The Q1 earnings season is coming to an end, with 89% of companies reporting in the US, where 74% of S&P500 companies beat EPS estimates, calculated analysts at JP Morgan.
The actual EPS growth ran at minus 8% overall and at minus 2% ex-Energy.
53% of companies beat sales estimates, with sales up 1% ex-Energy.
"US EPS revisions have turned positive recently as many expect the stabilisation in dollar and oil to help earnings into H2. We worry that the consensus hurdle rate for upcoming quarterly EPS looks very high already. Q4 estimates currently stand at $32.2, an all-time high, implying 20% increase from $26.9 in Q1," JPM analysts said