US corporate profits collapsed 21 percent in the first half this year. Directionally, this is in line with operating earnings estimates for S&P 500 companies. In the latter’s case, the revision trend has improved the past two and a half … Continued
The longest bull market in U.S. stock market history abruptly came to an end last month. Between March 9, 2009 and February 19, 2020 – that is, 131 months – the S&P 500 large cap index rallied 401 percent, second … Continued
From trade disputes to declining corporate profits to yield-curve inversion, there is no shortage of issues for worrywarts to worry about. From recent highs, major US equity indices have dropped in the mid- to high-single digits. Medium term, more downside … Continued
The 1Q19 earnings season is upon us. Expected growth has softened. The bar is low. The sell-side expects growth to pick up speed in the second half. Operating earnings of S&P 500 companies are expected to grow 9.1 percent this … Continued
Thanks to last year’s tax cuts, corporate taxes have seen a big drop, with a wide gap between what corporations make and what they pay in taxes. While this gives them more money to spend on dividends and buybacks, this … Continued
On a 12-month rolling total basis, federal deficit in August shot up to just under $900 billion. This at a time when the US economy is in expansion. In all probability, the red ink only gets worse from here. The … Continued
US corporate profits rose to a new high in 2Q18, but prior quarters were revised lower by $739 billion. Second-quarter US corporate profits were published Wednesday. Profits adjusted for inventory valuation and capital consumption rose 7.7 percent year-over-year to a … Continued
US small-caps are outperforming. Price action is great. But large-caps are not on the same page. And high-yield corporate bonds have diverged with small-caps for a while now. In early 2016 when US stocks reached a major low, several other … Continued
The tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 index is doing very well so far this year – up 22.4 percent. This compares with a rise of 10.3 percent for the Dow Industrials, 10.1 percent for the S&P 500 large cap index, and a … Continued
U.S. corporate profits adjusted for inventory valuation and capital consumption grew 1.3 percent quarter-over-quarter in 2Q17 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2.14 trillion, but growth has been uneven since peaking at $2.23 trillion in 4Q14. Since that peak … Continued