Top Stocks to Watch This Week: Earnings From Rocket Lab, CoreWeave and Applied Materials

Investors face a packed week with key earnings and economic data that could shift market direction. Rocket Lab reports Monday, with attention fixed on progress for its Neutron reusable rocket and a $2.2 billion backlog. A $266 million U.S. Space Force contract underscores its growing role in the launch market. CoreWeave follows Tuesday, where margins and AI infrastructure spending will be under scrutiny. Super Micro Computer flagged record orders exceeding $60 billion and stronger-than-expected margins, signaling robust demand in the AI hardware space. Lumentum has emerged as a key optical networking play tied to AI expansion, with significant growth anticipated. Applied Materials wraps up Thursday, offering a broad read on semiconductor investment trends. Economic data will also drive sentiment: the Consumer Price Index on Wednesday, producer inflation Thursday, and retail sales with consumer sentiment Friday. These reports will test the market's resilience amid shifting expectations on interest rates and corporate spending.