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Jim Cramer’s Friday watchlist highlights a disappointing retail sales report, Anthropic’s $11.5 bn Q2 revenue surge and upcoming earnings from Walmart, Home
Jim Cramer flagged a weak retail sales print and a surge in AI‑related revenue as the headline catalysts for Friday’s market action, setting the tone for equity and futures moves across the board【1】.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Retail sales | Disappointing (below expectations) |
| Dow futures | Lower |
| Nasdaq futures | Slightly higher |
| S&P futures | Flat |
| Anthropic Q2 revenue | $11.5 bn, 14‑fold YoY increase【1】 |
Friday’s retail sales data came in weaker than analysts had forecast, prompting a mixed opening in the equity futures market. Dow futures slipped, while Nasdaq futures edged higher and S&P futures held steady. The miss underscores lingering consumer‑spending concerns after a series of strong earnings reports earlier in the week.
Anthropic reported second‑quarter revenue of more than $11.5 billion, a 14‑times increase from the same quarter a year ago, and posted positive adjusted operating income【1】. The company is reportedly courting investors for a potential fall IPO, with Goldman Sachs among the banks leading the effort. Cramer highlighted memory‑chipmaker Micron as a newly added position in his Club portfolio, citing its role in the AI supply chain and recent long‑term supply agreements as a hedge against sector volatility.
The week’s earnings calendar features Walmart, BJ’s Wholesale, Home Depot and TJX Companies, all of which could further shape market direction after the retail sales disappointment. Cramer also noted upgraded price targets for Dell (to $650) ahead of its September 3 earnings, and continued optimism for cybersecurity leaders CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks despite recent price trims.
The juxtaposition of a soft consumer‑spending signal with a booming AI revenue story creates a split narrative for investors, leaving market direction hing‑on how earnings and any IPO developments unfold.
Coverage is mostly measured — 236 of 258 reports stay neutral.
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 2 outlets · Aug 17, 2026 · How we report
The index is being influenced by upcoming tech earnings reports and higher Treasury yields resulting from a higher-than-expected PCE price index reading.
During Tim Cook's 15-year tenure as CEO, Apple shares rose approximately 2,205%, while the S&P 500 gained 560%.
Investors are focused on earnings reports from companies like Nvidia, CrowdStrike, and Salesforce, looking for revenue beats, guidance, and specific business metrics.