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2026-05-18 11:05:19
[US Stock Market Preview This Week: Nvidia and Retailer Earnings Released, AI Progress and Consumer Trends in Focus] 1. Semiconductor giant Nvidia and numerous retailers, led by Walmart, will release their earnings reports next week. The two core themes driving the US stock market—the continued boom in artificial intelligence and consumer spending under inflationary pressures—will be closely watched by the market. 2. US stock indices have been rising steadily recently, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both hovering near historical highs. Investment managers point out that breakthroughs in AI technology and the surge in energy prices triggered by the Iran war have almost paralleled each other in driving the market to new highs. 3. Since hitting its year-to-date low in late March, the S&P 500 has rebounded by about 18%, with a year-to-date gain of over 9% in 2026. However, some investors warn of a potential market correction, citing a lack of leading stocks. Data shows that since the March 30 low, only about 20% of the S&P 500's constituent stocks have outperformed the index itself. 4. Nvidia will release its earnings report on Wednesday. As the world's most valuable company, its stock price has risen more than 40% since its March lows. Chip demand is booming due to tech companies' massive investments in AI infrastructure, driving prices up by about 70%. Analysts say the market needs to see from Nvidia's earnings report that its data center business and revenue can support the current stock price, while also paying attention to whether competitors are eroding its market share. 5. In the retail sector, Walmart, Home Depot, Target, and TJX, among others, will release their quarterly results on Thursday. Investors are worried that war-related inflation may begin to dampen consumer spending—consumption accounts for more than two-thirds of the US economy. Latest data shows that the producer price index in April saw its largest increase since March 2022, and the average price of gasoline in the US also exceeded $4.50 per gallon. 6. Strategists point out that investors want to understand retailers' consumption trends and recent changes. These costs will eventually be passed on to consumers and begin to suppress spending. The greater risk to retail profitability lies in whether consumers can withstand continued price pressures.
