Dow Jones Today Riding High on Healthy Earnings

The Dow Jones today will pop up to 150 points thanks to stronger-than-expected earnings from UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH). The health insurance giant topped earnings and revenue expectations and hiked its full-year guidance.

More below on how this will affect the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and other earnings reports you don't want to miss.

Here are the numbers from Monday for the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq:

Now, here's a closer look at today's Money Morning insight, the most important market events, and stocks to watch.

The Top Stock Market Stories for Tuesday

• Today, investors will watch earnings season kick into high gear. A busy day of reports started today with a solid one from UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH). The health insurance giant's stock could jump up to 3% after topping Wall Street expectations, while Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) could gain another 2% thanks to a solid report.

• The U.S. Federal Reserve could hold interest rates in place until late 2020, according to one prominent member of the central bank. On Monday, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans said that the Fed can hold off on raising rates until around the election. Evans said that holding off will help "support the inflation outlook."
• Keep a close eye on Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL), whose shares are dancing with the $200 level. With Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) set to report earnings, Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) launching its own streaming service, and Hulu losing a major investor, all eyes are on Tim Cook's company and its plans to enter the highly competitive content wars. Last week, AAPL stock received a price target upgrade from Wedbush, $215 to $225 per share. But if you've been following us, you'd know that $225 is our long-term outlook for one of the world's top companies.

Stocks to Watch Today: NFLX, DIS, CMCSA, T, CSX

• Earnings season is in full swing, and investors will keep an eye out later for Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX). The global streaming giant reports earnings today. Prior to its earnings report, Deutsche Bank AG (NYSE: DB) upgraded its stance from a "Hold" to a "Buy" and expects stronger subscriber growth on top of higher monthly subscription costs. The German bank set a price target of $400 per share. NFLX stock is up 30% so far this year, but the stock faces increasing competition from a variety of challengers.

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• A lot of chatter has built up around Walt Disney Co.'s (NYSE: DIS) streaming service set to launch later this year. But not too many people know that Disney is now the majority owner of Hulu. According to reports, AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) sold its stake in Hulu for $1.43 billion, bringing the streaming firm's valuation to $15 billion. The sale leaves Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Disney as the primary owners, with the latter holding a 60% stake.
• The real bellwether today will be a report from CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX). The U.S. railway giant will announce its earnings, and investors are curious about how the company has fared with fewer coal shipments and concerns about a slowing economy.
• Look for earnings reports from Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC), BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: BLK), Comerica Inc. (NYSE: CMA), CSX Corp. (NYSE: CSX), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), United Continental Holdings Inc. (NYSE: UAL).

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Garrett Baldwin

About the Author

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Garrett Baldwin is a globally recognized research economist, financial writer, and consultant with degrees from Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Purdue, and Indiana University. He is a seasoned financial and political risk analyst, with a focus on stocks, hedge funds, private equity, blockchain, and housing policy. He has conducted risk assessment projects for clients in 27 countries, and consulted on policy and financial operations for some of the nation's largest financial institutions, including a $1.5 trillion credit fund, a $43 billion credit and auto loan giant, as well as two of the largest Wall Street banks by assets under management.

Garrett joined Money Map Press as an economist and researcher in 2011, specializing in alternative strategies with an emphasis on fundamental and technical analysis.

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