After a strong, short Thanksgiving week for U.S. stocks, a busy schedule of economic indicators and corporate earnings awaits. Private sector payrolls for November could prove a highlight, though market watchers will have to wait until later in December to get the government’s latest monthly jobs report, which was delayed by the government shutdown. Reports on consumer credit and sentiment, along with fresh data on the manufacturing and services sectors, are also expected.

Several large tech companies, including customer relationship management software leader Salesforce, cybersecurity provider CrowdStrike, and Marvell Technology, are set to report earnings this week. Reports from dollar stores Dollar Tree and Dollar General could provide insights on consumer spending.

Cyber Monday Sales, Sentiment Data to Shine Spotlight on Consumers
This is set be another important week for America’s retailers, with online sales from the five-day stretch from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday expected to total $78 billion, according to Salesforce.

Data scheduled for release Friday could also shine a spotlight on how consumers are feeling, with the first reading of the University of Michigan consumer sentiment survey for December. Later on Friday, the Federal Reserve’s consumer credit report could offer insights into how much debt American shoppers are taking on. While some fresh data on private payrolls will become available this week, investors will have to wait a bit longer for the government’s next monthly jobs report after its release was pushed back to Dec. 16.2 The private-sector ADP employment report, scheduled for Wednesday, comes after a stronger than expected report in October.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is set to deliver remarks on Monday evening amid growing optimism about a rate cut when the central bank meets the following week.

Big Software Names and Dollar Stores Report This Week
Salesforce’s earnings on Wednesday could inject more enthusiasm into the AI trade after the software provider laid out a strong revenue forecast pointing to strong demand for its AI offerings. Custom semiconductor solutions provider Marvell Technology, database provider MongoDB, and data storage firm Pure Storage are also set to release results that could reflect a boost from AI-related demand.

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike reports on Tuesday after it delivered a better-than-expected forecast for annual recurring revenue in the prior quarter. Security firms Snowflake and Okta are also scheduled to report this week. Results from dollar stores Dollar Tree and Dollar General could offer more insights on shifting consumer preferences.

What analysts are saying about U.S. stocks

RBC Capital Markets: “Today, we are issuing a 12-month price target for the S&P 500 of 7,750, which implies a gain of nearly 14% from the November 26, 2025, close, when we priced our models. Our 7,750 price target is the approximation of the median and average of five different models that examine S&P 500 returns in the context of investor sentiment, valuation, stocks vs. bonds, and the economic and monetary policy backdrops. The outputs of our models range from roughly 7,200 at the low end to nearly 8,000 at the high end.”

Evercore ISI: “Buy “Crushed By the K” stocks – laggard Consumer Staples and Consumer Discretionary stocks in the Russell 3000 which have fallen YTD and who have experienced margin compression – to position for beaten down Consumer stock outperformance in the months ahead.”

Bank of America: “Market breadth improved ending November for the first time in a few months. The NYSE Adv-Dec line rose above resistance, the percentage of stocks in the SPX trading above their 50d and 200d simple moving averages (SMAs) made a higher high, and fewer stocks in the SPX made new 52wk lows when the index did. While price is above the Nov 26 bullish gap 6776- 6784 and/or rising 50d SMA, it looks favorable for a Santa rally to commence. When SPX was up ending November in Y1 of the USPC, Dec was up 13 of 13 times on average +2.03%.”