The Week Ahead: Netflix and Tesla Earnings, Plus the Blue-Chip Dividends Going Ex

After the big banks kicked off earnings season, week two brings the first marquee growth names and a steady batch of blue chip dividends going ex. Here is your calendar for the week of October 20, with the dates, the numbers, and what to watch.

Earnings to Watch

Tuesday, October 20

• Netflix (NFLX), after the close. The streaming bellwether and an early read on the growth trade. Watch subscriber adds, the ad tier, and forward guidance more than the headline number.

• Coca-Cola (KO), before the open. A classic consumer staples gauge. The story is pricing versus volume, and whether the consumer is still absorbing higher prices.

Wednesday, October 21

• Tesla (TSLA), after the close. Deliveries are already known, so the focus is margins, the robotaxi and full self driving roadmap, and the energy business.

• IBM (IBM), after the close. A read on enterprise software, AI consulting demand, and the mainframe cycle.

These four are the first real test of whether the growth trade and the consumer are holding up after a record week, and amid the AI debt jitters we covered in the AI debt boom.

Dividends Going Ex This Week

The ex-dividend date is the first day a stock trades without the right to its next payout. To collect the dividend, you need to own the shares before the ex-date. Here are notable names going ex during the week, with the per share amount:

• October 20: Dell (DELL) $0.58, Colgate-Palmolive (CL) $0.52

• October 21: Lowe's (LOW) $1.21

• October 22: CVS Health (CVS) $0.67, APA (APA) $0.25

• October 23: Procter & Gamble (PG) $1.06

The theme extends abroad too: in Canada, grocer Metro (MRU.TO) goes ex on October 22, and in Brazil, Santander Brasil (SANB11.SA) goes ex on October 21, tying into the strong run in Brazilian stocks we covered this week. For the full, always current list across markets, use our live earnings and dividend calendar.

Why This Week Matters

It is a week of two speeds. Netflix and Tesla bring the volatility and the headlines, testing whether the AI and growth story can keep delivering. The dividend names, from Procter & Gamble to Lowe's, offer the steadier, income focused side of the market. Both matter, and this week you get them side by side. For the broader backdrop, see our global markets snapshot.

Frequently Asked Questions

When do Netflix and Tesla report earnings?

Netflix reports after the close on October 20, 2026, and Tesla reports after the close on October 21, 2026.

What does the ex-dividend date mean?

It is the first day a stock trades without the right to the next dividend. To receive the payment, you must own the shares before the ex-dividend date.

Which big dividends go ex this week?

Blue chips including Procter & Gamble, Lowe's, Colgate-Palmolive, Dell and CVS Health all go ex-dividend during the week of October 20, 2026.

The Takeaway

Two stories in one week: marquee earnings from Netflix and Tesla that will test the growth trade, and a steady drumbeat of blue chip dividends for income investors. Mark the dates, watch the guidance more than the headlines, and use the calendar to plan around the ex-dividend dates.