Charles Schwab stock rises to start 2026 as rate bets and key data loom

Charles Schwab stock rises to start 2026 as rate bets and key data loom

New York, January 3, 2026, 16:22 ET — Market closed

  • Charles Schwab shares last closed up 1.7% at $101.57 after a broad Wall Street rebound.
  • Investors are tracking U.S. rate-cut timing, with jobs and inflation data due next week.
  • Schwab’s next major catalyst is its Jan. 21 earnings and scheduled investor update.

The Charles Schwab Corp (SCHW) shares last closed up $1.70, or 1.7%, at $101.57 on Friday, after trading between $99.43 and $101.98. U.S. markets were closed on Saturday. MarketWatch

The stock’s move came as U.S. equities opened 2026 higher and snapped a four-day losing streak, with the Dow up 0.66% and the S&P 500 adding 0.19%. Joe Mazzola, head of trading and derivatives strategy at Charles Schwab, said the market was showing a “buy the dip, sell the rip” mindset. Reuters

That matters for Schwab because the brokerage’s earnings are closely tied to interest rates and client cash behavior. The firm generates “net interest income” — the spread between what it earns on client cash and what it pays out — so shifts in rate expectations can quickly change investor views on the business.

Schwab’s gains also tracked a firmer tape across financial and trading platforms. Interactive Brokers rose 4.6% on Friday and Robinhood Markets added 1.9%, while Morgan Stanley gained 2.5%.

The next week brings several potential catalysts that can move rate expectations. Employment data is due on Jan. 9, the consumer price index is scheduled for Jan. 13, and investors are also watching the start of fourth-quarter earnings season — including JPMorgan’s report on Jan. 13 — alongside the search for direction in a market sitting near record levels, Reuters reported. Reuters

Fed commentary is also back in focus. Philadelphia Fed President Anna Paulson said on Saturday that further rate cuts could be “some way off,” while policymakers assess the economy after last year’s easing campaign that left the policy rate at 3.5%–3.75%, Reuters reported. Reuters

For Schwab investors, the policy debate collides with a key company checkpoint later this month, when the firm updates the Street on recent trends in trading, asset gathering and cash balances.

Before the next session, Schwab’s next scheduled catalyst is the week of Jan. 19, when it is set to report fourth-quarter 2025 earnings alongside its December monthly activity report, with an anticipated date of Jan. 21. Schwab also has a “Winter Business Update” scheduled for Jan. 21. About Schwab

Investors typically focus on net new assets, client trading activity and the pace at which customers keep cash in sweep accounts versus moving it into higher-yielding alternatives, which can pressure interest revenue. Cost discipline and any commentary on 2026 rate sensitivity also tend to shape near-term sentiment.

On the charts, traders often watch round-number levels after a big move into year-end. Schwab reclaimed $100 on Friday, and the prior session’s high near $102 stands out as a nearby test if risk appetite holds when markets reopen.

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