Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE:DBI) is an American designer, producer, and retailer of brand-name footwear and accessories. The company operates more than 500 brick-and-mortar stores across 44 states, and operates nearly 150 physical locations more in Canada under the names “The Shoe Company”, “Shoe Warehouse”, and “DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse." DBI paid dividends to investors for five quarters before cutting them in the second quarter of 2020. The last dividend the company paid was for $0.10.

Earnings are due out for Designer Brands before the open on Wednesday, Dec. 9. DBI will look to bounce back from its disappointing post-earnings reactions from the past two quarters. Wall Street is expecting a reported earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.48 for DBI tomorrow. There is a lot on the line with tomorrow's earnings call, as Designer Brands stock has beat expectations just once out of its four most recent earnings reports.

As background on previous earnings reports, the only earnings beat reported by the company over the past 12 months was in the first quarter of 2020. In the fourth quarter of 2019, Designer Brands stock missed expectations by $0.07. The company reported an EPS of $0.67. In the first quarter of 2020, DBI dropped its EPS to $0.05, but squeaked by to beat expectations by a margin of $0.02. Designer Brands stock demonstrated a decline in EPS in the second quarter of 2020. The company reported an EPS of -$1.83, missing expectations by a huge margin of $1.23. Most recently, with third quarter of 2020 earnings, Designer Brands stock saw its EPS increase to -$1.28. However, the company still missed expectation by $0.43 as DBI was expected to report an EPS of -$0.85.

So far this year, DBI stock has dropped 44.5%. While the shares are up 60.7% this quarter, the rally still has to contend with their 320-day moving average, a trendline not conquered on a closing basis since March 2019. 

Despite the stock's shaky technical footing, options traders are pursuing calls. The security's Schaeffer's put/call open interest ratio (SOIR) of 0.12, which is ranked in the 8th annual percentile -- meaning short-term speculators are more call-skewed than usual. Considering DBI is heavily shorted -- more than 14% of the stock's float is dedicated to these bearish bets -- it's possible some of these out-of-the-money calls are being used as an options hedge.

Designer Brands still needs to make some major changes in order for the company survive the ongoing pandemic. It's not like Designer Brands was not performing exceptionally even before the spread of COVID-19 and the subsequent shutdowns. The company's net income declined drastically between 2017 and 2019, going from $125 million all the way down to -$20 million.

With 2020 mercifully coming to an end in three weeks, Designer Brands will be adding yet another bright red year to its income statement. The company reported a net income drop to -$153 million over the past twelve months. Further, Designer Brands now carries a massive $1.41 billion in total debt, compared to its just $206.72 million in cash.

Perhaps the most redeeming quality for investors to see in Designer Brands stock is that its revenue has only fallen about $390 million. The company has generated a respectable $3.1 billion in the past twelve months, despite the incredible circumstances for retail businesses. If you're looking for a long-term investment, it Is certainly possible that Designer Brands stock is nearly done dipping down. However, it is difficult to see DBI recovering any time soon after the the nearly 50% drop in stock price that occurred in 2020.

Welcome back to our weekly series, Schaeffer's Cannabis Stock News Update, where we recap what happened in the world of marijuana stocks last week and look ahead at the pot stocks to watch in the upcoming week.

Investor interest in the cannabis industry continues to grow, and the leading players continue to break through legal barrier after legal barrier. By the end of 2020, it's likely that more than 40 U.S. states will have legalized recreational and/or medical marijuana. As such, more and more companies are starting to see the opportunity in cannabis distribution, suggesting there are many more marijuana initial public offerings (IPOs) on the horizon for the marijuana stock industry.

The U.S. election played out nicely for the cannabis stock industry, and even Canadian cannabis stocks have been flying high since. However, savvy investors should note that Canadian pot stocks are significantly behind the U.S. cannabis companies so far in 2020. Canadian cannabis stocks are experiencing much lower growth and continued pricing straining the Canadian market. Canadian cannabis stocks will need to work to be better positioned within the U.S. pot stock market to lock up their long-term success. .

