Markets This Week: Walmart Earnings Amid PCE, Q4 GDP, and Housing Data

This week’s trading will focus on key macroeconomic and corporate reports amid a Presidents Day holiday on Monday, Feb. 16. Markets reopen Tuesday, Feb. 17. Key reports include the December PCE inflation (closely watched by the Federal Reserve), new home sales and housing starts for November and December, and pending home sales for January. The U.S. trade deficit and durable-goods orders for December will also be released, with the latter providing insight into manufacturing. Retail giant Walmart (WMT) will report its first quarterly earnings under CEO John Furner on Thursday, Feb. 19, following a $1 trillion market cap milestone and a 4.2% rise in comparable sales in its last report. Other reports include John Deere (DE), Analog Devices (ADI), Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Carvana (CVNA), and DoorDash (DRDP). Quarterly 13F filings from Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) are also expected to highlight portfolio changes. Separate from the calendar: Q3 GDP was revised to 4.4% annualized in the fourth quarter of 2024. December’s CPI for inflation remained unchanged.