EARNINGS & CATALYSTS · October 29, 2026
Earnings ahead: Amazon’s AI spending and Intel’s recovery face a cash-flow test
Amazon and Intel lead the earnings reports expected after close on October 29, 2026. Watch whether cloud and chip growth generate cash, while Starbucks, Mondelez and Republic Services show how demand and costs are shaping profits.
| Company | Report date | Window | EPS estimate | Revenue estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) | October 29, 2026Expected · subject to change | After close | 1.97 | 202.22B |
| Intel Corp. (INTC) | October 29, 2026Expected · subject to change | After close | 0.41 | 16.54B |
| Gilead Sciences, Inc. (GILD) | October 29, 2026Expected · subject to change | After close | 2.19 | 7.8B |
| Sandisk Corporation (SNDK) | October 29, 2026Expected · subject to change | After close | 46.67 | 10.72B |
| Stryker Corporation (SYK) | October 29, 2026Expected · subject to change | After close | 3.55 | 6.62B |
| Starbucks Corporation (SBUX) | October 29, 2026Expected · subject to change | After close | 0.72 | 9.22B |
| Mondelez International, Inc. (MDLZ) | October 29, 2026Expected · subject to change | After close | 0.71 | 9.98B |
| Republic Services, Inc. (RSG) | October 29, 2026Expected · subject to change | After close | 1.93 | 4.42B |
1) When are the reports, and what is expected?
These reports are expected after close on October 29, 2026. The companies have announced reporting dates or earnings calls for that evening. Amazon, Intel, Gilead, Stryker, Mondelez and Republic Services are reporting their third quarters of 2026. Sandisk is reporting its first quarter of fiscal 2027; Starbucks is reporting its fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2026. Analyst revenue forecasts as of October 29, 2026: Amazon about $202.22 billion; Intel $16.54 billion; Gilead $7.80 billion; Sandisk $10.72 billion; Stryker $6.62 billion; Starbucks $9.22 billion; Mondelez $9.98 billion; Republic Services $4.42 billion. These are expectations, not reported sales.
2) Amazon: can cloud growth fund the AI buildout?
Amazon earns money from online retail, advertising and cloud services. Cloud growth is especially important because it helps fund the data centers needed for artificial intelligence. The useful comparison is growth in cloud profit against spending on buildings, servers and equipment. Watch free cash flow—the cash left after operating expenses and capital spending—and management’s next investment plan. A strong sales quarter can still leave less cash for shareholders if construction and equipment spending rise faster. The earnings call needs to show how new capacity is becoming paying customer demand.
3) Intel: stronger chip sales must support factory spending
Intel’s second-quarter revenue rose 25%, while data-center and AI sales rose 59%. It forecast third-quarter revenue of $15.8 billion to $16.8 billion and said it was increasing investment in equipment and manufacturing space. Watch the share of chip sales retained as profit and the cash needed to expand production. On October 26, Intel signed an agreement to acquire Classiq, which develops software for quantum computing. The proposed combination adds a longer-term opportunity, but closing conditions and commercial adoption remain risks. The current earnings decision rests more directly on chip demand, manufacturing progress and spending.
4) Sandisk: the next storage outlook matters as much as the quarter
Sandisk sells flash memory and storage products used in data centers, devices and computers. Its previous revenue forecast of $10.3 billion to $10.8 billion puts the analyst expectation near the upper end of that range. Watch whether higher sales reflect sustainable customer demand and pricing. The next-quarter outlook should help show whether customers are continuing to commit to storage purchases. Memory pricing can move sharply as supply and demand change, so strong current profits need support from orders and disciplined capacity investment.
5) Gilead and Stryker: separate demand from company-specific costs
Gilead’s second-quarter HIV sales rose 12%, while cell-therapy sales fell 14% amid competition. Acquisition-related research charges also affected earnings. Watch underlying medicine sales, operating cash flow and the cost of bringing acquired treatments to market. Stryker sells surgical equipment and medical devices. Procedure demand, product mix and expenses will determine how much sales growth reaches profit. Boston Scientific’s October 28 report showed sales growth of 1.5% and discussed disruption from a cybersecurity incident. That is useful context for reading device earnings: company-specific execution can matter as much as demand for procedures.
6) Starbucks and Mondelez: visits and volume matter more than price alone
Starbucks’ previous quarter showed global comparable-store sales growth of 7.9%, including 4.2% more transactions. Yet consolidated revenue fell as its China retail business moved to a licensed joint venture. Watch customer visits and store profitability to judge the recovery alongside that accounting change. Chipotle’s October 28 report showed comparable sales rising 2.1% while its restaurant-level operating margin fell to 23.3% from 24.5%. It highlights the need to look at costs as well as traffic when reading restaurant results. Mondelez sells snacks and confectionery. Its second-quarter organic sales rose 2.2%, but adjusted profit per share declined 2.7% at constant currency. Organic growth removes currency and portfolio changes. Watch whether sales volumes improve and whether pricing covers costs without discouraging purchases.
7) Republic Services: do price increases cover the cost of service?
Republic Services earns recurring revenue from waste collection, disposal and related environmental services. Its earnings should show whether pricing can offset labor, fuel and other operating expenses while retaining customers. WM’s October 27 results provide a recent comparison: revenue rose 6.3%, collection and disposal volumes fell 0.4%, and higher fuel and risk-management costs outweighed some efficiency gains. For Republic, watch its own volume, margins and cash-flow outlook before assuming a similar outcome.