Here is a quick roundup of a major cannabis stock news last week (Nov. 30 through Dec. 4):

GW Pharmaceuticals plc (NASDAQ:GWPH), the world leader in the science, development, and commercialization of cannabinoid prescription medicines, announced on Dec. 1 that its results, including long-term data in the treatment of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and in multiple seizure subtypes for EPIDIOLEX®(cannabidiol) oral solution, will be presented at the virtual American Epilepsy Society (AES) Annual Meeting, taking place between Dec. 4 and Dec. 8. EPIDIOLEX, a pharmaceutical formulation of cannabidiol (CBD), is the first prescription, plant-derived, cannabis-based medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), Dravet syndrome, or tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) in patients one year of age and older.

Tilray, Inc. (NASDAQ:TLRY), a leading company in the manufacturing, research, and distribution of medical cannabis, announced on Dec. 2 that it has entered into a co-promotion agreement with Hormosan for its full-spectrum cannabis extracts in Germany which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 20201.

Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARNA), announced on Nov. 30 that there would be a transition of its R&D leadership. The company announced the appointment of Paul D. Streck, M.D., as Senior Vice President, Clinical Development and Chief Medical Officer reporting to Amit Munshi, President, and CEO. This leadership change follows the retirement and resignation of Chris Cabell, M.D., M.H.S., FACC, who served as the company’s Executive Vice President, Head of Research and Development, and Chief Medical Officer since June 2020. The change is effective as of Dec. 1 and Dr. Cabell will remain as an advisor to Arena Pharmaceuticals for the time being.

Aphria Inc. (NASDAQ:APHA), a leading global cannabis company inspiring and empowering the worldwide community to live their very best life, announced in November that it has closed the strategic acquisition of SW Brewing Company, LLC, one of the largest independent craft brewers in the United States based on volume. Beginning with the flagship 420 beverage offerings, SweetWater has created an award-winning lineup of year-round, seasonal, and specialty beers, a portfolio of brands closely aligned with a cannabis lifestyle.

Organigram Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:OGI), a leading licensed producer of cannabis, announced its results from the company's fiscal fourth quarter on Nov. 30. Fourth quarter net revenue increased 25% to $20.4 million from the $16.3 million that was produced in the fourth quarter of 2019. The company reported that fourth quarter gross revenue increased 32% to $25.4 million compared to the $19.2 million produced in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Sundial Growers Inc. (NASDAQ:SNDL), provided an update on Nov. 30 on the elimination of its senior secured second lien convertible notes and further improvements to its balance sheet. The holder of Sundial senior secured second lien convertible notes has fully converted all notes from the original issuance of C$73.2 million on June 5, 2020. Sundial's remaining secured indebtedness consists of C$72 million outstanding under its senior secured credit facility.

Despite a disappointing November jobs report released on Friday, all three major market benchmarks were still able to score record closes for the day, and to turn in weekly wins. Though the markets brushed it off, some investors are interpreting the worse-than-expected jobs data as added pressure to pass a second stimulus bill, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tweeting that the report showed the need for "strong, urgent emergency relief." The calls for additional stimulus in 2020 come amid new records in coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and single-day deaths.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 30,218.26) gained 248.7 points on Friday, and 1% last week. The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 3,699.12) added 32.4 points on Friday, and 1.6% on the week last week. The Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 12,464.23) increased 87.1 points on Friday, and closed up 2.1% last week. The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 20.79) fell 0.5 point on Friday and dropped 0.2% for the week.

Looking ahead to today, the stock market shows no signs of slowing down this week, with peak holiday season well underway and plenty of economic data for investors to unpack each day. The week will start off today on a quieter note, with just consumer credit data slated for release. There are also quite a few earnings reports due out today.

For your convenience, we have rounded up the companies slated to release earnings today, December 7:

JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS -- $61.40) engages in the design, development, production, and marketing of photovoltaic products. JKS has gone up by 23.4% year-over-year. JinkoSolar Holding will report its third-quarter earnings before the bell today.

Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY -- $191.56) operates convenience stores under the Casey's and Casey's General Store names. Casey's General will report its second-quarter earnings of fiscal 2021 after the market closes today.

Coupa Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:COUP -- $318.15) provides cloud-based business spend management platform. Coupa Software will report its third-quarter earnings after the market closes today.

