This Week’s Top Stocks to Watch Out For: Nvidia Earnings, Buffett’s Alphabet Bet & the Retail Titans on the Hot Seat

• Wall Street is heading into the week of November 17–21, 2025 laser‑focused on Nvidia’s AI mega‑earnings and a cluster of retail giants that will reveal how the U.S. consumer is really doing. Reuters
• AI stress test: Nvidia (NVDA) is expected to report around $55 billion in revenue and ~$1.25 EPS this week, making its earnings call a de‑facto “AI stress test” for markets. The Economic Times
• Buffett’s rare tech bet: Berkshire Hathaway quietly built a $4.3–$4.9 billion stake in Alphabet (GOOGL) while trimming Apple (AAPL), sending Alphabet to record highs and re‑igniting the AI search and cloud trade. Reuters
• Retail in the spotlight: Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT) and Home Depot (HD) all report this week and could overshadow Nvidia because they’re the clearest window into inflation‑weary consumers heading into the holidays. Investopedia
• Cybersecurity watch: Palo Alto Networks (PANW) posts results on Wednesday; analysts see mid‑teens revenue growth and solid earnings but still worry about its rich valuation. Investing.com
• Streaming truce: Disney (DIS) just ended a two‑week blackout of ESPN/ABC on YouTube TV, a key move in the battle for live sports and streaming dominance. AP News
• EV + AI narrative: Tesla (TSLA) is surging again after Stifel hiked its price target to $508, arguing that robotaxis and Full Self‑Driving (FSD) could add huge upside. MarketWatch
• Lithium comeback: Albemarle (ALB) is leading the S&P 500 as lithium prices rebound and analysts turn bullish on demand from EVs and AI‑hungry data centers. The Chronicle-Journal
• Market tone: Morgan Stanley just lifted its S&P 500 12‑month target to 7,800, citing a “rolling recovery,” strong earnings growth and AI productivity gains. MarketWatch

Prices below are intraday as of late trading on Monday, November 17, 2025, and will move.

Why This Week Matters So Much

Markets enter this week with mixed signals:

• AI leaders have rallied hard, drawing bubble chatter.
• A 43‑day U.S. government shutdown has only just ended, and delayed economic data is about to hit. Reuters
• The Fed has already cut rates twice this fall, and investors are trying to gauge how quickly growth re‑accelerates in 2026. Investing.com

All of that collides with one hyper‑concentrated earnings week:

• Nvidia sets the tone for everything AI.
• Walmart, Target and Home Depot tell us whether consumers still have room to spend.
• Palo Alto Networks, Disney, Tesla and Albemarle give clues on cybersecurity, streaming, robotics and the energy transition.

Below is a breakdown of this week’s top stocks to watch, why they matter now, what Wall Street is expecting, and the key risks to keep in mind.

1. Nvidia (NVDA): The AI Bellwether Faces Another Stress Test

• Price (NVDA): about $187.67
• Story: AI data‑center chips, hyperscaler spending, and whether the AI boom still has legs. Reuters

What’s happening this week

Nvidia reports earnings after the close on Wednesday. Several previews describe the call as a “stress test” for the AI trade, because so much of the market’s 2025 gain hangs on AI capex remaining sky‑high. Saxo Bank

Consensus estimates:

• Revenue: around $55 billion
• EPS: roughly $1.25 per share. The Economic Times

Morgan Stanley and other brokers expect a “standout quarter” as demand ramps for Nvidia’s new Blackwell chips, which power AI training and inference in cloud data centers. Yahoo Finance

One research note puts it bluntly: Nvidia’s earnings “sit on the precipice” of the uptrend in both NVDA and the Nasdaq 100—strong guidance could extend the rally, weak commentary could trigger a sharp valuation reset. Forex

What to watch in the call

• Data center growth: Are hyperscalers still racing to deploy AI hardware, or are they slowing orders?
• 2026 guidance: Investors want clarity on demand beyond the initial AI build‑out. The Economic Times
• Competition & supply: Any hints on how Nvidia sees rivals (AMD, custom chips) and whether supply constraints ease.

Big risk

Valuation. After years of massive gains, even a small disappointment in guidance could spark a violent selloff, not just in Nvidia but across AI‑linked names.

