According to CNBC’s Jim Cramer, the stock market is positioned for a bounce next week if major companies report strong earnings, following a subdued end to this week with the S&P 500 down for three straight days. Disney kicks things off on Monday amid CEO succession talk, with Cramer’s Charitable Trust having sold its Disney position in November. Tuesday brings reports from Pfizer, Pepsi, Merck, Chipotle, and Advanced Micro Devices, where even good AI-related numbers might trigger selling, plus a “critical” innovation day from Western Digital. Eli Lilly reports Wednesday morning, with focus on new GLP-1 drug trial data, while Alphabet reports Wednesday night and Amazon reports after Thursday’s close. The week concludes with the January employment report on Friday, which Cramer thinks could come in weaker than expected on job gains and wage inflation.
Earnings Patterns and Pain
Here’s the thing about earnings season: the numbers sometimes matter less than the market‘s mood. Cramer’s point about AMD is fascinating. He suggests a “terrific” report could still lead to selling because that’s the “new pattern” for chip stocks. That tells you we’re in a “sell the news” environment for a sector that’s run up massively on AI hype. Investors are jittery and taking profits fast. And then there’s Western Digital. They post a great quarter, and the stock gets crushed the next day? That’s the kind of action that shakes confidence. Cramer’s right that their Tuesday event is now critical—they need to rebuild a narrative instantly.
The Big Tech Flip
Now, the most interesting narrative shift is around Alphabet. Cramer notes that it went from being seen as the “least of the Magnificent Seven” to a company with multiple engines—Gemini, YouTube, Waymo, and the core Google search business. His enthusiasm is palpable. But is it justified? The pressure is absolutely on for Google to show it’s not just participating in the AI race but leading in a monetizable way. Amazon’s story is different. Cramer calls it “controversial” and notes its frustrating pattern of momentum followed by selling. He’s a believer in the company’s greatness, but the stock’s recent performance has been stuck. Both reports will be massive for market sentiment. Can they live up to the hype?
Beyond Tech: Lilly and Jobs
Don’t sleep on Eli Lilly. Their earnings call Wednesday is less about the past quarter and more about the future of their GLP-1 drugs like Zepbound and Mounjaro. New trial data would move the stock far more than any revenue figure. And then there’s Friday’s jobs report. Cramer’s take is classic “bad news is good news” for the stock market. A weaker report, he argues, could mean lower bond yields, which typically helps stocks soar. After a week of big earnings news, that macro data could be the final piece that decides whether we get that bounce he’s talking about or not. It’s a lot of moving parts.