HealthEquity, Inc. (NASDAQ:HQY -- $70.60) provides technology-enabled services platforms to consumers and employers in the United States. HealthEquity will report its third-quarter earnings after the market closes today.

Smartsheet, Inc. (NYSE:SMAR -- $61.56) provides cloud-based platform for execution of work. Smartsheet will report its third-quarter earnings after the market closes today.

Stitch Fix, Inc. (NASDAQ:SFIX -- $35.56) sells a range of apparel, shoes, and accessories. Stitch Fix will report its first-quarter earnings of fiscal 2021 after the market closes today.

Sumo Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ:SUMO -- $30.11) provides cloud-native software-as-a-service platform. Sumo Logic will report its third-quarter earnings after the market closes today.

Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL -- $47.90) designs, builds, markets, sells, and arranges finance for luxury detached and attached homes. Toll Brothers will report its fourth-quarter earnings after the market closes today.

Here is a quick recap of how Friday's earning calls played out:

Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE:BIG -- $52.85) operates as a retailer in the United States. Earnings per share increased 522.22% over the past year to $0.76, which beat the estimate of $0.66. Revenue of $1,378,000,000 up by 17.98% year over year, which beat the estimate of $1,350,000,000.

Genesco, Inc. (NYSE:GCO -- $30.75) operates as a retailer and wholesaler of footwear, apparel, and accessories. Earnings per share were down 36.09% over the past year to $0.85, which may not compare to the estimate of ($0.14). Revenue of $479,280,000 declined by 10.79% year over year, which beat the estimate of $457,210,000.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, investors can expect productivity revisions, as well as unit labor costs data. There will also be a good amount of earnings calls for investors to unpack on Tuesday.

Renewed stimulus negotiations, grim COVID-19 records and employment data defined a rollercoaster week on Wall Street. While all three major benchmarks finished November strong on Monday -- with the Dow nabbing its best month since 1987 -- stocks fell after investors looked to cash in. They were up again on Tuesday, however, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq notching record closes, after lawmakers proposed a $908 billion stimulus package. However, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell rejected the plan, while more than 13 million confirmed COVID-19 cases weighed heavy on the minds of investors.

Stocks were muted mid-week, due to disappointing jobs data and the relief stalemate, though the S&P 500 secured its second-straight record close. By Thursday, better-than-expected jobless claims and perceived progress in stimulus talks boosted investor sentiment, but stocks reversed gains after Pfizer (PFE) reported supply chain issues with its coronavirus vaccine, and the U.S. logged 100,000 hospitalized patients and its highest single-day death toll to date. The major indexes were higher once again to finish the week, with all three scoring fresh intraday record highs, despite a dismal November jobs report.

A Record-Breaking Week for Semiconductor Stocks

It was an upbeat week for the semiconductor industry. Micron Technology (MU) surged to record levels on Tuesday after earning a price-target hike from Cowen and Company to $75 from $57, and one from Needham to $80 from $65, which were attributed to the company's potential for profitable growth and raised fiscal first-quarter guidance. That same day, QUALCOMM (QCOM) was higher after revealing a new smartphone chip, which will be launched as soon as 2021. Rounding things out, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSM) also hit a record high, with options volume pacing for the 99th percentile of its annual rage.

Tech Sector Weighs Slew of Bull, Bear Notes

The broader tech sector was also in focus over the past five days. On Monday, Zoom (ZM) fell after attracting both bear and bull notes -- despite beating Wall Streets' third-quarter estimates -- due to concerns over 2021 gross margins and maintenance costs. The next day, blue-chip Salesforce.com (CRM) plunged after acquiring Slack (WORK) for $27.7 billion, resulting in no less than three price-target cuts, including one from Barclays to $276 from $315.

Meanwhile, NetApp (NTAP) was higher on Tuesday, after a fiscal second-quarter beat and strong third-quarter outlook. In response, NTAP earned no fewer than nine price-targets hikes. Lastly, CrowdStrike (CRWD) also reported a third-quarter earnings beat, which attracted a slew of bull notes and pushed the security up to a fresh record high. 