2. Alphabet (GOOGL): Buffett’s Late‑Cycle Tech Bet

• Price (GOOGL): about $288.35, near record highs. Reuters

What just happened

Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a $4.3–$4.9 billion stake in Alphabet, roughly 17.8 million shares, making it one of Berkshire’s top U.S. holdings. Yahoo Finance

As Reuters notes, it’s a remarkably rare big‑tech bet for Warren Buffett’s firm, which has historically preferred banks, insurers and consumer brands. Alphabet shares are now up about 45–46% year‑to‑date, outpacing the rest of Big Tech. Financial Times

At the same time, Berkshire trimmed its Apple stake, locking in years of profits while signaling more confidence in Alphabet’s AI‑driven turnaround in search and cloud. Reuters

Why Google is a stock to watch this week

• Momentum + endorsement: A high‑conviction Berkshire position is often seen as a long‑term quality stamp.
• AI & cloud: Alphabet has been catching up quickly in generative AI and has repositioned Google Cloud as a growth driver. Financial Times
• Regulation: Antitrust and AI regulation remain hanging clouds, but less front‑page this week than the Buffett news.

Key risk

Alphabet is now priced for execution. With the stock at record highs, any stumble in AI monetization or cloud growth could see multiples compress even if earnings stay solid.

3. Apple (AAPL): Still a Giant, but No Longer Buffett’s Favorite

• Price (AAPL): about $268.92, slightly lower on the day. Reuters

Berkshire has spent the last few years selling down its Apple stake, including another $11 billion of shares in Q3 2025, though Apple remains its single largest holding at roughly $60–61 billion. Reuters

While Apple continues to grow earnings and sits on enormous cash reserves, investors are now asking:

• Can Apple reignite double‑digit growth with new AI‑heavy devices and services?
• Or has the Buffett trim marked a subtle shift away from Apple as the default “safe tech” holding?

Morgan Stanley’s big‑picture S&P call also hints at a shift toward smaller caps and under‑owned sectors, which could leave mega‑cap staples like Apple lagging if leadership broadens out. MarketWatch

Why watch this week: Apple doesn’t report, but its stock will likely react to Nvidia’s AI guidance and broader tech sentiment. A strong AI outlook could pull Apple up with the rest of megacap tech; a disappointment could reinforce concerns about overconcentration in the “Magnificent” names.

4. Walmart (WMT): The Consumer’s Report Card

• Price (WMT): about $103.17

Earnings expectations

• EPS: roughly $0.61 (up about 5% year‑over‑year)
• Revenue: around $177 billion, growing ~4–5%
• Same‑store sales: low‑to‑mid single‑digit growth, with strength in groceries and e‑commerce.

Last quarter, Walmart beat estimates and raised its full‑year outlook for both revenue and earnings, powered by 25%+ e‑commerce growth and improving advertising and membership businesses. GuruFocus

Refinitiv’s retail preview notes Walmart’s “value proposition and loyal customer base” as key advantages in an environment of high tariffs and squeezed household budgets. Lipper Alpha Insight

Why it’s a top stock to watch

• Macro barometer: If Walmart’s traffic holds up, it’s a vote of confidence in lower‑ and middle‑income consumers despite tariffs and the aftermath of the government shutdown. Investing.com
• Holiday outlook: Guidance on holiday demand, shrink, and promotions will shape expectations for the entire consumer staples & retail sector.

Risk: If Walmart talks down the holiday season—citing weaker discretionary spending or trade‑down behavior—markets may quickly price in a consumer slowdown for 2026.

5. Target (TGT) & Home Depot (HD): Holiday & Housing Check‑Up

• Price (TGT): about $90.15
• Price (HD): about $361.88

Bloomberg points out that, in many ways, the trio of Walmart, Target and Home Depot may be more important than Nvidia this week, because they give a clearer read on how healthy, or fragile, the U.S. consumer really is. Bloomberg

Target (TGT): Rebuilding trust, under pressure

Target has been working hard to repair its brand after pricing and merchandising missteps, but recent coverage notes that efforts to “make amends” with customers are running into the reality of still‑elevated prices and lingering criticism. Yahoo Finance

Analysts will zero in on:

• Traffic and basket size trends vs. Walmart.
• How much profit Target is willing to sacrifice to regain value‑oriented shoppers.
• Commentary on shrink (theft) and promotional intensity.

