TLDR
- Kevin Warsh will chair its first Fed meeting next week. Interest rates are expected to remain unchanged but his comments on inflation and policy will be closely watched
- Nvidia and Broadcom are top AI infrastructure stocks to watch as data center spending remains strong
- Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile are in focus following SpaceX’s IPO and increased investor interest in the commercial space
- Kroger announces its earnings next week, providing a read on the health of the American consumer in light of rising inflation and interest rates
- Retail sales data will also be released, adding another layer of economic context to the markets
Kevin Warsh will assume chairmanship of the Federal Reserve for the first time next week. Interest rates are expected to remain unchanged, but investors will listen closely to what it says about inflation and economic growth and where policy goes from here.
Besides the Fed meeting, retail sales data and several earnings reports will give markets more capacity to digest.
Here are five stocks investors will be watching.
Nvidia: Demand for AI is still hot
Nvidia It is located at the center of the artificial intelligence boom. Demand for AI accelerators and data center hardware remains strong, and any signs about continued enterprise spending on AI could move the stock.
Cloud providers continue to spend heavily on AI infrastructure, and Nvidia remains the main beneficiary. If the broader technology sector holds up next week, Nvidia will likely be one of the biggest drivers of market sentiment.
Broadcom: Other AI infrastructure
Broadcom It makes custom AI chips and networking equipment used in large data centers. Investors looking beyond Nvidia have increasingly turned to Broadcom as a long-term name for AI infrastructure.
As companies expand their AI capabilities, Broadcom products are becoming a bigger part of how we build that infrastructure. It remains one of Wall Street’s favorite AI games outside of Nvidia.
Rocket Lab: Space stocks come back into focus
Rocket laboratory It attracted new attention after SpaceX’s high-profile IPO. As one of the largest publicly traded space companies, it is often seen as the closest public market comparison to SpaceX.
The company operates a growing launch business and is expanding into spacecraft manufacturing and defense contracts. Investor enthusiasm for the commercial space has risen sharply, and Rocket Lab could continue to benefit from that momentum.
AST SpaceMobile: Satellite-to-smartphone technology under the microscope
AST SpaceMobile is trying to build a network that connects ordinary mobile phones directly to satellites, without any special hardware. Investors are becoming more optimistic about the technology’s potential over the course of 2026.
The stock has been extremely volatile this year, making it a favorite among growth-focused investors. Any updates on satellite deployments or new partnerships could send the stock swinging sharply in either direction.
Kroger: Reading on the American Consumer
Kroger reports earnings next week at a time when consumer spending is under pressure from rising prices and rising interest rates. The results will give markets a clearer picture of how Americans manage their money on a daily basis.
Strong numbers could ease concerns about the economy. Weaker results may heighten concerns about a slowdown in consumer activity.
Since inflation remains a talking point on Wall Street, Kroger’s report could carry more weight than the typical grocery chain’s earnings release.
The Fed looms over everything
The biggest event of the week remains Kevin Warsh’s first Fed meeting as Chairman. Markets are less focused on the interest rate decision and more interested in what it signals about the future path of inflation and monetary policy.
Retail sales data will add to the picture. Together, the Fed meeting and economic data will set the tone for how investors approach these five stocks and the broader market in the following week.
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