U.S. market focus turns to earnings, jobless claims and AI updates

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U.S. market earnings focus

Highlights

Weekly initial jobless claims are expected at 212,000, with 30% of Kalshi participants anticipating a reading above 210,000, signaling labor market uncertainty.
Alphabet fell 3% and Tesla 4% after hours post-earnings, as both companies beat revenue but missed on earnings per share, intensifying focus on profit margins and capital expenditure.
Advanced Micro Devices, down 5.5% from its June 30 high but up 82% in three months, hosts an AI event in San Francisco, drawing investor attention to semiconductor sector momentum.

Thursday catalysts across earnings and data

As reported by CNBC, weekly initial jobless claims are due at 8:30 a.m. ET, with consensus expectations at 212,000 as traders watch for signals on the U.S. labor market. Prediction market Kalshi shows 30% of participants expecting a reading above 210,000, while 17% see the figure topping 215,000.

American Airlines is scheduled to report earnings, with CEO Robert Isom set to appear on “Squawk Box” in the 7 a.m. hour. The stock is up about 29% over the past three months but remains 21% below its July 2 high.

Blackstone President and COO Jon Gray is also due on “Squawk Box” in the 8 a.m. hour after the investment firm’s shares fell 5.3% over three months and stayed 35% below their September 2025 peak. Lockheed Martin is expected to report around 6:30 a.m., with its stock down 7% in three months and 25% from its March high.

Later in the day, Intel is due to report on “Closing Bell: Overtime.” The stock is up 57% in the last three months but is down about 27% in July, while options pricing implies elevated volatility of 12% for Thursday trading.

Tech and sector moves remain in focus

Alphabet and Tesla are also drawing attention after their latest quarterly updates. Alphabet is down 3% after hours and 16% from its May 18 high, even after beating second-quarter revenue estimates, while adjusted earnings per share miss expectations and capital expenditure guidance stays in focus as the company races to keep up in AI.

Tesla falls 4% after hours and is down about 17% so far in 2026. The electric-vehicle maker beats revenue estimates in its latest quarter but misses on earnings per share, adding to pressure on a stock already facing a weaker year-to-date performance.

Advanced Micro Devices is holding an AI event in San Francisco, providing another catalyst for chip investors. AMD is down 5.5% from its June 30 high but remains up 82% over the last three months, underscoring continued market interest in AI-linked semiconductor names.

For broader positioning during earnings season, Jim Cramer says investors can afford to stay patient and avoid overreacting to short-term volatility. His advice centers on focusing on strong companies for the long term while watching for selective buying opportunities.

In our earlier article on after-hours earnings moves, we tracked how quarterly results and guidance updates drove sharp swings across major stocks, including Alphabet and Tesla. We noted that investors focused heavily on factors like Alphabet’s higher capital spending outlook and Tesla’s earnings miss despite revenue strength, as markets recalibrated expectations for the rest of the year.

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