What traders should watch this week

Several major companies are set to report earnings this week, offering fresh insight into the health of key segments of the global economy. From artificial intelligence infrastructure and cloud computing to housing-driven retail demand and enterprise software, these results will help investors gauge whether growth momentum is holding up or starting to fade.

For traders and analysts, the focus will not just be on headline beats or misses, but on guidance, capital expenditure plans, and management commentary around demand trends. With valuations stretched in parts of the market and macro uncertainty still present, these earnings could play an important role in shaping short-term sentiment and longer-term positioning.

Alibaba: Cloud growth drives momentum amid AI investments

Alibaba delivered solid growth in its fiscal second quarter ended September 30, 2025, with total revenue rising 5% year-on-year to 247.8 billion Chinese yuan ($34.8 billion), slightly above expectations. The standout performer was its cloud computing division, which saw revenue jump 34% to 39.8 billion yuan, surpassing analyst estimates of 37.9 billion yuan. This represents a faster growth rate than the 26% recorded in the previous quarter.

According to CEO Eddie Wu, Alibaba’s cloud unit is struggling to meet an accelerating appetite for AI products. This supply-demand gap follows a 120 billion yuan capital expenditure over the past four quarters, aimed at fulfilling a broader 380 billion yuan multi-year commitment to tech infrastructure (AI and cloud). The company’s EBITA for cloud computing increased 35% to 3.6 billion yuan, reflecting strong profitability in this segment.

Outside cloud, Alibaba continues to push into quick commerce, promising ultra-fast delivery for certain products. This segment weighed on overall profitability but showed strong revenue growth of 60% year-on-year, accelerating from 12% in the prior quarter. China e-commerce revenue also rose 16% to 132.6 billion yuan, driven by platforms Taobao and Tmall and bolstered by the rapid expansion of its quick commerce offering.

Things to watch in Alibaba’s upcoming earnings

Date: 24/02/2026 pre-market.

EPS estimate: $1.58.

Revenue estimate: $41.90.

Share performance in 2026: ~ +5%.

Investors will be closely monitoring cloud revenue and AI-related growth, particularly any additional investments in AI infrastructure. They are likely to watch for updates on supply chain constraints for semiconductors and memory chips, which could limit cloud expansion. Analysts will also focus on the profitability impact of quick commerce and whether e-commerce growth remains robust despite competitive pressures. Any guidance on further AI spending or expansion plans could drive investor sentiment.

Home Depot: Housing weakness weighs on earnings

Home Depot reported a third-quarter miss for the third consecutive period, with adjusted earnings per share of $3.74 versus an expected $3.84, while revenue came in at $41.35 billion, slightly above the $41.10 billion consensus. The company lowered its full-year profit outlook, citing weaker consumer spending and a softer housing market than anticipated. Full-year sales are now expected to rise around 3%, with comparable sales slightly positive, and adjusted earnings per share projected to decline about 5% from last year.

CEO Ted Decker noted that a lack of storm activity and higher mortgage rates have dampened large-scale home improvement projects. While big-ticket projects rose 2.3% year-on-year, engagement in discretionary renovations that often require financing remains soft. Online sales were a bright spot, growing 11% over the quarter, reflecting the continued strength of digital channels.

Things to watch in Home Depot’s upcoming earnings

Date: 24/02/2026 pre-market.

EPS estimate: $2.53.

Revenue estimate: $38.03B.

Share performance in 2026: ~ +10%.

Investors will want to track the performance of the professional and maintenance businesses, which may offer more consistent revenue amid weaker consumer spending. They might want to pay attention to Home Depot’s ability to meet preliminary 2026 guidance, including margins and same-store sales growth, and any signs of recovery in big-ticket renovations. Supply chain improvements and the integration of acquisitions like SRS and GMS will also be critical in understanding potential productivity gains and future profitability.

Nvidia: AI demand fuels record growth

Nvidia posted strong fiscal third-quarter results, beating expectations on both sales and earnings, and offered robust guidance for the fourth quarter. Revenue reached $57.01 billion, above the $54.92 billion expected, while adjusted earnings per share came in at $1.30 versus a consensus of $1.25. Net income surged 65% year-on-year to $31.91 billion. The company’s data center segment, which includes its AI-focused GPUs, drove much of the growth, generating $51.2 billion in revenue, including $43 billion from GPU compute.

CEO Jensen Huang emphasized the outsized demand for the company’s Blackwell GPUs, with major clients including Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Oracle, and Meta. Nvidia also highlighted strong initial sales of its GB300 chips and its continued expansion into networking and software solutions for AI workloads.

Things to watch in Nvidia’s upcoming earnings

Date: 25/02/2026 post market.

EPS estimate: $1.53.

Revenue estimate: $65.69B.

Share performance in 2026: ~ +2%.

Investors will monitor whether hyperscaler capex for AI infrastructure remains strong and continues to flow to Nvidia. Shipments to China amid geopolitical restrictions and potential supply bottlenecks in memory and storage will be important. Analysts will also look for guidance on AI adoption trends, GPU sales growth, and whether Nvidia can sustain its streak of beats while expanding its market share in AI hardware and software.

Salesforce: AI integration supports growth

Salesforce reported fiscal third-quarter results with adjusted earnings per share of $3.25, surpassing the $2.86 expected, while revenue of $10.26 billion slightly missed the $10.27 billion consensus. The company reported an 8.6% year-over-year revenue increase, while net income surged to $2.09 billion (up from $1.53 billion), bolstered by a $263 million gain from its investment portfolio.

Salesforce’s revenue growth is increasingly driven by AI offerings, including its Agentforce AI platform, which generated over $500 million in the quarter. The company’s acquisition of Informatica is expected to contribute around three percentage points of growth in fiscal fourth-quarter revenue. CEO Marc Benioff emphasized the development of the “agentic enterprise,” integrating humans, data, and AI to automate complex tasks, positioning Salesforce as a leader in AI-driven customer relationship management.

Things to watch in Salesforce’s upcoming earnings

Date: 25/02/2026 post market.

EPS estimate: $3.05.

Revenue estimate: $11.18B.
Share performance in 2026: ~ -30%.

Investors will focus on whether AI services translate into material revenue growth and help offset concerns about AI disrupting legacy software capabilities. Key areas include integration of Informatica, adoption trends for agentic AI, and guidance for the fiscal fourth quarter. Market participants will also monitor how Salesforce manages ongoing headwinds in software demand and any new challenges that could affect growth amid broader AI uncertainty.