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This report offers a concise overview of significant financial events and company updates from the past week. Key highlights include an impending shareholder vote at Tesla regarding Elon Musk's substantial compensation and critical future strategies. Meanwhile, Berkshire Hathaway continues to demonstrate robust financial health, marked by increased profits and a burgeoning cash reserve, with investors keenly watching for potential boosts from share repurchases under new leadership. The market is also buzzing with anticipation for Palantir's upcoming earnings release, as experts weigh differing expectations for its growth and market valuation.

Tesla is gearing up for a pivotal shareholder meeting at Gigafactory Texas, where a major point of discussion will be the proposed compensation package for CEO Elon Musk, valued at $1 trillion. This package, structured in twelve tranches of shares contingent on specific performance metrics, could significantly increase Musk's voting power within the company to 25%. This move is particularly noteworthy given Tesla's expanding focus on AI and robotics, which some believe could eventually overshadow its achievements in electric vehicles.

The meeting will also serve as a platform for updates on several ambitious projects, including the robotaxi network, the Cybercab program, the production ramp-up of the Tesla Semi, and advancements in next-generation battery technology. The proceedings will be livestreamed globally, and market observers anticipate considerable volatility in Tesla's stock throughout the day. Board Chair Robyn Denholm has explicitly urged shareholders to disregard recommendations from proxy advisory firms, unions, and corporate watchdogs, advocating for the approval of Musk’s controversial payout. Analyst Oliver Rodzianko suggests that while the full realization of the award within the designated timeframe is uncertain, Tesla's history of achieving ambitious goals, despite past failures, underscores a unique belief-driven trajectory for the company.

In other significant news, Berkshire Hathaway, under Warren Buffett's final quarter of direct leadership, reported a nearly 34% surge in operating profit, primarily fueled by strong performance in its insurance underwriting sector. The company's cash reserves have swelled to almost $390 billion due to a lack of buybacks. Edward Jones analyst James Shanahan believes that CEO-designate Greg Abel will progressively restore investor confidence. He also noted that increased investment activity or share repurchases could act as catalysts for Berkshire Hathaway's stock.

On the geopolitical front, the White House has announced that China will effectively lift all existing and proposed export controls on rare earth and critical minerals. This development signals a potential stabilization in global supply chains. Furthermore, China is expected to conclude investigations into U.S. chipmakers and other major corporations. In response, the U.S. will reduce tariffs on Chinese imports, particularly those aimed at curbing fentanyl flows, by 10 percentage points, effective November 10. The U.S. also plans to extend its suspension of heightened reciprocal tariffs on Chinese imports until November 10, 2026, fostering a more stable trade environment.

The market is bracing for a busy earnings season, with 136 S&P 500 companies scheduled to report their third-quarter results. So far, a significant majority—83% of S&P 500 companies—have surpassed EPS estimates, and 79% have exceeded revenue expectations. However, guidance has been more mixed, with 28 S&P companies issuing negative EPS guidance. Palantir's earnings report on Monday is expected to draw considerable attention. Analysts project an EPS of $0.17 on revenues of $1.09 billion. Wedbush's Dan Ives maintains an Outperform rating, arguing that the company's AI platform's value to customers is underestimated by current consensus. Conversely, SA analyst Tunga Capital, with a Sell rating, warns that anything less than a sustained 50%+ growth trajectory could lead to a painful repricing of Palantir's stock.

The coming week will see a flurry of earnings reports from major companies. Realty Income, ON Semiconductor, and Clorox will report alongside Palantir on Monday. Tuesday's lineup includes AMD, Shopify, Uber, Amgen, and Pfizer. Mid-week, McDonald's, Applovin, Qualcomm, Arm, DoorDash, and Fortinet will release their results. Thursday will feature reports from AstraZeneca, ConocoPhillips, Airbnb, Take-Two, and Block. The week concludes with earnings from Constellation Energy, KKR & Co., Enbridge, and Duke Energy on Friday. Additionally, for income-focused investors, Citigroup and NRG are scheduled to go ex-dividend on Monday, MetLife on Tuesday, and Ford on Friday, with payouts following later in November and December, respectively.