Event Highlights: Week of August 3, 2020

COVID in focus. Many drug and medical firms report earnings this week, so portfolio managers will get more insight into the fight against the pandemic.

Auto earnings will also be a theme. Consumer Discretionary has been hit hard by Coronavirus.

Industrials stocks will present at the Jefferies Global Industrials Conference 2020.

Monday 8/3/2020

We get a taste of the global market on Monday with Heineken reporting first half 2020 EPS. Alcohol sales to restaurants have been dismal this year, but more folks are drinking-in during quarantine, so it shapes up to be a fascinating period for the Dutch brewing company.

NTT Docomo also reports on Monday. The telecom firm tracks mobility trends of its users, so there may be some COVID-19 insights provided. Japan is currently suffering from rising new daily confirmed infections.

Tuesday 8/4/2020

Tuesday features Mitsubishi Financial Group reporting their first quarter 2020 financial results. The stock fell sharply earlier this year, and has not recovered much as the auto-financing niche has been extraordinarily difficult this year.

Bayer will attract attention with its earnings release. The German multinational pharmaceutical company may have important views on the health situation around the globe.

What firms have been perhaps most negatively impacts by COVID? Consumer Discretionary stocks. Disney reports Tuesday afternoon. The mass media and entertainment conglomerate announced it would suspend its first half 2020 dividend back in May – a key indicator of tough times.

Wednesday 8/5/2020

Start your engines on Wednesday as Japan’s Honda and Germany’s BMW report. Honda may provide guidance into the lower-end market while BMW has exposure to a wealthier clientele.

In the States, Simon Property reports to the street, the biggest retail REIT – so this report will be widely followed as brick and mortar retail has been devasted by COVID-19’s economic impacts.

Costco Wholesale, which had the dubious honor of notoriety for long lines just to enter the store during the pandemic, reports same store sales on Wednesday. Costco is a barometer of upper-middle-class spending. June was a strong month for “SSS” with a 13.6% rise in comps (ex-gasoline), so the bar may be elevated. Unfortunately, free samples are still off the table.

Teva, one of the world’s biggest generic drug manufacturers, reports in the morning.

Stepping aside from earnings, The Jefferies Global Industrials Conference 2020 will be held virtually on Wednesday and Thursday this week. Key companies taking part are Dow Components Boeing and Caterpillar. Honeywell will also present, providing an insight into the US economy. Internationally, Israel Chemicals will be on hand.

Global industrials stocks have been under pressure this year as the world experienced a severe economic contraction during Q2 from COVID-19’s impacts. A 32.9% Q2 US GDP decline (quarter-on-quarter, annualized) and a 44.3% Euro area economic contraction created perhaps the toughest business environment ever for global manufacturing companies

Thursday 8/6/2020

Axa, the French insurance firm, will give a glimpse into global financial operations first thing in the morning.

Becton Dickson reports their third quarter financial results before the market open. The New Jersey-based medical technology company has received orders for vaccine delivery equipment such as syringes in the last several weeks. BDX is not making major headlines as being at the forefront of the COVID-19 fight, but this could be one to watch.

While Health Care will be a key sector this week, we’ll get a check on Energy from EOG Thursday afternoon. The stock has been under tremendous pressure this year with oil prices falling to negative $40 per barrel back in April. Major oil & gas exploration & production firms have announced record capex cuts. It’s tough times in the oil patch.

While many industries struggle to cope with COVID, Nice Ltd has benefited. The Tel-Aviv-based enterprise software solutions company has seen its stock price increase more than 25% this year.

Friday 8/7/2020

The week wraps up on a quiet note. Apple trades ex its $0.82 quarterly dividend, but more eyes will be focused on the US employment report during the morning. IBM also goes ex-div on Friday.

For earnings, Japan Post Holdings and Japan Post Bank report their first quarter 2021 fiscal earnings. Insights could be gleamed here regarding global logistics and banking operations.

Monday 8/3/2020

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM): Presenting at IBM Integration Technical Conference 2020
Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ): Pay date for Quarterly dividend of $0.615
NTT DoCoMo Inc (9437_JP): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q1 2020
Heineken NV (HEIA_NL): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for H1 2020

Tuesday 8/4/2020

Comcast Corporation (CMCSA): Video Release date for Red Penguins
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc. (8306_JP): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q1 2020
Bayer (BAYN_DE): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q2 2020
The Walt Disney Company (DIS): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q3 2020

Wednesday 8/5/2020

Boeing Co. (BA): Presenting at Jefferies Global Industrials Conference (Virtual) 2020
Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST): Same store sales report date for July UNCONFIRMED
Honda Motor Co. Ltd. (7267_JP): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q1 2021
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW_DE): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q2 2020
Simon Property Group Inc. (SPG): UNCONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q2 2020
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA_IL): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q2 2020

Thursday 8/6/2020

Caterpillar Inc (CAT): Presenting at Jefferies Global Industrials Conference (Virtual) 2020
Wells Fargo & Company (WFC): Ex Date for Quarterly dividend of $0.100
AXA SA (AXAHY): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for H1 2020
Becton, Dickinson and Company (BDX): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q3 2020
EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q2 2020
NICE Ltd. (NICE): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q2 2020

Friday 8/7/2020

International Business Machines Corp. (IBM): Ex Date for Quarterly dividend of $1.630
Japan Post Holdings Co., Ltd. (6178_JP): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q1 2021
Japan Post Bank Co., Ltd. (7182_JP): CONFIRMED Next Earnings Date for Q1 2021
Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN): Video Release date for Boyz in the Wood