Peak Holiday Season Brings On Federal Budget Update

The upcoming week shows no signs of slowing down, with names such as JinkoSolar (JKS), Stitch Fix (SFIX), Chewy (CHWY), Adobe (ADBE) and Lululemon (LULU) all set to report earnings. As for economic data, consumer credit, jobs opening, and wholesale inventories data will be top of mind, as well as a federal budget update and a new round of jobless claims. Until then, dive into how the equity benchmarks cleared historical resistance, and prepare for how the Dow could behave after crossing key intervals.

In the ever-complex world of the stock market, a beginner may feel lost while trying to understand how to step into trading options successfully. To get started with options trading, it is essential to understand what options are. Using one of the best options newsletters available, like one from Schaeffer's Investment Research, can be very helpful in the process of learning to trade on one's own.

Options are amongst the myriad of “derivatives” found in the stock market. A derivative, as the name suggests, derives the value attached to it based on the value of the underlying asset it is focused on. This is the case with options; the profit or loss associated with options comes from the value of the underlying asset, or stock. To learn more about how the value of options varies, consider going through Getting Started with Options. This program is published by one of the best options newsletter publishers, Schaeffer's Investment Research.

What are Options?

Along with being a derivative by nature, an option is a contract that provides the holder the buying, or selling, rights of 100 underlying shares. The contract further specifies the set monetary amount at which the shares can be bought, or sold, alongside deciding a duration during which these transactions can happen. To find out more about what options are and how to start trading them, you can always subscribe to Bernie Schaeffer's Option Advisor, the world's best options newsletter. The Option Advisor provides a rationale for each trade recommendation along with an educational concept breakdown and a monthly trading outlook. These are all great tools for beginners interested in being more active in the options trading market. It should also be noted that an options holder is not obligated to buy or sell shares. Rather, the options holder has the option to choosing whether or not to exercise the option dependent on the options contract value.

How Does the Expiration Date of Options Work?

All options have a specific expiration date that is chosen upon the placing the trade order. The options contract needs to be exercised before this date. After the options has expired, the contract is automatically closed by the trader's brokerage at the current market price ahead of the market close on the day of the expiration. Options traders can buy a huge variety of options with different expiration dates. The expiration can be one day away, a few months away, or even years away. The best options newsletter also provides complimentary educational information for options traders that further elaborates on how expiration dates are set.

What is an Options Premium?

The payment that is made for an options contract is called an options premium. Because options that are bought are representative of typically 100 shares of the underlying stock, the fixed price of the premium represents 100 shares as well.

There are several influencing factors that can impact the costs of the options premium. The best options newsletter publisher, Schaeffer's Investment Research, deliberates these influences extensively to ensure customers have the best pricing for every options trade. One thing that influences how much premium the option trader pays is the difference between the market price of the stock and the strike price chosen for the options trade. The options strike price is the price that is specified on the options list for the stock, which determines the buying or selling price of the option in the future.

How far out the expiration date is from the purchase date is another factor that influences the cost of the options premium. This factor is called an option's time value. If the expiration date is further out, there is a greater time value, and thus, the options premium is higher.

A third factor that impacts the value of the premium can be described as how unpredictable the market price of the stock could be throughout the holding period. This factor is otherwise known as the implied volatility of the stock. If there is a strong chance that the market price of the stock will swing in any direction, the premium is more likely to be on the higher side. On the other hand, if the market price of the stock is likely to be stable, or having low volatility, the resulting options premium will also be lower.

Bernie Schaeffer publishes the best options newsletters available on the U.S. equity market. Every options newsletter provides a detailed explanation of every trade recommendation along with rationale for how the options premium was decided. This information allows traders to gain a deep understanding of how premiums are calculated and the major part premiums play in increasing the probability of money-doubling trades in options trading.

How Do Profit and Loss Occur In Options Trading?

The money made through the utilization of different options strategies depends upon the quality of diversification in one's options trading portfolio. Sticking to a single options strategy is the equivalent of putting all of your eggs in one basket, and does not bode well for unexpected market moves. Going all in on one options strategy won't end well for a trader in the long term.

The potential loss associated with trading options is oftentimes limited to the premium paid, while the profit is theoretically unlimited. This is called convexity.

