The earnings momentum could serve as a catalyst for stocks like Applied Materials, which reports its latest quarterly results next week. Next week will serve as a breather after the earnings season mania of the last few weeks. Only eight stocks of the S&P 500 and one component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average are scheduled to report results. Still, analysts have increased their expectations for certain names – suggesting positive momentum is on their side. CNBC Pro reviewed FactSet data to identify the S&P 500 companies reporting quarterly results next week that have also seen accelerating earnings momentum recently. To be included in the table below, stocks had to meet the following criteria: Earnings estimates have been revised upward by at least 10% in the last three and six months. They had to have an average analyst price target that implied at least 10% upside potential. One stock with improving earnings estimates is Applied Materials, which reports on Thursday. On average, analysts have increased their profit estimates for the chipmaker by 54% in the last three months and by 46% in the last six months. On Monday, Morgan Stanley reiterated its overweight on the name, listing it as a top pick. “Expectations for AMAT are not low, but we believe AMAT can keep up with its peers with another strong beat and raise,” wrote analyst Shane Brett. “We saw the JanQ print as a leap in the right direction; we believe this print will be another leap.” Brett’s new price target of $454 (from $432) implies an 11% increase from Thursday’s close. Seaport Research also initiated coverage on Applied Materials on Monday with a Buy rating and a $500 price target. “We see AMAT as the best-positioned global WFE provider,” wrote analyst Jay Goldberg. “While they do not have ASML’s monopoly in EUV lithography, they do have offerings in almost every other tooling area – deposition, etching, implantation, CMP, cleaning and more. We believe their role in advanced semi-finished products is almost as irreplaceable as ASML.” Shares of the semiconductor maker are up 68% this year. Other names on the list include Constellation Energy, down 13% this year, and Ross Stores, up 26% in 2026. The energy company reports earnings on Monday, while the off-price retail chain is scheduled for Thursday. The health stock Steris also made it onto the list.
