you need to know today.

Stocks Futures Climb After Thursday’s Sell-Off

Stock futures are moving higher this morning after a steep downturn yesterday. Futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the tech-heavy Nasdaq were up 0.6% recently, while S&P 500 futures added 0.4%. Cryptocurrency-related stocks were leading the charge as bitcoin rallied to its highest level in three months (more on that below). All three of the major indexes lost ground in yesterday’s session as bond yields marched higher. The S&P 500 has declined nearly 2% so far this week, putting the benchmark index on track to snap a three-week winning streak. WTI oil futures were holding steady just under $87 per barrel, while gold futures rose nearly 2% to $4,650 an ounce, their highest level since May.

Bond Yields Steady as Government Mulls More Repurchases

Bond yields are holding steady after climbing yesterday, with the government considering boosting its planned Treasury repurchases. The latest moves have erased a brief decline earlier in the week following the Treasury Department’s announcement of a plan to buy back a larger amount of longer-dated bonds. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which affects interest rates on consumer loans, was just under 4.70% this morning. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC Thursday he may look to raise ​the government’s Treasury repurchases. UBS analysts said in a note yesterday that the Treasury’s move “buys time, not a solution.”

Bitcoin and Crypto-Related Stocks Extend Gains

Bitcoin is rallying for a third straight day, trading just under $77,000 recently after surging above $79,000 overnight to its highest level in three months. Bitcoin has gained about 20% this week following positive comments from President Donald Trump and a series of small regulatory wins for the cryptocurrency industry. Shares of cryptocurrency-related stocks also continued their climb, with shares of major bitcoin holder Strategy (MSTR) surging 7% premarket and Coinbase (COIN) up roughly 5%.

SpaceX Is on Pace to Finish the Week in the Red

Some of the shine has come off SpaceX (SPCX). Shares of Elon Musk’s rocket, connectivity and AI company fell 4% yesterday to close at $134, a dollar under their mid-June IPO price. Thursday’s retreat marked their first close below that level since Aug. 7; the stock had this month clawed its way back from record lows to come within cents of the $150 at which they started trading on the day the offering hit the market. SpaceX is still up about 24% this month, but it’s on pace to finish this week in the red. The stock was up 1% in recent premarket trading.

Ross Stores Stock Pops on Strong Earnings

Shares of Ross Stores (ROST) are surging 8% in premarket trading after the off-price retailer posted quarterly results that topped Wall Street estimates and raised its outlook. Ross Stores said it now expects earnings per share of $8.61 to $8.77 for the full year, up from $7.50 to $7.74 previously, thanks in part to a boost from tariff refunds. Ross also raised the number of new stores it plans to open this year to 115 from 110, with CEO Jim Conroy telling investors Ross Stores believes it is “well positioned to capture additional market share.” The company reported second-quarter EPS of $2.66 on a 13% year-over-year rise in sales to $6.26 billion, ahead of analysts’ projections.

Nvidia shares are up 12% from the start of the year
Credit: Getty Images

Key Takeaways

• Nvidia is due to report earnings Wednesday afternoon, with options pricing suggesting traders see the stock swinging up to 6% by the end of the week following the results.
• Analysts expect sales and profits roughly doubled from a year ago as big tech companies pour billions of dollars into AI data centers.

Nvidia is scheduled to post earnings after the closing bell on Wednesday, with traders anticipating a big move from the AI chip leader’s stock.

Based on current options pricing, traders expect Nvidia (NVDA) shares could swing up to about 6% in either direction by the end of the week following the results. A move of that size from the stock’s recent level around $209 could push the shares as high as $221, approaching their May record just above $236, or drag them back below $198.

Nvidia shares have climbed 12% since the start of the year, but are still more than 10% off their May highs after a broader pullback in the AI trade amid concerns around the sustainability of spending on America’s AI buildout.

Why This Matters to Investors

Nvidia could face a particularly challenging setup heading into Wednesday’s earnings, as worries about an AI bubble have weighed on sentiment.

Though analysts widely expect Nvidia to post strong results, quarterly reports have tended to be a sell-the-news event for the chipmaker. Nvidia shares fell the day after each of the company’s last four quarterly reports, and Morgan Stanley analysts told clients recently that they “aren’t necessarily optimistic that trend reverses.” Investor attention could focus on Nvidia’s defense of its market share in the face of growing competition, along with worries about circular financing, Morgan Stanley wrote.

Nvidia is projected to report a record $92.38 billion in second-quarter revenue, along with adjusted earnings of $2.10 per share, both roughly doubling year-over-year. $85.92 billion of that revenue is expected to come from Nvidia’s data center segment, up 109% from a year ago, per Visible Alpha estimates.

Analysts remain overwhelmingly bullish on Nvidia stock despite the recent volatility, with all but one of the 13 analysts tracked by Visible Alpha recommending buying the stock. Their mean target of $299 would suggest more than 40% upside from the stock’s recent level.

This article has been updated since it was first published to reflect more recent prices and analyst estimates.