Home Depot (HD): Rate cuts vs. boycott headlines

Home Depot’s upcoming earnings will gauge whether rate cuts and a stabilizing housing market are finally reviving home‑improvement demand. Investing.com

At the same time, media reports highlight growing calls for consumer boycotts ahead of the holidays, triggered by political and labor issues. The Street

Key data points to watch:

• Comparable sales in the U.S. and big‑ticket items.
• Pro commentary on whether the DIY / contractor split is improving.
• Any sign that boycott talk has real impact on traffic or spending.

Risk for both: If Walmart looks strong while Target and Home Depot lag, it could reinforce a barbell narrative: consumers cluster at discounters and high‑end specialists, while middle‑market retailers get squeezed.

6. Palo Alto Networks (PANW): Cybersecurity Growth at a Premium Price

• Price (PANW): about $204.35

• Revenue growth: around 14–16% year‑over‑year.
• EPS: roughly $0.89 this quarter; full‑year EPS guidance around $3.75–$3.85.
• Drivers: Expansion from hardware firewalls into subscriptions and platforms, with strong demand for cloud security and AI‑assisted threat detection. Yahoo Finance

KeyBanc and others describe the setup as “balanced”—expectations are not overly euphoric, but the stock still commands a high valuation relative to slower‑growing peers. Investing.com

What to watch

• Platform adoption: Are customers consolidating tools onto Palo Alto’s platform (good for margins) or still opting for best‑of‑breed mixes?
• Billings and RPO (backlog): These forward‑looking indicators can matter more than GAAP revenue for growth investors.
• Insider selling: MarketBeat recently highlighted heavy insider sales—including a ~75% reduction in CEO Nikesh Arora’s stake—something skeptics will point to if results are merely “ok”. MarketBeat

Risk: Anything that hints at slower platform adoption or pricing pressure could hit PANW hard, given its premium valuation.

7. Disney (DIS): Streaming Truce and the Battle for Live Sports

• Price (DIS): about $106.62

Disney just ended a more‑than‑two‑week blackout of ESPN, ABC and other channels on YouTube TV, reaching a new carriage agreement and restoring content to millions of subscribers. Fortune

The dispute, which revolved around pricing and the value of Disney’s sports rights, highlighted how central live sports has become to the streaming wars:

• Disney is juggling ESPN, ESPN’s standalone streamer, Hulu, and Disney+ while trying to keep affiliate fees high. Yahoo Finance
• Google (Alphabet) wants YouTube TV to stay competitively priced but still carry premium sports content. AP News

Why Disney is on this week’s watch list

• The resolution removes a near‑term overhang and may stabilize ESPN’s subscriber base.
• It also sets a benchmark for future negotiations with other distributors, including potential joint ventures around live sports bundles.

Risk: Disney shares have been volatile around recent earnings as markets weigh streaming losses, sports rights costs and restructuring. Even with the blackout resolved, investors still need to see a path to sustained streaming profitability.

8. Tesla (TSLA): Robotaxis, AI Chips and Bubble Talk

• Price (TSLA): about $419.74, up roughly 3–4% on the day. Barron’s

• Full Self‑Driving (FSD): Active in about 12% of Tesla’s fleet, with billions of miles driven, forming the backbone of its autonomy data advantage.
• Robotaxis: Early services in Austin and the Bay Area, with plans to scale to five additional cities and around 1,500 robotaxis.
• AI chips & robotics: Proprietary AI5 chips for self‑driving and the speculative but widely watched Optimus humanoid robot. MarketWatch

At the same time, Peter Thiel’s fund cut its Tesla stake by about 76%, citing worries about a broader AI bubble, even while Tesla remains its biggest holding. Investors

Why it’s a stock to watch this week

• Tesla is a pure play on the AI + mobility narrative—its moves often foreshadow broader risk appetite in speculative growth names.
• Any new hints from Elon Musk about robotaxi timelines or removing safety drivers could swing sentiment sharply.

