Stocks•6 July 2026•
2 min read

Positive Earnings Previews for Visa and Caterpillar Boost Market Sentiment

Key Facts

1Zacks estimates suggest Visa is likely to beat earnings expectations in its next quarterly report based on its positive earnings surprise history.
2Similar positive outlooks were issued for major firms including Caterpillar, Occidental Petroleum, and McKesson ahead of their financial results.

As investors seek signs of corporate resilience, Zacks Investment Research estimates suggest that Visa is likely to beat earnings expectations in its next quarterly report. This positive outlook is driven by the company's historical trend of positive earnings surprises and is shared by other major firms including Caterpillar, Occidental Petroleum, and McKesson. The analysis relies on favorable Zacks Ranks and Expected Surprise Prediction (ESP) metrics, which are often precursors to actual earnings beats.

These previews emerge amid a broader sector context where payment peers show varied performance; per market data, Mastercard (MA) closed at $369.09 and American Express (AXP) at $351.96 as of July 2, 2026. In the energy sector, companies like Occidental Petroleum remain under scrutiny following recent economic data showing a significant 6.072 million barrel draw in U.S. API crude oil stocks at the end of June 2026, which could influence bottom-line results.

Regarding current levels, Visa (V) stood at $353.94 on July 6, 2026, while Caterpillar (CAT) and Occidental Petroleum (OXY) finished at $963.53 and $48.91 respectively as of July 2, 2026. With few major macroeconomic catalysts in the immediate upcoming calendar, market attention will remain fixed on the official earnings release dates as the primary driver for these instruments.