In conclusion, there are several options strategies suitable for beginners. To explore these, subscribing to the best options newsletter, completely free, will come handy as one grows as an options trader. Here, you will find easy to understand explanations of many different strategies you can benefit from in options trading and the Schaeffer's market outlook for the coming week. An options newsletter can become your ultimate guide to gaining a detailed insight into options trading and learning one you can benefit from the benefits of options trading as a beginner.

Throughout the majority of this year, the tech, online retail, and food delivery sectors saw an explosion in popularity as the pandemic ravaged the country. Online delivery stalwart GrubHub Inc (NYSE:GRUB) has been no exception, so far seeing a 42% surge for 2020 and a nearly two-year peak of $85.53 in mid-October. This technical outperformance came with continued support from the company’s market-cap level, last seen at $6.4 billion. GrubHub’s technical setup is better framed when bringing Uber (UBER) and Lyft (LYFT) into context, per the table below.

While the pair have yet to see notable long-term technical performance since the broader-market crash in March, they still sport impressive market caps of lofty $92 billion and $13.2 billion, respectively. From the wider scope of the chart, worth mentioning is the volatility in UBER’s IPO, versus the extremely stable IPO sported by GrubHub. This could mean many things, but is a good indication that DoorDash may have less volatility in the long-term than its ride-sharing counterparts.

DoorDash is a name worth watching heading into 2021. The GRUB rival earlier this month filed for its initial public offering (IPO). Though they have yet to release a price or number of shares to be sold, the company plans to list under the ticker DASH on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Per an interesting article out of Barron’s on Nov. 13, DoorDash is a fresh face to keep a close eye on as it launches onto the public trading sphere.

Not only did the GrubHub rival rake in an impressive pre-pandemic, 2019 revenue of $885 million, but this said revenue was a 204% increase from 2018. This year from January through Sept. 30, DoorDash gathered $1.9 billion, as many across the U.S. opt to stay in and order from their phones as opposed to going out to eat at restaurants. For perspective, GrubHub brought in $1.3 billion for the entirety of 2019. This is not to say its rival didn’t also pull in substantial pandemic revenue, but to better point out the potential DASH will have when moving through the public trading landscape. At the end of the day, DoorDash (DASH) will be a name to watch closely in the coming weeks, months, and most certainly 2021.

Subscribers to Bernie Schaeffer's Chart of the Week received this commentary on Sunday, November 29.

The running joke about Salesforce.com, Inc. (NYSE:CRM) is that everyone uses it, yet no one knows what it does. The  cloud-based software company's primary focus is on helping businesses with their customer relationship management through usage of Salesforce sales, service, and marketing applications.

Salesforce made headlines on Wall Street earlier this week by confirming its acquisition of the popular work-from-home company, Slack Technologies (WORK), on Dec. 1. This was a very expensive move done with the goal of boosting both companies' chances of legitimately competing with Microsoft's (MSFT) Teams function. The shares of Salesforce stock plunged down 7.5% in the day following its announced acquisition of Slack Technologies for $27.7 billion in cash and stock.

The acquisition news brought out all the bears. Within 24 hours of the news breaking, Salesforce stock received no less than three price-target cuts, including one from Barclays to $276 from $315. However, Raymond James also chimed in on CRM with a price-target hike to $280 from $255.

Despite taking a 10% haircut this week after the news, CRM remains up 37% in 2020. Plus, the pullback has found support at the shares' 160-day moving average, a trendline not breached since early May. It's also worth noting, however, that after this weeks damage, the stock sports a 14-day Relative Strength Index (RSI) of 31, which sits just on the cusp of "oversold" territory, meaning a short-term bounce may be in the cards.

From a fundamentals point of view, Salesforce.com stock is stands in a great position when compared to most tech companies today. The company is growing its revenue at an amazing rate, adding about $12 billion in revenue since 2017. As for its net income, Salesforce has seen some inconsistency, but has ultimately grown net profits in a big way. Perhaps the most impressive thing about Salesforce, from a fundamental perspective, is the $9.49 billion in cash the company has on its balance sheet. This is significantly higher than the $5.84 billion it has in total debt. 