Risk: The stock is extremely sensitive to execution risk (delays in robotaxis, regulatory pushback) and swings in AI enthusiasm. If markets rotate further toward value, Tesla could face multiple compression even with decent fundamentals.

9. Albemarle (ALB): Lithium’s Comeback Kid

• Price (ALB): about $125.10, up nearly 8–9% today. GuruFocus

Albemarle, one of the world’s largest lithium producers, is suddenly leading the S&P 500 again as lithium prices rebound from a deep slump.

• Lithium carbonate prices in China have jumped to their highest levels in over a year.
• Ganfeng Lithium’s chairman sees 30% demand growth by 2026, driven not only by EVs but also grid‑scale battery storage.
• Albemarle has raised liquidity via non‑core asset sales, beaten recent earnings expectations, and tightened its cost structure.

Analysts at Barron’s and others argue that lithium is increasingly an “AI play”, because hyperscale data centers need enormous amounts of clean, dispatchable power—boosting demand for lithium‑ion storage. Barron’s

Why it’s a stock to watch

• Albemarle ties together EV adoption, renewables and data‑center power.
• As lithium stabilizes and climbs from depressed levels, ALB could see both earnings recovery and multiple expansion.

Risk: Lithium remains a commodity—subject to oversupply shocks, new mining projects and policy risks. ALB’s share price is highly sensitive to any reversal in lithium price momentum.

How These Stocks Fit into the Bigger Picture

1. Earnings growth stays robust (double‑digit EPS growth through 2027).
2. AI productivity and efficiency gains offset some wage and cost pressures.
3. The market broadens beyond a handful of mega‑cap tech names toward small caps, financials, healthcare and energy.

This week’s watch list reflects exactly that rotation:

• Nvidia, Alphabet, Apple → test whether AI megacaps can keep leading without forming a true bubble.
• Walmart, Target, Home Depot → show whether the consumer can keep spending as tariffs, housing costs and post‑shutdown uncertainty linger.
• Palo Alto, Disney, Tesla, Albemarle → sit at the crossroads of cybersecurity, streaming, autonomous driving and the energy transition.

How to Use This Watch List (Without Overreacting)

For everyday investors, here’s a practical way to think about this week:

• Follow the themes, not just the tickers.
  • If Nvidia’s guidance is strong, it supports the AI infrastructure theme, which can benefit semis and cloud providers broadly.
  • If Walmart & Target flag weaker spending, that affects consumer staples, discretionary, and even banks exposed to credit cards.
• Expect volatility around earnings. Even when companies beat expectations, “sell the news” reactions are common if valuations were already rich.
• Diversification matters. The same headlines that lift Tesla and Nvidia can hurt value‑oriented names—and vice versa. Spreading exposure across sectors can buffer surprises.
• Stay skeptical of hype. Analysts raising targets for Tesla robotaxis or calling lithium an “AI play” are making long‑term projections that carry meaningful uncertainty. MarketWatch

Quick Reference: This Week’s Top Stocks & Themes

• Nvidia (NVDA) – AI data‑center chips, earnings “stress test” for the whole AI trade.
• Alphabet (GOOGL) – Buffett‑backed AI + cloud turnaround; record highs after new Berkshire stake.
• Apple (AAPL) – Still dominant, but facing slow rotation away as Berkshire trims and leadership broadens.
• Walmart (WMT) – Key read on lower‑ and middle‑income consumers and holiday spending.
• Target (TGT) – Brand repair and value perception vs. Walmart; holiday promotions under scrutiny.
• Home Depot (HD) – Housing & home‑improvement demand as rates fall; potential boycott impact.
• Palo Alto Networks (PANW) – High‑growth cybersecurity platform; valuation vs. growth in focus.
• Disney (DIS) – Streaming and sports carriage deals; YouTube TV truce ends a high‑profile blackout.
• Tesla (TSLA) – Robotaxis, FSD and AI chips vs. AI‑bubble fears and execution risks.
• Albemarle (ALB) – Lithium leader riding a price rebound tied to EVs and AI‑driven power demand.

Important Disclaimer

This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell any security, or a substitute for individualized financial advice. Stock prices and expectations cited here are as of November 17, 2025 and may change rapidly. Always do your own research or consult a licensed financial professional before making investment decisions.