Earnings Season Begins as Tariff Tensions Linger, and 5 Stocks We’re Watching Now

Stocks remained resilient as the new week kicked off, with major indexes hovering near record highs despite headwinds from fresh tariff threats.

President Trump’s push for 30% tariffs on Mexico and the EU, set to take effect August 1, has so far done little to dent bullish sentiment, but with the June CPI print and big bank earnings hitting, investors could get a clearer picture of where we’re headed.

The S&P 500 is forecast to post just 4.3% earnings growth in Q2, down sharply from Q1’s 13% gain.

That’s a low bar, and any upside surprises could fuel another leg up.

On the inflation front, markets are looking for signs of how tariffs may be flowing through the supply chain, with a 0.3% month-over-month increase expected in the headline CPI.

With macro uncertainty hanging in the air, it’s a stock picker’s market. Here are five names we’re keeping a close eye on after Tuesday’s close:

Never Miss a Stock Alert Again!

We now send our daily picks via SMS too — so you’ll get the same high-conviction ideas, even if you miss the email.

👉 Click here to get stock picks by text and stay in the loop, always.

Iris Energy | IREN

Price: $16.88

Iris Energy hit a 52-week high on Monday, buoyed by growing investor confidence in its pivot from Bitcoin mining toward AI data infrastructure.

The company now operates at 50 exahashes per second in mining capacity, bringing in $65.5 million in June revenue, but it’s the recent GPU expansion that’s catching Wall Street’s attention.

With 2,400 new Nvidia Blackwell GPUs installed and plans for AI cloud services at its 50MW Prince George facility in British Columbia, IREN is building out a dual-revenue strategy.

This expansion was fully funded from existing cash, further strengthening the company’s balance sheet.

While IREN has paused further mining growth, management believes the AI vertical could become a major revenue driver by 2026.

Momentum has been strong, with shares up 65% YTD and over 90% from January lows.

That said, valuation is now well above historical norms, so continued execution on the AI side will be key.

IREN may be worth watching as a high-risk, high-reward play in digital infrastructure.

Zacks Top Picks (Sponsored)

New Report: 7 Strong Buy Stocks for July

Looking for short-term upside?

A new report just dropped featuring 7 high-momentum stocks, all selected using a mathematical prediction system that’s outperformed the S&P 500 since 1988.

These picks come from Zacks Rank #1 Strong Buys—fewer than 5% of stocks make the cut.

Each has the potential to deliver fast gains over the next 30 days.

Access the report now, completely free, before the market catches up.

[Get the 7 Best Stocks]

*This free resource is being sent by Zacks. We identify investment resources you may choose to use in making your own decisions. Use of this resource is subject to the Zacks Terms of Service.
*Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk. This material does not constitute investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed dealer, broker, or investment adviser.

Vale S.A. | VALE

Price: $9.69

VALE remains a value investor favorite, with a rock-bottom P/E ratio of just 7.5x and a dividend yield above 8%.

While the stock lags peers like U.S. Steel and ArcelorMittal YTD, analysts see upside potential due to cost-cutting efforts, rising copper and nickel output, and strategic moves like its acquisition of Baovale and natural gas agreements in Brazil.

Q1 results disappointed on the top line due to lower iron ore prices and weather-related production delays.

However, increased sales volumes and a growing focus on high-grade ore signal operational resilience.

The company has also boosted shipments to Europe and may benefit from the EU’s carbon border adjustments, which favor lower-emission iron sources like Vale’s.

With global steel demand under pressure from tariffs and a potential economic slowdown, VALE’s diversification and efficiency initiatives could offer downside protection.

Investors looking for income and optionality on commodity stabilization may find this setup compelling.

Pfizer | PFE

Price: $24.61

Pfizer is showing signs of life after an extended bear stretch.

The stock recently reclaimed both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages and is getting a lift from positive news on new cancer and hemophilia treatments.

Still, PFE is down nearly 5% YTD and faces continued scrutiny from activist investors and policymakers.

On the product front, Hympavzi (for hemophilia) and vepdegestrant (a breast cancer treatment co-developed with Arvinas) both posted promising results.

Meanwhile, Pfizer has quietly built out a pipeline of post-Covid growth drivers, even as revenue from Paxlovid and other pandemic-era blockbusters fades.

Tariff risk looms over the pharma sector, but Pfizer’s U.S. manufacturing footprint may provide some insulation.

With a 6.8% dividend yield and full-year earnings guidance holding steady, the stock could appeal to income-oriented investors, though others may want to wait for technical confirmation above $27 before calling a breakout.

Policy Picks (Sponsored)

While Markets Panic, these 6 Stocks Push Higher

No matter how you feel about him, President Trump is shockingly effective at getting things done in Washington.

The sweeping changes have already opened the door for significant wealth-building opportunities.

According to our research, a handful of surprising stocks are on the verge of explosive breakouts.

Trump's policies could send these 6 unexpected stocks soaring.

*This free resource is being sent by Zacks. We identify investment resources you may choose to use in making your own decisions. Use of this resource is subject to the Zacks Terms of Service.
*Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investing involves risk. This material does not constitute investment, legal, accounting, or tax advice. Zacks Investment Research is not a licensed dealer, broker, or investment adviser.

Amcor | AMCR

Price: $9.44

Amcor continues to grind higher following a wave of analyst upgrades, with recent Buy ratings from Truist, Jefferies, and UBS, and a consensus price target near $11.

The packaging company is drawing interest as a stable, high-yield defensive name amid macro uncertainty, offering a 5.3% dividend and steady cash flows.

While not a growth story, Amcor’s efforts to streamline operations and ramp up sustainable packaging production are beginning to pay off.

Insider buying and increased hedge fund activity suggest institutional conviction, and the company’s core exposure to food, beverage, and healthcare packaging provides some tariff buffer.

For investors worried about inflation or margin compression in more cyclical names, AMCR may offer stabilization.

It’s unlikely to deliver fireworks, but in a volatile market, that may be the point.

Kinder Morgan | KMI

Price: $27.94

KMI is trading near 52-week highs as investors await Q2 earnings later this week.

Wall Street expects 12% EPS growth and nearly 9% revenue growth, with particular focus on segment-level EBITDA from natural gas and products pipelines.

Expectations have remained steady despite rising oil price volatility and political noise.

The company’s low payout ratio, 4.1% dividend yield, and consistent cash generation make it a core holding for many income investors.

Analysts see stable performance across CO2 and bulk terminal businesses, with higher NGL prices expected to boost margins.

While KMI isn’t immune to tariff-related cost pressures, its regulated pipeline assets and long-term contracts help buffer against short-term shocks.

As a key infrastructure name in the U.S. energy complex, KMI may offer both yield and modest upside as second-half energy demand picks up.

With earnings season kicking off and June CPI already priced in, investor attention is turning to the fundamentals.

Markets may remain choppy as traders weigh tariff escalation against solid corporate results.

This is an environment where owning quality matters. Energy names like Kinder Morgan, defensive picks like Amcor, and turnaround candidates like Pfizer may provide resilience.

Meanwhile, higher-beta plays like Iris Energy and Vale offer upside potential if macro tailwinds resume.

We’ll be watching the next batch of earnings reports and any further surprises in inflation data for signs of whether this rally has more room to run.