U.S. stocks closed mostly higher on October 20, 2026, ahead of Meta Platforms’ third-quarter earnings release scheduled for the following afternoon. The Dow Jones Industrial Average led the major benchmarks, while the Nasdaq Composite finished nearly flat as an early technology rally faded.
Key Takeaways
- The Dow outperformed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq in the October 20 session.
- Meta’s advertising trends and artificial intelligence investment were key areas of attention ahead of results.
- Meta scheduled its earnings conference call for 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time on October 21.
Table of Contents
- U.S. stocks finish with uneven gains
- Meta’s results put advertising and AI spending in focus
- Conclusion
U.S. stocks finish with uneven gains
The session’s gains were not uniform. The S&P 500 advanced alongside the Dow, but technology shares lost momentum after an early rally, leaving the Nasdaq little changed by the close.
The trading session preceded Meta’s results rather than responding to them. The index moves therefore did not establish how investors would assess the company’s quarterly advertising performance or spending plans.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | Up 1% on October 20, 2026 |
| S&P 500 | Up 0.3% on October 20, 2026 |
| Nasdaq Composite | Nearly flat on October 20, 2026 |
Meta’s results put advertising and AI spending in focus
Meta’s third-quarter earnings announcement schedule set the release for after market close on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The company also scheduled a conference call for 1:30 p.m. Pacific Time, or 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, that day.
Attention ahead of the release centered on advertising demand and Meta’s ongoing investment in artificial intelligence, including its Meta AI assistant and Llama models. These were topics to assess in the forthcoming results, not financial outcomes established by the October 20 session.
Meta’s businesses include Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Threads, alongside augmented- and virtual-reality hardware investments through Reality Labs. The earnings release and management discussion were expected to provide the next update on the company’s performance.
Conclusion
As of the October 20 close, the next confirmed milestone was Meta’s October 21 after-market earnings release, followed by management’s scheduled conference call.
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Disclaimer
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