CRM's price-earnings ratio of 57.28 is typically interpreted as high, but traders will have a hard time finding big tech companies at a much lower figure in today’s market. Overall, for a company growing as quickly as Salesforce has been growing, CRM's price-earnings ratio should not be an issue for much longer. Investors may be well served to keep an eye out for any major dips in Salesforce stock price as a potential entry point.

The shares of Carvana Co (NYSE:CVNA) are up 3.3% at $235.32 this morning, after Jefferies initiated coverage on the online car retailer with a "buy" rating. Additionally, the firm put a $300 price target on CVNA -- about 32% above last night's close of $227.92 -- and noted that the company is operating in a "massive addressable market ripe for disruption."

Analysts were mostly optimistic toward the equity coming into today. In fact, 11 out of the 19 in question called CVNA a "buy" or better, while the remaining eight carried a tepid "hold" rating. Meanwhile, the 12-month consensus price target of $224.04 is a 5.1% discount to last night's close.

On the charts, Carvana stock just conquered a Dec. 1, third-straight record high of $252.36. However, the security has been cooling off since then, with the $240 level emerging as a potential area of resistance in the last couple of days, while the 20-day moving average remains as a source of support. Longer term, CVNA has tacked on 156.6 % in 2020.

With short sellers already trickling out, a continued exodus could fuel additional tailwinds. Short interest is down 1.5% in the most recent reporting period. However, the 19.59 million shares sold short still account for a substantial 39.5% of the stock's available float, or over two weeks' worth of pent-up buying power.

Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL) is one of the largest homebuilders in the United States. Below, we'll be taking a look at how TOL has performed in its most recent quarters, ahead of its next scheduled earnings on Dec. 7.

Toll Brothers has exceeded expectations on three of its four most recent earnings reports. In the fourth quarter of 2019, Toll Brothers stock beat expectations by $0.11. TOL reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $1.41. In the first quarter of 2020, Toll Brothers significantly decreased its reported EPS down to $0.41 and missed expectations by a margin of $0.04. Toll Brothers stock experienced an increase in EPS according to the earnings report for the second quarter of 2020. The company reported an earnings per share of $0.59 for TOL, beating expectations by a margin of $0.14. TOL's most recent quarterly performance report showed another increase in EPS. Toll Brothers reported $0.90 in EPS, beating expectations by $0.19. For its upcoming earnings report, due out next week, Toll Brothers is expected to reported a boost to its EPS for TOL up to $1.23.

So far in 2020, Toll Brothers stock has added 15% and demonstrated a strong recovery from its March lows. Toll Brothers stock is up 256% from its 52-week low of $13.28 and is currently 6% down just from its 52-week high of $50.42. 

The fundamental positives for Toll Brothers stock are its price-earnings ratio, book value, and revenue growth. TOL has a price-earnings ratio of 14.20 and a forward price-earnings ratio of 10.85, which are both very promising numbers for potential investors. Toll Brothers stock's price-book value ratio is at 1.28, meaning the company’s market value is nearly the same as its total equity. In addition, Toll Brothers has piled up more than $1 billion in revenue since 2017.

On the flip side, the fundamental negatives for TOL are its declining net income and large debt load. Toll Brothers totes $3.99 billion in total debt and just $559 million in cash. Furthermore, the company has struggled to improve its net profits on an annual basis since 2018. Toll Brothers is pacing to end the current year with less bottom-line profit than it generated in 2017.

 

Stocks closed modestly higher yesterday, after better-than-expected jobless claims and renewed stimulus hopes boosted investor sentiment. However, all three benchmarks brake-checked their gains in the final hour of trading when Pfizer (PFE) reported supply chain issues with its vaccine. Yesterday's choppy price action comes amid the gridlock in D.C. over a second stimulus bill. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a joint statement calling on Republicans to cooperate on a new bipartisan proposal. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said signs point to a possible deal before the end of the year. As if all of that wasn't enough, traders are also monitoring the rising number of coronavirus infections in the U.S., with 100,000 patients hospitalized and deaths topping 2,800 on Wednesday -- the highest single-day death toll reported to date in the United States.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJI - 29,969.52) gained 85.7 points yesteday. The S&P 500 Index (SPX - 3,666.72) dropped 2.3 points and the Nasdaq Composite (IXIC - 12,377.18) was up 27.8 points on Thursday. The Cboe Volatility Index (VIX - 21.28) fell 0.1 point for the day yesterday.

