This might be a make-or-break week for second quarter earnings season. When all is alleged and accomplished, about 160 S & P 500 corporations may have reported their newest quarterly outcomes — making this the busiest week of your complete reporting interval. By means of Monday’s open, greater than 250 names had already reported, with 81% exceeding analyst expectations, based on FactSet. There have been some high-profile earnings beats so far. Netflix on July 19 a posted better-than-expected revenue, pushed partially by larger subscriptions and its crackdown on password sharing. Others have not fared as properly, nonetheless, together with Goldman Sachs — which posted weaker-than-expected earnings . Now check out a number of the key corporations scheduled to submit their newest numbers later this week, together with Merck and Apple, and what to anticipate from them. Tuesday Merck is about to report earnings earlier than the bell, adopted by a name at 8 a.m. between analysts and administration. Final quarter: MRK earnings topped estimates even after a pointy decline in Covid antiviral therapy gross sales . This quarter: Analysts polled by FactSet count on Merck to submit a loss for the primary quarter. What CNBC well being reporter Annika Kim Constantino is watching: “Merck has been underneath strain to cut back its dependence on its blockbuster antibody most cancers therapy Keytruda, which is slated to lose patent safety in 2028. The drugs will possible proceed to indicate sturdy progress within the second quarter, however traders are longing for strategic updates on a number of experimental medication that would cushion Keytruda’s patent cliff in the event that they achieve approval. Traders may also be searching for indicators about whether or not Merck’s M & A spree will proceed by 2023. Analysts be aware that the corporate’s $10.3 billion acquisition of Prometheus Biosciences will probably be mirrored in analysis and growth prices through the second quarter. In the course of the convention name, executives will possible be requested concerning the firm’s lawsuit in search of to halt Medicare drug value negotiations, a key provision of President Joe Biden’s Inflation Discount Act. That coverage cannot be shrugged off since it should possible curb pharmaceutical business earnings in the long term.” What historical past exhibits: Merck beats earnings expectations 75% of the time, based on Bespoke Funding Group. Nevertheless, the inventory is usually flat on earnings day. Starbucks is about to report earnings after the bell, with administration slated to carry a name at 5 p.m. ET. Final quarter: SBUX posted an earnings beat as same-store gross sales reversed in China . This quarter: Analysts count on the espresso chain to report double-digit earnings progress from the year-earlier interval, based on FactSet. What CNBC is watching: Starbucks shares have lagged the broader market this yr, rising simply 2.1%. However the upcoming quarterly report might present indicators of a turnaround, based on Financial institution of America’s Sara Senatore. “Each day subway rides had been up +128% in 2Q23, returning to 2019 ranges and suggesting that mobility has largely normalized post-Covid,” Senatore mentioned, pointing to mass transit use in New York for example of upper road site visitors. What historical past exhibits: Starbucks beats earnings expectations simply 54% of the time, based on Bespoke. Nevertheless, the inventory averages a achieve of 0.5% after the corporate posts outcomes. Wednesday Pfizer is about to report earnings earlier than the open. Administration is slated to carry a convention name at 10 a.m. ET. Final quarter: Regardless of a decline in Covid vaccine gross sales, PFE earnings and income topped analyst estimates . This quarter: Analysts forecast a steep year-over-year earnings drop for the pharmaceutical large, FactSet information exhibits. What CNBC well being reporter Annika Kim Constantino is watching: “The corporate is working to pivot away from its blockbuster Covid merchandise as demand wanes. Some analysts count on Covid vaccine and therapy gross sales to drop to their lowest through the second quarter as governments worldwide pull again on contracted deliveries of these merchandise. The convention name on Tuesday will possible present an replace on a number of near-term drug launches, which CEO Albert Bourla has mentioned will assist develop non-Covid revenues “at a quicker charge” through the second half of the yr. Executives are more likely to face questions on Pfizer’s RSV vaccine and up to date Covid shot – each of that are slated to roll out through the third quarter. They’re additionally more likely to be requested concerning the twister that hit Pfizer’s main plant in Carolina after the corporate instructed hospitals final week that greater than 30 medication might even see new provide disruptions because of the injury.” What historical past exhibits: Pfizer exceeds earnings expectations 87% of the time, Per Bespoke. Nevertheless, the info additionally exhibits Pfizer shares fall by a mean of 0.32% on earnings day. Thursday Amazon is about to report earnings after the bell, with administration scheduled to carry a name with analysts at 5:30 p.m. ET. Final quarter: AMZN posted first-quarter gross sales that beat expectations, however the firm additionally issued steerage pointing towards weak spot in its cloud enterprise . This quarter: Analysts polled by FactSet count on double-digit earnings progress quarter over quarter. What CNBC tech reporter Annie Palmer is watching: “Traders will probably be specializing in whether or not Amazon’s cloud unit can return to the fast progress they’ve develop into accustomed to. In April, income from Amazon Net Providers expanded 16%, which was barely larger than analysts had projected, however a slowdown from the fourth quarter, when AWS gross sales grew 20%. For the present quarter, analysts surveyed by FactSet are searching for AWS income to develop simply 10%. Count on Wall Road to press Amazon management on the convention name about once they see cloud progress reaccelerating. Different matters that will probably be in focus are Amazon’s plans round AI, whether or not retail margins are enhancing, and the corporate’s progress on rolling out one- and same-day supply.” What historical past exhibits: Bespoke information exhibits Amazon earnings exceed earnings expectations 62% of the time. The inventory additionally rises a mean of 0.69% after the outcomes are launched. Apple is about to report earnings after the shut, adopted by a name at 5 p.m. ET. Final quarter: AAPL’s better-than-expected outcomes had been pushed by robust iPhone gross sales . This quarter: On a year-over-year foundation, the iMac maker is anticipated to report a small earnings decline, based on FactSet. What CNBC is watching: Apple shares have been on a monster run this yr, popping 50% by Friday’s shut. However, can the inventory maintain that momentum? Morgan Stanley analyst Erik Woodring thinks the tech large will exceed estimates when it reviews earnings. “IDC disclosed that Apple shipped 42.5M iPhones within the June quarter, down 6% Y/Y. We at the moment forecast 40.5M iPhone shipments within the June quarter, that means IDC is pointing to five% upside vs. our cargo forecast. If we move the incremental 2M unit upside by our mannequin, we land at $38.8B of iPhone income vs. our present $37.0B forecast,” he mentioned in a be aware. What historical past exhibits: Knowledge compiled by Bespoke exhibits Apple beats earnings estimates 89% of the time. The inventory additionally averages a 1.37% achieve on earnings day. — CNBC’s Michael Bloom contributed reporting.