Wall Street This Week: Intel Chips In, Banks Speak Out
From the world's largest microprocessor provider trying to diversify its business to several financial services leaders kicking off the new earnings season, here are some of the things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street.
Monday -- Holiday Planning
If you're planning to travel over the holidays, you may want to make your flight arrangements sooner rather than later. Travel portal Orbitz announced earlier this month that the best time to secure the lowest airfares for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve ends Monday.
It's a busy time to begin with, and while low jet fuel prices have kept flights reasonably priced lately, it's not a surprise to see fares tick higher as we approach peak travel periods. If you know you will be flying over the holidays, Orbitz feels that your best move is to book your flights now.
Tuesday -- Intel Inside
Chip giant Intel (INTC) reports its latest quarterly results Tuesday. Intel is best known for its PC microprocessors, but with desktop and laptop sales languishing, it's been expanding its presence in other markets.
It hasn't been enough. Analysts see revenue and profitability clocking in just below where Intel was a year earlier.
Wednesday -- Flying the Friendly Skies
%VIRTUAL-WSSCourseInline-1023%Two days after you should've booked your holiday flight plans, Delta (DAL) looks to take off with fresh financials. It should be a good quarter. Wall Street sees a profit of $1.72 a share for the quarter, well ahead of the $1.20 a share it posted a year earlier.
The historically volatile airline industry is ascending these days. Sector consolidation has helped as carriers have been combining in recent years. Delta's big deal was to join forces with Northwest a few years ago. Fewer players make it less likely that a price war breaks out. That's bad for passengers, but it's great for air carriers and their investors.
Thursday -- Bank Shot
Earnings season kicks off this week, and come Thursday that will mean many financial services giants offering up their latest quarterly updates. Citigroup (C), Goldman Sachs (GS) and US Bancorp (USB) are just some of the banking behemoths reporting Thrusday. We'll be able to take the pulse of how consumer banking, mortgage lending and other financial endeavors are holding up in this climate as we wait for the inevitable interest rate hikes.
Friday -- The Revolution Will Be Televised
"Beasts of No Nation" makes its premiere Friday on Netflix (NFLX). Folks tend to associate Netflix's original content with TV shows including "House of Cards" and "Orange Is the New Black," but the company has made a big push into original movies as well.
"Beasts of No Nation" is based on a book by Nigerian author Uzodinma Iweala, detailing a child soldier who is taken from his family during a civil war in Africa. Cary Fukunaga -- best known for "True Detective" -- is directing. Netflix will have several original movies hitting its growing digital catalog in the coming months. This is one of the entries generating the most buzz.
Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz owns shares of Netflix. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Netflix. The Motley Fool recommends Intel. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days and check out our free report for one great stock to buy for 2015 and beyond.
