Records on Records: The Market Is Vibing While Earnings Season Prepares to Reality-Check Everyone
NASDAQ's 12-session win streak, a ceasefire, a Netflix faceplant, and the most loaded earnings week of the year — buckle up
Ticker Ratings
| Ticker | Rating | Entry Price | Current | $ Gain | % Gain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GEV GE Vernova Inc. | buy | $985.43 | — | — | — |
| IBKR Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. | buy | $80.15 | — | — | — |
| NFLX NETFLIX INC | hold | $97.57 | — | — | — |
| TSLA Tesla, Inc. | sell | $393.63 | — | — | — |
| SCHW SCHWAB CHARLES CORP | hold | $93.05 | — | — | — |
| HIMS Hims & Hers Health, Inc. | buy | $27.02 | — | — | — |
| ABT ABBOTT LABORATORIES | hold | $95.82 | — | — | — |
The S&P 500 has posted gains in 11 of the last 12 sessions, and the NASDAQ 100 just wrapped a 12-session winning streak — its longest since 2017. Between a potential US-Iran deal, an Israel-Lebanon ceasefire, and China's Q1 GDP beating at 5%, the macro mood is practically wearing a party hat. PNC's Yung-Yu Ma called it on CNBC: tail risks are diminishing, AI productivity expectations are cementing, and tech is ready to re-assert leadership. Hard to argue with a straight face.
Then earnings arrived and immediately started flipping tables. $NFLX beat Q1 revenue at $12.3B (+16% YoY) and EPS of $1.23 vs. $0.76 expected, but Q2 guidance of $0.78 EPS missed the $0.84 estimate and shares dumped ~9% after hours. Reed Hastings also stepped down from the board after 29 years — a symbolic gut-punch on an already rough night. Meanwhile, $GE Vernova heads into April 22nd earnings with 84% EPS growth expected, a record $150B backlog, and AI data center tailwinds making it the most interesting energy infrastructure story on the board. $IBKR reports April 21st with 28% EPS growth expected, breaking near a cup base pivot — prediction markets expansion is a sneaky catalyst the street keeps underselling.
Jim Cramer warned on Mad Money that the rally is getting speculative again — hot themes like nuclear, quantum, and AI pivots risk a repeat of last year's unwind. With oil falling nearly 2.5% and Treasury's Bessent promising gas prices drop soon, the macro setup looks constructive — but this earnings week is the market's final exam, and not everyone studied.