The trading week will close out today with the nonfarm payrolls and the latest unemployment rate. Average hourly earnings, trade deficit and factory orders data are on the docket for today as well. This data will be joined by a handful of earnings reports including HD Supply (HDS) and Big Lots (BIG).

For your convenience, we have rounded up the companies slated to release earnings today, December 4:

Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE:BIG -- $52.85) operates as a retailer in the United States. Big Lots will report its third-quarter earnings before the bell today.

Genesco, Inc. (NYSE:GCO -- $30.75) operates as a retailer and wholesaler of footwear, apparel, and accessories. Genesco will report its fourth-quarter earnings before the bell today.

HD Supply Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:HDS -- $55.93) operates as an industrial distributor in North America. HD Supply Holdings will report its fourth-quarter earnings before the bell today.

Here is a quick recap of how yesterday’s earning calls played out:

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (NYSE:CM -- $85.10) provides various financial products and services. Earnings per share were down 2.31% year over year to $2.11, which missed the estimate of $2.23. Revenue of $3,479,000,000 declined by 4.08% from the same period last year, which beat the estimate of $3,400,000,000.

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBRL -- $141.66) develops and operates the Cracker Barrel Old Country Store concept in the United States. Earnings per share fell 87.89% year over year to $0.23, which missed the estimate of $0.35. Revenue of $646,454,000 declined by 13.70% year over year, which beat the estimate of $637,230,000.

Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE:DCI -- $53.14) manufactures and sells filtration systems and replacement parts worldwide. Earnings per share were down 5.88% year over year to $0.48, which beat the estimate of $0.44. Revenue of $636,600,000 decreased by 5.37% year over year, which beat the estimate of $614,990,000.

GMS, Inc. (NYSE:GMS -- $30.24) distributes wallboards, suspended ceilings systems, and complementary building products. Earnings per share decreased 7.00% year over year to $0.93, which beat the estimate of $0.91. Revenue of $812,856,000 declined by 5.69% from the same period last year, which beat the estimate of $809,390,000.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR -- $32.29) operates as a retailer in the United States. Earnings per share rose 51.06% over the past year to $0.71, which beat the estimate of $0.67. Revenue of $29,723,000,000 up by 6.25% year over year, which missed the estimate of $29,970,000,000.

The Michaels Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:MIK -- $10.25) owns and operates arts and crafts specialty retail stores. Earnings per share increased 115.00% over the past year to $0.86, which beat the estimate of $0.59. Revenue of $1,406,000,000 higher by 15.06% year over year, which beat the estimate of $1,390,000,000.

SecureWorks Corp. (NASDAQ:SCWX -- $12.15) provides technology-driven information security solutions. Earnings per share increased 700.00% over the past year to $0.08, which beat the estimate of $0.05. Revenue of $141,641,000 rose by 0.22% year over year, which beat the estimate of $138,210,000.

Signet Jewelers Limited (NYSE:SIG -- $29.81) engages in the retail sale of diamond jewelry, watches, and other products. Earnings per share rose 114.47% over the past year to $0.11, which may not compare to the estimate of ($0.66). Revenue of $1,300,000,000 higher by 9.43% year over year, which beat the estimate of $1,140,000,000.

The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD -- $54.77) provides various personal and commercial banking products and services. Earnings per share were unchanged 0.00% year over year to $1.21, which beat the estimate of $1.16. Revenue of $7,880,000,000 up by 0.28% from the same period last year, which beat the estimate of $6,860,000,000.

Cloudera, Inc. (NYSE:CLDR -- $11.20) provides a suite of data analytics and management products. Earnings per share rose 600.00% over the past year to $0.15, which beat the estimate of $0.09. Revenue of $217,899,000 rose by 9.89% year over year, which beat the estimate of $209,160,000.

