Analysts Raise Q3 and Q4 Estimates After Blowout Q2 Season

As second quarter earnings results continue to beat expectations, analysts are realizing third and fourth quarter earnings estimates may still be too low.

article-image

Source: Shutterstock

share

key takeaways

  • We are past the halfway point of earnings season, and the results continue to come in hotter than anticipated
  • Eventually, there will be an economic slowdown, experts agree, but the pace will still likely be above pre-pandemic norm

We are now past the halfway point of the second quarter earnings season. As results continue to come in ahead of expectations, analysts are looking to raise estimates for the rest of the year. 

“People were expecting earnings of about $182 on the S&P this year, that number is now about $193, and based on the numbers that were reported for Q1 and Q2, I think that number is still too low,” Howard Ward, Gabelli Funds CIO of Growth Equities, said on a recent podcast

More than half of S&P 500 companies have reported so far, of which 92% have met or exceeded estimates. Eighty-six percent have outperformed on revenue, which is the most since the first quarter of 2008, according to data from FactSet. Revenues are up 21%, which is an all-time high. 

Companies with significant outperformance include JPMorgan Chase, Apple and Exxon Mobil. Moderna, ViacomCBS and AMC Networks are among companies set to report later this week. 

“On the earnings front, most of the systemically important companies (companies that can move the broader market depending on the earnings results) are behind us, so while there are still many more companies to report results, the impact will be much more micro-economic than on the broader market,” wrote Tom Essaye in a recent note.  

Analysts have been insisting for months that the market is in a state of ‘peak everything’ and there is nowhere to go but down, yet economic indicators continue to inch higher. Third and fourth quarter estimates have been steadily rising as Q2 results continue to outperform.  

At the beginning of July, analysts estimated third quarter S&P 500 earnings to be up 24.7% in the third quarter. Last week, experts raised their projection to 28.3%. Similarly, for the fourth quarter, analysts raised expectations from up 17.3% to up 20.3%, according to FactSet data. 

“The 2022 expectation right now is too low, that’s around $212, we have several years of continued good earnings growth ahead of us, I believe. In real estate, they say ‘location, location, location,’ and with stocks, I would say ‘earnings earnings earnings,” Ward said. 

An economic slowdown will come eventually, experts agree, but the pace will still likely be above pre-pandemic norms. 

“When you look at the economic growth, as strong as it is this year, 7% or 8% GDP is probably more like 4% next year,” said Ward. “We’re already in an economy that has seen peak growth on a quarter to quarter basis, and is beginning to slow. Slowing growth is generally a good environment for growth stocks, and when you get beyond next year, we’re probably going back to GDP growth that has a handle on it of about 2%.” 

Want more investor-focused content on digital assets? Join us September 13th and 14th for the Digital Asset Summit (DAS) in NYC. Use code ARTICLE for $75 off your ticket. Buy it now.

Tags

Upcoming Events

MON - WED, MARCH 18 - 20, 2024

Digital Asset Summit (DAS) is returning March 2024. What you can expect: And more! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to be in the room when the future of crypto is decided. Join us and help shape the future of our […]

recent research

Research report - cover graphics-2.jpg

Research

Base has doubled-down on its commitment to the Superchain vision, has shown early signs of success with nearly $400M in TVL, and has become home to novel dapps such as friend.tech which has seen significant traction.

article-image

Binance spent $840k in gas to consolidate accounts in what some labeled an inefficient process

article-image

The FCA expressed concerned that ‘unregistered, overseas’ crypto firms with UK customers haven’t responded to the regulator

article-image

Upland is a metaverse game that has sold NFTs for charitable purposes in the past

article-image

The bitcoin halving slated for April 2024 — an event expected to spur upward price action for BTC — could be a boon for Block’s stock price, analysts say

article-image

Seed Club founder Jess Sloss is excited to “open the doors and let other people see what we’ve been seeing for the last few months”

article-image

Blockchain is a “natural fit” in games based on open economies and user-generated content, says Wyatt