Fed minutes, plus Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Nvidia and more stocks to watch this week

As markets gear up for a pivotal week, investors are keeping a close eye on several major corporate earnings and key economic data. The minutes from the Federal Open Market Committee’s October meeting will be released, offering insight into rate‑setting deliberations amid diverging views on inflation and growth. Meanwhile, significant earnings reports are on the agenda: Nvidia Corporation (NVDA) takes centre stage on Wednesday amid ongoing excitement — and wariness — around the artificial‑intelligence trade. Retail titans Walmart Inc., Target Corporation, and The Home Depot, Inc. are also expected to unveil results this week, each bringing their own implications for consumer spending and economic momentum. For Walmart, a fresh CEO appointment is in the wings: John Furner is set to replace Doug McMillon on February 1, following strong stock performance in October. Meanwhile, Home Depot’s report on Tuesday comes after it raised its outlook, reflecting optimism in home‑improvement demand. On the data front, housing‑related figures (existing‑home sales, housing starts) and consumer‑sentiment reports may still be delayed thanks to the recent government shutdown. All of this places markets at a potential inflection point: investors will weigh earnings quality, policy signals and economic resilience in equal measure. #EarningsWeek #FedMinutes #RetailStocks #AINews #SlimScan #GrowthStocks #CANSLIM