Earnings week ahead: WMT, HD, TGT, BIDU, ZM, MDT, ZIM, PANW, and more

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Next week’s earnings calendar is dominated by retail heavyweights, giving investors a close look at consumer spending trends for the second half of the year.

Walmart (NYSE:WMT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/WMT]), The Home Depot (NYSE:HD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/HD]), Target (NYSE:TGT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TGT]), Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LOW]), TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TJX]), Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ROST]), and BJ’s Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BJ]) headline the lineup, covering big-box, home improvement, off-price, and wholesale segments. They’ll be joined by beauty leaders Estée Lauder (NYSE:EL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/EL]) and Coty (NYSE:COTY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/COTY]), offering insight into the premium and mass-market cosmetics space.

The week will also feature key reports from Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BIDU]), Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PANW]), Zoom Video Communications (NASDAQ:ZM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZM]), Medtronic (NYSE:MDT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MDT]), XPeng (NYSE:XPEV [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XPEV]), Intuit (NASDAQ:INTU [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/INTU]), ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (NYSE:ZIM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZIM]), Workday (NASDAQ:WDAY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/WDAY]), Analog Devices (ADI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ADI]), Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SQM]), Blink Charging (BLNK [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BLNK]), Canadian Solar (CSIQ [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CSIQ]), iQIYI (IQ [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IQ]), Bilibili (BILI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BILI]), and Alcon (ALC [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ALC]).

From big-box retail performance and Chinese tech earnings to semiconductor innovation, EV adoption, renewable energy trends, and luxury consumer demand, this week’s results will offer a broad snapshot of global economic momentum and sector-specific shifts.

Below is a rundown of major earnings reports due in the week of August 18 to August 22:

MONDAY, AUGUST 18

PALO ALTO NETWORKS (NASDAQ:PANW [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PANW])

Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ:PANW [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PANW]) will report FQ4 results after the close on Monday, with analysts expecting 14%–17% sales and profit growth Y/Y.

KeyBanc Capital recently downgraded [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4475512-palo-alto-gets-rating-cut-at-keybanc-after-cyberark-acquisition-announcement] the stock to Sector Weight from Overweight, citing strategic concerns following the announced $25B acquisition of CyberArk (CYBR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CYBR]). Analysts noted limited synergies between identity management and PANW’s core network/SecOps focus, potential customer preference for independent identity vendors, and the absence of clear replacement cycles or first-mover advantages. Additional concerns stem from reports of aggressive pricing and potential softening demand for its Next-Generation Security portfolio.

Wall Street maintains a Buy rating, while Seeking Alpha’s Quant system rates it Hold [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/PANW/ratings/quant-ratings#source=firstLevelUrl%3Asymbol%7CbiSectionAsset%3ARatingSummary%7CbiName%3AQuant_rating].

SA Investing Group Leader Stone Fox Capital suggests [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4807894-palo-alto-networks-deserving-dip] selling the stock, arguing that while the CyberArk deal fills an identity gap and expands the total addressable market, it brings minimal near-term revenue and won’t be free-cash-flow accretive until FY2028. With slowing growth, unimproved financial results, and an acquisition premium that’s difficult to justify, they see the stock as unattractive at current levels.

Conversely, SA author Michael Del Monte keeps a Buy rating [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4806684-palo-alto-networks-25b-bet-on-identity-management-might-pay-off-in-a-big-way] with a $222 target, viewing the acquisition as a strategic move to bolster AI-driven identity management, enhance platform offerings, and drive long-term growth, despite near-term margin and share dilution risks.

* Consensus EPS Estimates: $0.89
* Consensus Revenue Estimates: $2.50B
* Earnings Insight: The company has beaten EPS expectations in straight 8 quarters, and revenue estimates in 7 of those reports.

ALSO REPORTING: Bitdeer Technologies (BTDR [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BTDR]), Faraday Future Intelligent Electric (FFAI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FFAI]), Blink Charging (BLNK [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BLNK]), CBAK Energy Technology (CBAT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CBAT]), Agora (API [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/API]), Fabrinet (FN [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FN]), XP (XP [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XP]), and more.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 19

HOME DEPOT (NYSE:HD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/HD])

Home Depot (NYSE:HD [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/HD]) is set to report its Q2 earnings before Tuesday’s open, with analysts expecting a modest year-over-year increase in both revenue and EPS. The results should provide a clearer read on the home improvement sector as consumer spending patterns shift and macroeconomic headwinds persist.

Wall Street remains bullish with a Buy rating, while Seeking Alpha’s quant rating is more cautious at Hold [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/HD/ratings/quant-ratings#source=firstLevelUrl%3Asymbol%7CbiSectionAsset%3ARatingSummary%7CbiName%3AQuant_rating], citing growth and valuation concerns.

Vladimir Dimitrov, CFA, notes that after his earlier Sell call [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4806775-home-depot-recent-underperformance-just-beginning], Home Depot has already begun underperforming the broader market. While consumer confidence influences short-term trends, he stresses that housing market conditions will ultimately drive long-term returns. He adds that HD is trading at a premium relative to its current margins, creating added pressure on shareholder returns through the rest of 2025.

* Consensus EPS Estimates: $4.70
* Consensus Revenue Estimates: $45.34B
* Earnings Insight: Home Depot has consistently outperformed revenue estimates in the past 7 quarters and EPS forecasts in 6 of those reports.

