Last week’s hot inflation report delayed hopes for a long-awaited rate cut, leaving some wondering if a recession is back in the cards.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon issued a warning in the bank’s earnings report Friday.

“There seems to be a large number of persistent inflationary pressures, which may likely continue. And finally, we have never truly experienced the full effect of quantitative tightening on this scale,” Dimon said.

The markets do have an antidote: strong earnings. When interest rate cuts were delayed earlier this year, concerns were quickly washed away thanks to companies largely reporting impressive numbers.

With so much at stake, here’s an earnings season cheat sheet of when some of the biggest companies are reporting and the storylines to follow.

Finance

• Key Companies: Goldman Sachs (April 15), Bank of America (April 16), Blackstone (April 18). 


• Themes to watch: AI could reduce the number of junior bank employees thanks to the tech automating their grunt work. With interest rates remaining high, the threat of private credit, or non-traditional lenders, remains a risk or opportunity depending on where you sit on the Street.

Tech

• Key Companies: Meta (April 24), Microsoft (April 25), Alphabet (April 25), Apple (May 2), Nvidia (May 22), Amazon (TBA).  


• Themes to watch: Will demand for Nvidia’s chips finally subside? Can Apple turn things around? Where do Microsoft and Alphabet stand in the AI race? Will Meta and Amazon continue their efficiency pushes to cut costs? There are plenty of questions about tech’s biggest players. Their prominent role in the market means people will be watching for answers.

Retail

• Key Companies: Walmart (May 16), Target (May 22), Costco (May 30).


• Themes to watch: The resilient American consumer kept the economy afloat despite inflation and high rates. Reports from big-box retailers offer perspectives on if they’re losing steam.    

Media

• Key Companies: Netflix (April 18), Disney (May 7), Paramount Global (April 29).


• Themes to watch: Netflix was dubbed the king of streaming earlier this year after a big earnings report. (Don’t sleep on YouTube!) Disney is licking its wounds after a brutal proxy fight with one giant unanswered question remaining: Who will be CEO Bob Iger’s successor? Paramount’s future remains up in the air as deal talks ramp up.     

Others

• Key Companies: Tesla (April 23), Boeing (April 24).


• Themes to watch: Tesla’s still looking for a win in 2024 as trends in the EV market shift against it. Pressure mounts on Boeing, leaving the airline industry scrambling.