Wall Street Opens Mixed as Heavy Earnings Week Gets Underway

April 28, 2026 - 02:09

U.S. stock markets delivered a muted performance on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average edging slightly lower while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posted modest gains to kick off a pivotal week for corporate earnings. The S&P 500 ticked higher, and the Nasdaq Composite led the way with a 0.2 percent advance, though all three major indexes fluctuated throughout the session, reflecting a lack of clear direction following last week’s rally.

Leah Bennett, chief investment strategist at Concurrent Investment Advisors, pointed to rising oil prices as one factor contributing to investor caution. “Prices spiked above $108, but we are entering a big earnings season this week and next. People are closely watching how things will unfold, and whether we are closer to a resolution in the Middle East,” Bennett said. She described a persistent tug-of-war between the secular tailwind from technology stocks and the cyclical pressures stemming from policy and geopolitical issues, with neither side gaining the upper hand on Monday.

First-quarter earnings season is now in full swing, with five of the so-called Magnificent Seven megacap companies scheduled to report results this week. Among them, Nvidia—which reports next month—jumped 4 percent, extending a prior session surge of more than 4 percent, and reclaiming a market valuation above $5 trillion. Verizon shares rose 1.5 percent after the telecom giant raised its annual forecast, citing stronger-than-expected subscriber additions. In contrast, Domino’s Pizza slid nearly 9 percent after missing first-quarter sales estimates.

Looking ahead, the Federal Reserve is set to begin its two-day policy meeting on Tuesday, with markets widely expecting the central bank to leave interest rates unchanged.