ALSO REPORTING: Medtronic (NYSE:MDT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/MDT]), XPeng (NYSE:XPEV [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/XPEV]), Chemical & Mining Co. of Chile (SQM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SQM]), Kandi Technologies Group (KNDI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/KNDI]), Keysight Technologies (KEYS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/KEYS]), Toll Brothers (TOL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TOL]), Ship Finance International (SFL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SFL]), Jack Henry & Associates (JKHY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/JKHY]), Evogene (EVGN [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/EVGN]), ZTO Express (ZTO [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZTO]), Amer Sports (AS [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AS]), Viking Holdings (VIK [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/VIK]), and more.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20

BAIDU (NASDAQ:BIDU [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BIDU])

Chinese search giant Baidu (NASDAQ:BIDU [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BIDU]) is set to release Q2 results before the market opens on Wednesday, with analysts expecting profits to drop 37% Y/Y.

While sell-side analysts maintain a Buy rating, Seeking Alpha’s quant rating assigns the stock a Hold.

In light of tariff-related uncertainties and market skepticism, Seeking Alpha contributor Julia Ostian also rates Baidu as Hold [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4808409-lyft-and-baidu-are-launching-robotaxis-in-europe-opportunity-and-risks]. She points to the company’s new partnership with Lyft (LYFT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LYFT]) to deploy Apollo Go robotaxis in Europe as a potential long-term growth driver, giving Lyft a first-mover advantage beyond North America while providing Baidu a foothold in a highly regulated Western market without building its own infrastructure. Still, she notes that Baidu faces ongoing geopolitical and regulatory risks, and both companies will need to prove they can execute before the market fully prices in the deal’s upside.

* Consensus EPS Estimates: $1.85
* Consensus Revenue Estimates: $4.59B
* Earnings Insight: The company has topped EPS estimates in 7 of the past 8 quarters, exceeding revenue expectations in 6 of those reports.

ALSO REPORTING: Target (NYSE:TGT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TGT]), Lowe's Companies (NYSE:LOW [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/LOW]), TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/TJX]), Analog Devices (ADI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ADI]), iQIYI (IQ [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/IQ]), ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (NYSE:ZIM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZIM]), Estée Lauder Companies (NYSE:EL [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/EL]), Coty (NYSE:COTY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/COTY]), Futu Holdings (FUTU [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/FUTU]), and more.

THURSDAY, AUGUST 21

WALMART (NYSE:WMT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/WMT])

Walmart (NYSE:WMT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/WMT]) is set to deliver its Q2 earnings report before the market opens on Thursday in what’s expected to be the most closely watched release of the week.

Sell-side analysts maintain a Strong Buy consensus, citing Walmart’s scale, pricing power, and steady omnichannel growth. However, Seeking Alpha’s Quant Rating holds the stock at a Hold [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/WMT/ratings/quant-ratings#source=firstLevelUrl%3Asymbol%7CbiSectionAsset%3ARatingSummary%7CbiName%3AQuant_rating], signaling caution despite the broader bullish sentiment.

Adding to the skepticism, SA contributor George Atuan, CFA, has downgraded [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4812349-walmart-no-margin-for-error-at-45x-earnings-and-facing-turbulence-ahead-rating-downgrade] Walmart to Sell. He argues the retailer’s defensive strengths are now fully priced in, with shares at historic highs despite modest growth and thin margins. Rising cost pressures, new tariffs, and uncertain consumer elasticity add to the risk profile, while management has acknowledged a wide range of potential earnings outcomes. Atuan also points to Walmart’s rich valuation, trading at a premium to peers and even Amazon, without the benefit of high-margin tech growth or a strong secondary growth engine. While Walmart remains a retail leader, he sees the current risk-reward as unattractive, warning that the stock is “priced for perfection” and vulnerable to a correction on any stumble.

* Consensus EPS Estimates: $0.74
* Consensus Revenue Estimates: $174.20B
* Earnings Insight: Walmart has exceeded EPS in 100% of the past 8 quarters and revenue expectations in 6 of those reports.

ALSO REPORTING: Zoom Communications (NASDAQ:ZM [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ZM]), Workday (NASDAQ:WDAY [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/WDAY]), Intuit (NASDAQ:INTU [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/INTU]), Canadian Solar (CSIQ [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/CSIQ]), Bilibili (BILI [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BILI]), Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/ROST]), Hovnanian Enterprises (HOV [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/HOV]), Aegon N.V. (AEG [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/AEG]), SelectQuote (SLQT [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/SLQT]), and more.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22

The week wraps up on a lighter note, with only a handful of earnings scheduled for Friday's pre-market session. Notable names include BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BJ]), Buckle (BKE [https://seekingalpha.com/symbol/BKE]), and more.

MORE ON RELATED STOCKS:

* Amazon Vs. Walmart: One Clear Winner [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4813837-amazon-vs-walmart-one-clear-winner]
* Walmart: Valuation Limits Upside Despite Potential In GenAI Investments [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4813505-walmart-valuation-limits-upside-despite-potential-in-gen-ai-investments]
* Intuit: Strong Growth Drives Price Target Upgrade [https://seekingalpha.com/article/4812558-intuit-strong-growth-drive-price-target-upgrade]
* Target's outlook is deteriorating on anemic digital traffic, tariff exposure, Ulta loss -- BofA Securities [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4486093-targets-outlook-is-deteriorating-on-anemic-digital-traffic-tariff-exposure-ulta-loss]
* Trade Desk says Walmart fully committed to the adtech agreement [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4485885-trade-desk-says-walmart-fully-committed-to-the-adtech-agreement]