THE WEEK ON WALL STREET
Stocks meandered around a flatline in a busy week of corporate earnings, ending the trading week slightly lower.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 0.50%, while the Standard & Poor’s 500 was flat (+0.02%). The Nasdaq Composite index surrendered 0.39%. The MSCI EAFE index, which tracks developed overseas stock markets, rose 0.18%.1,2,3
SEEKING DIRECTION
Though the S&P 500 and Nasdaq established new record highs at the start of the week, stocks struggled to find traction as the week wore on.4
Investor sentiment was dampened by rising COVID-19 infections in India and Japan, along with mounting inflation worries. Stocks finally caught some lift from strong quarterly reports issued by two big technology companies and an upbeat first-quarter Gross Domestic Product growth number, sending the S&P 500 to a fresh record high.5
Once again, though, stocks failed to follow through, as the market retreated in the final day of trading to close near where it began the week.
EARNINGS TOP EXPECTATIONS
Last week was the biggest week of the first quarter’s earnings season with a third of S&P 500 companies reporting, including six of the largest companies.6
With expectations high, businesses generally topped Wall Street analysts’ estimates; Big Tech companies posted especially noteworthy earnings. Coming into last Friday, with 40% of S&P 500 index companies reporting, earnings-per-share growth (EPS) is now estimated to be 29.3%, well ahead of the 12.2% EPS growth rate that analysts had expected at the start of the year.7
BY THE NUMBER$
HIGHEST EVER - The top capital gains tax rate in 2021 for a married filing joint taxpayer with taxable income of at least $496,600 is 23.8%. On Thursday 4/22/21, reports surfaced that the White House favors increasing the top capital gains tax rate in 2022 for a married filing joint taxpayer with taxable income of at least $1 million to 43.4%. The highest capital gains tax rate in US history is 39.875%, last levied in 1978 (source: IRS).
MAKE A QUICK DECISION - Existing homes that were sold nationwide in March 2021 were on the market on average of just 18 days (2 ½ weeks) before selling (source: National Association of Realtors).
SIMPLER RETURN - The “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (TCJA) of December 2017 increased the standard deduction for taxpayers effective with the 2018 tax year. As a result of the change, the percentage of households taking the standard deduction has increased from 70% (pre-TCJA) to 90% (post-TCJA) (source: Tax Policy Center). 8
THE WEEK AHEAD: KEY ECONOMIC DATA
Tuesday: Factory Orders.
Wednesday: ADP (Automated Data Processing) Employment Report. ISM (Institute for Supply Management) Services Index.
Thursday: Jobless Claims.
Friday: Employment Situation Report.
Source: Econoday, April 30, 2021
The Econoday economic calendar lists upcoming U.S. economic data releases (including key economic indicators), Federal Reserve policy meetings, and speaking engagements of Federal Reserve officials. The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The forecasts or forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and may not materialize. The forecasts also are subject to revision.
THE WEEK AHEAD: COMPANIES REPORTING EARNINGS
Tuesday: CVS Health Corporation (CVS), Pfizer, Inc. (PFE), Dominion Energy (D), Prudential Financial (PRU).
Wednesday: Paypal Holdings (PYPL), General Motors (GM), Twilio, Inc. (TWLO), Etsy, Inc. (ETSY), Cognizant Technologies (CTSH).
Thursday: Square, Inc. (SQ), Roku, Inc. (ROKU), Albemarle Corporation (ALB), Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (REGN), Booking Holdings (BKNG), Expedia Group (EXPE), Kellogg Company (K).
Friday: Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A), EOG Resources (EOG), Cigna Corporation (CI), Draftkings, Inc. (DKNG).
Source: Zacks, April 30, 2021
Companies mentioned are for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of the securities. Investing involves risks, and investment decisions should be based on your own goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. The return and principal value of investments will fluctuate as market conditions change. When sold, investments may be worth more or less than their original cost. Companies may reschedule when they report earnings without notice.
THE WEEKLY RIDDLE
Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I?
LAST WEEK’S RIDDLE: A certain month can begin on a Friday and end on a Friday as well. What month is it?
ANSWER: February. In order for a month to start and end with the same day of the week, it has to have a complete number of weeks and have one more day. The only possible month is February which has 29 days in a leap year.
