Markets in the United States are set for an active, albeit shorter, trading week as investors absorb a mix of important economic reports and corporate earnings against the backdrop of a holiday. U.S. exchanges will be closed on Monday for Presidents’ Day, which compresses the calendar and shifts focus to the data releases and earnings that follow.
Holiday Shortened Week, Big Data on Tap
With trading paused for the federal holiday, the first part of the week will center on fresh economic metrics that were delayed by last year’s government shutdown. Among the top scheduled releases is the December Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index, a measure of inflation closely monitored by the Federal Reserve as it gauges price pressures and potential future interest rate moves.
Investors will also get advance estimates of fourth-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which provides a snapshot of the U.S. economy’s overall growth momentum heading into the new year. Additional reports will cover the housing sector, such as housing starts and existing home sales for the latter months of 2025, as well as updates on trade flows and durable-goods orders.
Corporate Earnings Take Center Stage
Thursday brings earnings from major companies, with retail giant Walmart slated to post results for the quarter. This report will be the first under its current leadership and comes at a time when consumer trends and spending patterns are central to market narratives.
Elsewhere on the earnings calendar are a mix of industrial and technology firms, including John Deere, Analog Devices, Palo Alto Networks, Carvana, and DoorDash, offering investors a broader view of sector performance as the reporting season unfolds.
A Look at Broader Investor Signals
Beyond hard economic data and earnings figures, this week’s calendar also includes the quarterly 13F filings from major investment firms. These disclosures reveal institutional portfolio positions and can offer clues about where large asset managers are placing their bets as 2026 progresses.
