A Look At Some Of The Earnings Coming the Week Of July 25

This coming week, several industry heavy hitters will weigh in with their earnings. Given the market’s past two years, moments like these provide curious folks like your writer with an opportunity to dig a little deeper and examine what is going on with consumers. The sometimes extenuating circumstances (supply chain, supply chain, supply chain) and their impact on both costs and consumer behavior and demand can prove a fascinating study, indeed.

But before we get to that, it’s only appropriate to point out that also this week, tech giants like Meta, Alphabet, AppleAAPL
and AmazonAMZN
are expected to report quarterly earnings, as are pharma companies like PfizerPFE
, AstraZeneca, and AbbVieABBV
. Not to be forgotten in this roundup is the petrol space, where we expect to hear from the likes of Exxon Mobile, ChevronCVX
, and Phillips 66PSX
. And now that we have that out of the way, here are some consumer stocks I’m watching this coming week and one overarching consumer-related question I have related to them, their earnings, or their industries.

Whirlpool
WHR
-reporting Monday after close

GE-reporting Tuesday before open

Why: the year 2020 brought us more than a pandemic. It also brought on a scarcity of things like the heavy machines and appliances we know both companies for. A rise in consumer demand spawned a never ending wait list to replace items such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and laundry equipment and the resounding message abounded that it was increasingly impossible to find these types of items. Flash forward to 2022 and these items sometimes remain difficult to source or procure.

My Question: If the demands still outweigh the supply here, how will that impact these companies’ earnings and what will they do/how can they cope going forward?

GM-reporting Tuesday before open

Ford-reporting Wednesday after close

Hertz-reporting Thursday before open

Why: like the aforementioned machines, whether renting or buying a car, there have been endless headlines and complaints about overall lack of inventory in the automotive space (used or new if buying). As another holdover from the halcyon days of COVID-19, part of the culprit for the shortage came courtesy of rental companies selling off their fleets back in 2020. These days, factors that include a chip shortage and skyrocketing supply costs aren’t helping to get more cars on lots. Meanwhile, in the new car buying and leasing spaces, news of subprime loan defaults has peppered the landscape.

My Question: Did these companies make a killing this quarter or did they spin their wheels and what can consumers expect regarding new inventory on the horizon?

Visa-reporting Tuesday after close

Mastercard
MA
-reporting Thursday before open

Why: It’s no secret that some consumers are tightening their belts, but selfish curiosity still creates a bit of wondering if more consumers turned to these key credit space players to fund some or a lot of their lifestyles of late. Reports and studies about the nation’s love affair with plastic can sometimes churn up mixed results, but the numbers shed a curious light like no other. It’s hard to predict what consumers will do on the financial front, but EquifaxEFX
reported that Americans opened 11.5 million new credit cards as of February.

My Question: Now that new credit cards have been circulated, how much have they been circulating?

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Southwest Air-reporting Thursday before open

Why: Just when we thought life might get smoother and travel could resume, a whole heap of drama has underscored travel this year, and through little fault of its own, the airline space has taken the cake lately. You don’t have to go far at all to find a headline or a tweet or a headline about a tweet that tackles the woes of traveling by plane this summer. With whip lashing cancellations and re-booking, queues that lead to nowhere, staff shortages, and a general sense of unease about if or when air travel will return to a more seamless ride from point A to point B, the news at Southwest should provide for some great information and updates.

My Question: How are airlines managing these difficult obstacles and are they remaining profitable in the process?

Albertson’s-reporting Tuesday before open

McDonald’s-reporting Tuesday before open

Chipotle Mexican Grill
CMG
-reporting Tuesday after close

Why: each day, consumers face a dilemma—to cook at home or to send for takeout. On the one hand, cooking leaves consumers at the controls and allows them to create dishes and bites to their liking and satisfaction. Takeout, on the other hand, has its merits by eliminating the heavy lift, mess, and labor involved in cooking. Regardless, the USDA forecasted a 2022 with increased prices at both restaurants and supermarkets.

My Question: we already know “guac is extra” but did cooking or takeout win out this quarter and which one was cheaper to do?