Where are the stock opportunities? Rising U.S. names and upcoming earnings in Baku

Where are the stock opportunities? Rising U.S. names and upcoming earnings in Baku

October 12, 2026

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Tonight, we’re focusing entirely on stocks. In the U.S., eBay and Salesforce are attracting attention following analyst upgrades, while Microsoft is expanding its plans for its own AI chips. Strong demand for AI infrastructure is accompanied by share-price volatility. In Baku, attention is turning to the upcoming financial reports from ABB and PASHA Bank.

October 12, 2026. U.S. intraday figures are not closing prices. The local share prices below reflect the October 12 Baku Stock Exchange figures provided to the editorial team.

U.S. market: gains are not reaching every stock

In the week ended October 9, the S&P 500 gained 1.2%, the Dow rose 0.9%, and the Nasdaq added 0.6%. The small-cap Russell 2000 fell 0.9%.

According to Reuters’ analysis, although the S&P 500 has risen approximately 14% this year, shares in more than 40% of its constituent companies have declined. The median stock has gained only around 4%, highlighting how heavily the rally is concentrated in a limited number of large companies.

AI and energy remain prominent themes. Upcoming earnings reports will show how well rising expectations are supported by actual revenue and profit.

eBay: live shopping becomes a new source of growth

▫️ eBay — EBAY. Morgan Stanley named the company a top pick and raised its price target from $127 to $132. The stock rose approximately 4% intraday following the news. It has gained roughly one-third since the beginning of the year.

Analysts are focusing on eBay Live, the company’s livestream shopping business. Its expansion is supporting growth in sales volume.

Upcoming reports will be watched for live shopping’s contribution to overall transaction volume, profit and customer activity. The $132 target is an analyst estimate; reaching it depends on company performance and market conditions.

Salesforce: rating and price target move higher

▫️ Salesforce — CRM. Bank of America upgraded its recommendation from “underperform” to “buy” and raised its price target from $160 to $285.

Barron’s reported the stock trading around $234.73. The analyst target is approximately 21% above that level. The shares have gained roughly 53% since June 22.

The company’s AI strategy and established corporate customer relationships are central to its investment story. Upcoming reports will be closely watched for AI monetization, platform usage and cash flow. The strong rally since the summer has also raised expectations for its results.

Microsoft: a new phase for its own AI chips

▫️ Microsoft — MSFT. The stock rose 1.4% intraday following plans for a broader deployment of its own AI chips, taking its market capitalization back above $4 trillion.

Wider use of its own chips could help Microsoft manage AI infrastructure costs. Investors will focus on cloud revenue, data-center investment and the effect of that spending on cash flow.

The key challenge is turning growing demand for AI services into sustainable profit. The balance between infrastructure spending and revenue growth will play an important role in the stock’s valuation.

Notable moves in recent days

These are selected stocks that have attracted attention recently, rather than a complete ranking of the biggest gainers across the U.S. market.

▫️ Lumentum — LITE. On October 9, the stock rose approximately 7% intraday. Its CEO said optical components for AI servers were sold out through early 2029.

However, a subsequent October 12 market update showed the shares falling approximately 11%. The reversal demonstrates substantial price volatility despite strong demand. Expanding production capacity, delivering orders and maintaining profit margins remain key factors.

▫️ Humana — HUM. The stock gained 11.6% on October 9, supported by positive information about the quality ratings of its Medicare Advantage plans.

Upcoming results will be watched for the potential revenue benefits of improved ratings and trends in medical costs. Whether the sharp one-day rally holds will depend on subsequent financial performance.

▫️ Chevron — CVX. On October 12, at 8:12 p.m. Baku time, the stock was up approximately 1.4%. Rising oil prices are supporting interest in energy companies.

Higher oil prices can benefit producers’ revenues. Energy stocks remain sensitive to supply developments and geopolitical news, however: easing risks and lower crude prices could push shares in the opposite direction.

U.S. banks: earnings season begins

JPMorgan, Citigroup and Wells Fargo are expected to report their financial results on October 13.

Alongside net income, investors will focus on provisions for credit losses, deposit interest costs, loan demand and management’s outlook for the next quarter.

Bank results will also offer insight into the U.S. economy. Strong reports could help extend the market rally beyond technology, while deteriorating credit quality could make investors more cautious.

Baku market: upcoming reports from ABB and PASHA Bank

ABB: profit, credit quality and dividends

▫️ ABB’s third-quarter financial report is expected within the next three days — October 13–15.

According to the figures provided to the editorial team, ABB (ABBNK) shares are trading at AZN 0.33 on the Baku Stock Exchange, described as their highest level since 2024.

The new report will be watched for net income, interest revenue, loan portfolio growth and non-performing loans. Whether profit comes from core banking operations or one-off income will be important in assessing the sustainability of the results.

Dividend yield depends on the investor’s actual purchase price. In the secondary market, the bid–ask spread and trading volume also affect the terms on which investors can later sell their shares.

PASHA Bank: financial results and the dividend schedule

▫️ PASHA Bank’s third-quarter financial report is also expected on October 13–15.

The bank’s shares remain below their AZN 55 offering price. According to the October 12 Baku Stock Exchange figures provided to the editorial team, the share price stood at AZN 54.41.

Marja, citing a PASHA Bank announcement published in July, reported that the second installment of dividends relating to the 2025 financial results was scheduled for October 2026.

The upcoming report will focus on loan and deposit trends, net interest margin, provisioning expenses and profit. How loan growth is balanced against funding costs and risk will help determine the quality of the results.

Dividend news may support interest in the stock. Investors should also consider the dividend entitlement date and payment terms: buying shares to receive a dividend does not, by itself, guarantee a profit.

The expectation that ABB and PASHA Bank will publish their reports on October 13–15 is based on information provided to the editorial team; the official publication schedule has not been independently confirmed.

This briefing is for information and analysis and does not constitute personalized investment advice.