Markets are gearing up for an event-packed week, with economic data, Fed decisions, and high-profile earnings taking center stage. While the earnings calendar is lighter than in previous weeks, the economic releases and central bank updates could significantly sway investor sentiment.
Monday, March 17
- Retail Sales (8:30 AM ET): Previous: +0.6% MoM in February (surprised to the upside). Markets typically react strongly; a weak number often sparks recession concerns. Historically, a surprise decline in retail sales in March 2023 led to a 1.2% drop in the S&P 500 that day.
Tuesday, March 18
- Housing Starts & Building Permits: Last Report: Housing Starts fell -14.8% YoY in January. Weakness in this metric previously triggered selloffs in homebuilder stocks like LEN and DHI.
- Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang’s GTC Keynote: In 2024, Huang’s AI announcements drove NVDA stock up 5% the next day. Focus: Rubin AI chip details could be a major market mover. (Nvidia Stock Rises Ahead of GTC Conference as Investors Await Vera Rubin AI Chip Details)
Wednesday, March 19
- FOMC Rate Decision (2:00 PM ET): Market Expectation: Hold rates steady, signal future cuts. Last March Fed meeting led to a 2.5% S&P 500 rally after Powell hinted at easing.
- Fed Press Conference (2:30 PM ET): Powell’s tone is key; dovish comments historically push tech stocks higher.
- Crude Oil Inventories (10:30 AM ET): Past Drawdowns: WTI crude spiked 3% following large inventory declines in January 2025.
- Earnings: General Mills, Williams Sonoma, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet, Five Below: In 2024, FIVE missed revenue guidance, dropping 6% in after-hours.
Thursday, March 20
- Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Survey (8:30 AM ET): Last Report: Declined to -9.5, signaling contraction.
- Initial Jobless Claims (8:30 AM ET): Continued strength under 220K filings has previously buoyed markets.
- Existing Home Sales (10:00 AM ET): January saw a surprise rebound; stocks like LEN and ZG rallied 4-6% after the release.
- Earnings: Accenture, PDD, Darden, FactSet, Nike, Micron, FedEx, Lennar: Nike earnings last quarter fell short of guidance; stock dropped 4%. Micron has been a barometer for the memory chip market. Q4 2024 EPS beat by 5%, stock rallied 8%.
Friday, March 21
- Earnings: Nio, Carnival, Miniso: Nio’s previous report showed 18% YoY sales decline; stock fell 12%. Carnival exceeded occupancy expectations in Q4 2024, stock jumped 6%.
Earnings Calendar:
| Date | Company | Sector | Time | EPS Estimate | Revenue Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon, Mar 17 | QFIN | Finance | Before Open | N/A | N/A |
| Mon, Mar 17 | SAIC | Technology/Defense | Before Open | $1.70 | $1.86B |
| Mon, Mar 17 | FINV | Finance | After Close | N/A | N/A |
| Mon, Mar 17 | BLTE | Healthcare | After Close | -$0.20 | N/A |
| Tue, Mar 18 | XPEV | Automotive/EV | Before Open | -$0.29 | $1.1B |
| Tue, Mar 18 | BEKE | Real Estate/Technology | Before Open | $0.15 | $2.4B |
| Tue, Mar 18 | TME | Entertainment/Streaming | Before Open | $0.11 | $900M |
| Tue, Mar 18 | STNE | Fintech | After Close | $0.29 | $600M |
| Tue, Mar 18 | HGQY | Healthcare | After Close | $0.12 | N/A |
| Tue, Mar 18 | ORLA | Mining | After Close | $0.05 | $56M |
| Wed, Mar 19 | GIS | Consumer Staples | Before Open | $1.05 | $5.1B |
| Wed, Mar 19 | WSM | Retail | Before Open | $5.46 | $2.2B |
| Wed, Mar 19 | OLLI | Retail/Discount Stores | Before Open | $0.84 | $625M |
| Wed, Mar 19 | FIVE | Retail/Discount Stores | After Close | $3.79 | $1.35B |
| Thu, Mar 20 | ACN | IT Consulting | Before Open | $2.66 | $15.9B |
| Thu, Mar 20 | DRI | Restaurants | Before Open | $2.60 | $2.97B |
| Thu, Mar 20 | FDS | Financial Services/Analytics | Before Open | $4.18 | $540M |
| Thu, Mar 20 | NKE | Apparel/Footwear | After Close | $0.76 | $12.2B |
| Thu, Mar 20 | MU | Semiconductors | After Close | $0.39 | $4.99B |
| Thu, Mar 20 | FDX | Logistics | After Close | $3.47 | $22.05B |
| Thu, Mar 20 | LEN | Home Construction | After Close | $3.12 | $8.03B |
| Fri, Mar 21 | NIO | Automotive/EV | Before Open | -$0.25 | $2.05B |
| Fri, Mar 21 | CCL | Cruise Lines | Before Open | $0.15 | $5.79B |
| Fri, Mar 21 | MNSO | Retail/Consumer Discretionary | Before Open | $0.24 | $500M |
With FOMC decisions, major economic data, and high-profile earnings, markets face a volatile week
- Fed dovishness often triggers rallies.
- Nvidia’s GTC announcements have historically boosted both NVDA and the broader AI sector.
- Consumer data surprises can heavily influence sentiment.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
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