Welcome to Seeking Alpha's Stocks to Watch - a preview of key events scheduled for the this week. Follow this account and turn the e-mail alert on to receive this article in your inbox every Saturday morning. A podcast of Stocks to Watch is also available on Sundays onSeeking Alpha,Apple Podcasts,StitcherandSpotify(click the highlighted links).
Economic reports due out this week include the latest updates on existing home sales, new home sales, jobless claims and PMI. Big earnings reports blast in every day this week across sectors. Of note, the follow-up conference calls from Coca-Cola(NYSE:KO), Netflix(NASDAQ:NFLX)and Intel(NASDAQ:INTC)could be on the interesting side. On the vaccine front, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is expected to meet late this week to consider recommendations for Johnson & Johnson's(NYSE:JNJ)shot, which has been linked to rare blood clots in the brain.
Earnings spotlight: Earnings season heats up in a big way with reports due in from Coca-Cola (KO), IBM(NYSE:IBM)and United Airlines(NASDAQ:UAL)on April 19; Johnson & Johnson (JNJ), Procter & Gamble(NYSE:PG), Philip Morris International(NYSE:PM), Abbott Labs(NYSE:ABT)and Netflix (NFLX) on April 20; Anthem(NYSE:ANTM), Verizon(NYSE:VZ), Chipotle(NYSE:CMG)and Lam Research(NASDAQ:LRCX)on April 21; AT&T(NYSE:T), Dow(NYSE:DOW), Intel (INTC), Seagate Tech(NASDAQ:STX)and Mattel(NASDAQ:MAT)on April 22; as well as American Express(NYSE:AXP)and Honeywell(NYSE:HON)on April 23.
IPO watch: IPOs expected to start trading during the week include UiPAth (PATH), DoubleVerify (DV) and NeuroPace (NPCE) on April 20, as well as Zymergern (ZY) and KnowBe4 (KNBE) on April 22. IPO lockup periods expire on Datto Holding(NYSE:MSP), Topaz Energy(NYSE:TPZ), McAfee(NASDAQ:MCFE), Guild Holdings(NYSE:GHLD), Foghorn Therapeutics(NASDAQ:FHTX)and ComSovereign Holding(NASDAQ:COMS). The analyst quiet period expires on ThredUp(NASDAQ:TDUP)on April 20 to free up analysts to post ratings. Shares of Trip.com(NASDAQ:TRIP)will begin trading in Hong Kong this week following a new listing.
Apple event: Apple(NASDAQ:AAPL)holds an event on April 20 called "Spring Loaded" to show off new products. Information out of Cupertino has been pretty tight, but the company could reveal new iPads, new iMacs, new AirPods, AirTags, a new Apple TV and possibly a new Apple Pencil.
Projected dividend increases (quarterly): Expected dividend boosts for the week include Comfort Systems USA(NYSE:FIX)to $0.125 from $0.1115, HP Enterprise(NYSE:HPE)to $0.1275 from $0.12, Pool Corp(NASDAQ:POOL)to $0.61 from $0.58, Johnson & Johnson to $1.06 from $1.01, Travelers(NYSE:TRV)to $0.88 from $0.85, Southern Company(NYSE:SO)to $0.66 from $0.64, Kinder Morgan(NYSE:KMI)to $0.27 from $0.2625 and Nasdaq(NASDAQ:NDAQ)to $0.50 from $0.49.
M&A tidbits: The highly-anticipated Aphria(NASDAQ:APHA)-Tilray(NASDAQ:TLRY)merger is expected to close on April 20. The tender offer on the GenMark Diagnostics(NASDAQ:GNMK)-Roche(OTCQX:RHHBY)deal expires on April 21. GW Pharmaceuticals(NASDAQ:GWPH)shareholders vote on the Jazz Pharmaceuticals(NASDAQ:JAZZ)deal on April 23.
ARK Invest watch: Investors may want to keep an eye on Coinbase Global(NASDAQ:COIN)after ARK Invest came in Friday with a purchase of 19,599 shares for the ARK Fintech Innovation ETF(NYSEARCA:ARKF)and 112,539 shares for the ARK Innovation ETF(NYSEARCA:ARKK). Cathie Wood's firm also defended Silvergate(NYSE:SI)after its mid-week stumble likely in response to the Coinbase IPO. "Investors potentially took profits to diversify their exposure to crypto in the public markets. "In our view, the Silvergate Exchange Network, with its strong network effects, positions Silvergate as both a facilitator and a prime beneficiary of increased crypto adoption," ARK reasons.
Corporate spotlight: Major events this week include strategic updates from Advance Auto Parts(NYSE:AAP)and Royal Gold(NYSE:GOLD)on April 20, as well as investor days for Dye & Durham(OTC:DYNDF)and SMART Global(NASDAQ:SGH). On April 21, MGM Resorts(NYSE:MGM)and Entain(OTCPK:GMVHF)along with their U.S. venture BetMGM will host a business update event for analysts and investors. The event will provide deeper insights into the rapidly growing U.S. sports betting and iGaming business of BetMGM. A new forecast on the industry's total addressable market could be a share price catalyst for DraftKings(NASDAQ:DKNG)and Penn National Gaming(NASDAQ:PENN)as well. Check outSeeking Alpha's Catalyst Watch for a detailed list of more events to watch.
Conferences rundown: Notable conferences running during the week include the H.C Wainwright Spring Mining Conference, Linley Spring Processor Conference 2021, the Kempen Life Sciences Conference, the Jefferies Microbiome-based Therapeutics Summit 2021 and the Stifel GMP & Stifel First Energy Canada Cross Sector Insight Conference 2021. Check outSeeking Alpha's Catalyst Watch for a detailed list of events to watch.
Barron's mentions: Disney(NYSE:DIS)makes the cover of Barron's this week as the media giant is given credit for positioning itself for post-COVID growth. Disney is said to have come out ahead after CEO Bob Chapek and team faced the severest of financial stress tests. "When parks and theaters emptied out a year ago, costs kept rolling in, and the fastest-growing part of the business, streaming, was consuming cash—as it still is. Yet, Disney generated $3.6 billion in free cash during its fiscal year ended last September. It’s seen producing $3.3 billion this year before the numbers begin a sharp rebound," notes Jack Hough. While the movie business is still sputtering to restart and the TV business is seen holding steady at best, streaming results have shattered forecasts. Disney+ smashed expectations in piling up 100M in less than 18 months, compared to the 10 years it took Netflix to hit that level. Disney is targeting 300M to 350M subscribers by 2024 across all of its streaming platforms, including Hulu, ESPN+, Hotstar in India, and Star+ in Latin America (launches in June). PetIQ(NASDAQ:PETQ)and O'Reilly Automotive(NASDAQ:ORLY)also land favorable write-ups this week.