Yahoo Finance Fed Chair Powell testifies, Walmart, Home Depot, Kohl's report earnings: What to know in markets Tuesday
The spotlight Tuesday will be on earnings from retail heavyweights Walmart (WMT), Home Depot (HD) and Kohl’s (KSS) and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s testimony on Capitol Hill.
At 10 a.m. ET, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin are scheduled to testify virtually before the Senate Banking Committee. Both are expected to update Congress on the economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are deeply committed to transparency, and recognize that the need for transparency is heightened when we are called upon to use our emergency powers,” Powell said in his prepared remarks released Monday evening.
The hearing comes on the heels of Powell’s “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday evening. Powell noted that the Fed still has ammunition left in its arsenal to mitigate economic damage caused by COVID-19. “There's a lot more we can do,” Powell said. “We've done what we can as we go. But I will say that we're not out of ammunition by a long shot.”
Meanwhile on the earnings calendar, retail giants Walmart, Home Depot and Kohl’s are scheduled to report earnings ahead of the market open.
Big box retailer Walmart has been viewed one of the winners amid the devastating contagion. The company’s first-quarter same-store sales excluding gas is expected to have grown 9.6% during the quarter, which would be levels unseen in 18 years.
Analysts predict Walmart’s U.S. same-store sales excluding gas jumped 8.6% and Sam’s Club same-store sales excluding gas rose 7.8% during the quarter. The big box retailer is expected to report adjusted earnings of $1.13 per share on $132.5 billion in revenue. E-commerce sales likely rose 30% in the U.S.
Walmart stock soared about 7% and is one of the best-performing Dow stock this year.
Home improvement giant Home Depot is also a company that has benefited from the global pandemic. The stock surged roughly 13% in 2020 and is the second best-performing stock in the Dow this year. While many other retailers were forced to shut their doors due to lockdown measures, Home Depot was recognized as an “essential” business.
Home Depot is expected to report adjusted earnings of $2.25 per share on $27.63 billion in revenue, according to analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Total company same-store sales likely rose 4.5% and U.S. same-store sales are estimated to have increased 5.8%. Home Depot’s online sales during the first quarter will be a major focal point for investors as retailers look to capitalize on established omnichannel capabilities.
Unlike Home Depot and Walmart, Kohl’s is not anticipated to have fared well amid COVID-19. Kohl’s stores have been shut since mid-March, and a big concern is the high inventory accumulated as a result of the temporary closures.
Kohl’s is expected to report an adjusted loss of $1.88 per share on $2.21 billion in revenue during its first quarter. The options market is implying a one-day move of 12% in either direction follow the results. Kohl’s shares have fallen nine out of 12 earnings announcements.
Shares of Kohl’s tumbled 71% over in past year while the broader market gained 3.2%.
—
Heidi Chung is a reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @heidi_chung.
More from Heidi:
47% of people will visit restaurants 'as soon as they reopen:' Piper Sandler
Jobless claims: Another 2.98 million Americans file for unemployment benefits
Find live stock market quotes and the latest business and finance news
Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and reddit.
