S&P 500 Earnings Season Update: January 20, 2023

The fourth quarter earnings season for the S&P 500 is not off to a strong start. To date, the number and magnitude of positive earnings surprises reported by S&P 500 companies are below their 5-year and 10-year averages. Overall, the index is reporting a year-over-year decline in earnings for the first time since Q3 2020. The earnings decline for the fourth quarter is larger today compared to the end of last week and compared to the end of the quarter due to a combination of negative earnings surprises reported by companies and downward revisions to earnings estimates by analysts during the past few weeks.

Overall, 11% of the companies in the S&P 500 have reported actual results for Q4 2022 to date. Of these companies, 67% have reported actual EPS above estimates, which is below the 5-year average of 77% and below the 10-year average of 73%. In aggregate, companies are reporting earnings that are 3.3% above estimates, which is below the 5-year average of 8.6% and below the 10-year average of 6.4%.

The index is reporting lower earnings for the fourth quarter today relative to the end of last week and relative to the end of the quarter. The blended (combines actual results for companies that have reported and estimated results for companies that have yet to report) earnings decline for the fourth quarter is -4.6% today, compared to an earnings decline of -4.0% last week and an earnings decline of -3.2% at the end of the fourth quarter (December 31).

Negative earnings surprises and downward revisions to earnings estimates for companies in the Financials sector have been the largest contributors to the increase in the overall earnings decline for the index over the past week and since December 31.

If -4.6% is the actual decline for the quarter, it will mark the first time the index has reported a year-over-year decrease in earnings since Q3 2020 (-5.7%). Four of the 11 sectors are reporting (or are expected to report) year-over-year earnings growth, led by the Energy and Industrials sectors. On the other hand, seven sectors are reporting a year-over-year decline in earnings, led by the Materials, Consumer Discretionary, and Communication Services sectors.

In terms of revenues, 64% of S&P 500 companies have reported actual revenues above estimates, which is below the 5-year average of 69%, but above the 10-year average of 63%. In aggregate, companies are reporting revenues that are 0.3% above the estimates, which is below the 5-year average of 1.9% and below the 10-year average of 1.3%.

The index is also reporting lower revenues for the fourth quarter today relative to the end of last week and relative to the end of the quarter. The blended revenue growth rate for the fourth quarter is 3.7% today, compared to a revenue growth rate of 3.8% last week and a revenue growth rate of 3.9% at the end of the fourth quarter (December 31).

Downward revisions to revenue estimates for companies in the Energy and Utilities sectors have been the largest contributors to the decrease in the overall revenue growth rate for the index over the past week and since December 31.

If 3.7% is the actual growth rate for the quarter, it will mark the lowest revenue growth rate reported by the index since Q4 2020 (3.2%). Eight sectors are reporting year-over-year growth in revenues, led by the Energy and Industrials sectors. Three sectors are reporting (or are expected to report) year-over-year declines in revenues, led by the Utilities sector.

Looking ahead, analysts expect earnings declines for the first half of 2023, but earnings growth for the second half of 2023. For Q1 2023 and Q2 2023, analysts are projecting earnings declines of -1.1% and -1.2%, respectively. For Q3 2023 and Q4 2023, analysts are projecting earnings growth of 4.6% and 10.5%, respectively. For all of CY 2023, analysts predict earnings growth of 4.2%.

The forward 12-month P/E ratio is 17.0, which is below the 5-year average (18.5) and below the 10-year average (17.2). However, it is above the forward P/E ratio of 16.7 recorded at the end of the fourth quarter (December 31), as the price of the index has increased while the forward 12-month EPS estimate has decreased since December 31.

During the upcoming week, 93 S&P 500 companies (including 12 Dow 30 components) are scheduled to report results for the fourth quarter.

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