The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE:COO -- $334.61) operates as a medical device company worldwide. Earnings per share fell 4.24% year over year to $3.16, which beat the estimate of $3.09. Revenue of $681,600,000 decreased by 1.45% from the same period last year, which beat the estimate of $676,200,000.

DocuSign, Inc. (NASDAQ:DOCU -- $217.70) provides cloud based software in the United States and internationally. Earnings per share rose 100.00% over the past year to $0.22, which beat the estimate of $0.13. Revenue of $382,923,000 higher by 53.47% from the same period last year, which beat the estimate of $361,150,000.

Domo, Inc. (NASDAQ:DOMO -- $36.91) operates a cloud-based platform in the United States. Earnings per share increased 52.94% over the past year to ($0.40), which beat the estimate of ($0.44). Revenue of $53,645,000 rose by 19.83% from the same period last year, which beat the estimate of $51,760,000.

Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ:MRVL -- $45.62) designs, develops, and sells analog, mixed-signal, digital signal processing, and embedded and standalone integrated circuits. Earnings per share rose 47.06% year over year to $0.25, which were in line with the estimate of $0.25. Revenue of $750,143,000 higher by 13.23% year over year, which missed the estimate of $750,970,000.

Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:OLLI -- $86.78) operates as a retailer of brand name merchandise. Earnings per share were up 58.54% over the past year to $0.65, which beat the estimate of $0.58. Revenue of $414,382,000 higher by 26.70% year over year, which beat the estimate of $406,060,000.

PagerDuty, Inc. (NYSE:PD -- $34.28) operates a platform for real-time operations. Earnings per share rose 10.00% year over year to ($0.09), which beat the estimate of ($0.10). Revenue of $53,772,000 rose by 25.78% year over year, which beat the estimate of $52,540,000.

Science Applications International Corporation (NYSE:SAIC -- $94.16) operates as a retailer in the United States. Earnings per share were up 16.55% year over year to $1.62, which beat the estimate of $1.53. Revenue of $1,818,000,000 up by 11.53% year over year, which missed the estimate of $1,830,000,000.

Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ:SWBI -- $15.47) designs, manufactures, and sells firearms worldwide. Earnings per share rose 933.33% over the past year to $0.93, which beat the estimate of $0.63. Revenue of $248,729,000 up by 61.11% year over year, which beat the estimate of $222,990,000.

Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ:ULTA -- $282.00) operates as a beauty retailer in the United States. Earnings per share fell 26.46% over the past year to $1.64, which beat the estimate of $1.49. Revenue of $1,552,000,000 declined by 7.76% from the same period last year, which missed the estimate of $1,560,000,000.

Yext, Inc. (NYSE:YEXT -- $18.71) is a search experience cloud company. Earnings per share rose 89.47% over the past year to ($0.02), which beat the estimate of ($0.08). Revenue of $89,061,000 rose by 16.62% from the same period last year, which beat the estimate of $87,190,000.

Zumiez, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZUMZ -- $38.08) operates as a specialty retailer of apparel, footwear, accessories, and hardgoods. Earnings per share increased 54.67% year over year to $1.16, which beat the estimate of $0.76. Revenue of $270,952,000 rose by 2.62% year over year, which beat the estimate of $246,200,000.

Zuora, Inc. (NYSE:ZUO -- $11.58) provides cloud-based software on a subscription basis. Earnings per share rose 83.33% year over year to ($0.01), which beat the estimate of ($0.05). Revenue of $77,246,000 rose by 7.55% from the same period last year, which beat the estimate of $73,920,000.

Looking ahead to next week, the market will show no signs of slowing down, with peak holiday season well underway and plenty of economic data for investors to unpack each day. The week will start off on a quiet note, though consumer credit, jobs opening and wholesale inventories data is scheduled to come out. And by the end of next week, Wall Street will also be digesting a federal budget update, as well as jobless claims and consumer sentiment data. Household names such as JinkoSolar (JKS), Stitch Fix (SFIX), and Chewy (CHWY) will report right at the beginning of the week next week, while Adobe (ADBE), Lululemon (LULU) and Oracle (ORCL) will all jump into the earnings confessional later on in first full trading week of December 2020.