This week represents one of the largest concentrations of earnings in the 1Q26 reporting season. Approximately 42% of the S&P 500 market cap is set to report, alongside 36% of constituent companies. As of Friday the 24th, the blended YoY earnings growth rate for the quarter stood at 15.1%, a meaningful step up from the 13.1% expected at the start of the period. If sustained, this would mark the sixth consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth. But is OpenAI’s recent stumble a sign that AI is running out of gas?

Having trouble remembering the difference between a CDR and a CRT? We’re here to help.

Highlights from the week of April 17 – April 23, 2026.

Stocks hit record highs despite historic consumer pessimism, oil surged on Middle East tensions, and inflation fears climbed.

An energy shock, sticky inflation, and fractured global policy have made the path forward less forgiving. With growth slowing but not breaking, we focus on quality, diversification, and disciplined positioning as the margin for error narrows.

March retail sales highlighted the growing disconnect between consumer confidence and consumer behavior. Retail sales surged 1.7% month over month, following a revised 0.7% gain in February, marking the strongest monthly increase in more than three years. But of that 170 basis point jump, roughly 110 of it came from higher energy prices—specifically, gas station sales jumping a whopping 15.5%. So is consumer demand still healthy, or are prices just going up? Let’s look closer.

The Survivor is one of the easiest identities to misread. These are people shaped by challenge. Their main driver isn't achievement. It's validation.

Stars are driven by significance. They want to feel seen, valued, and recognized for who they are and the impact they make.

Academics want to understand things. They value logic, clarity and getting to the right answer. Confidence alone won’t build trust with this group. They want to see the thinking behind your recommendation.

The Controller are people who care about autonomy and being in charge of making decisions. They're at their very best when they feel they're in the driver's seat.