Key Metrics: Earnings Insight
Key Metrics: Earnings Insight
Key Metrics: Earnings Insight
Earnings Analyst
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EARNINGS INSIGHT
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S&P 500
December 9, 2016
Key Metrics
Earnings Growth: For Q4 2016, the estimated earnings growth rate for the S&P 500 is 3.0%. If the index reports
earnings growth for Q4, it will mark the first time the index has seen year-over-year growth in earnings for two
consecutive quarters since Q4 2014 and Q1 2015.
Earnings Revisions: On September 30, the estimated earnings growth rate for Q4 2016 was 5.2%. Eight of the
eleven sectors have lower growth rates today (compared to September 30) due to downward revisions to
earnings estimates, led by the Materials sector.
Earnings Guidance: For Q4 2016, 75 S&P 500 companies have issued negative EPS guidance and 35 S&P 500
companies have issued positive EPS guidance.
Valuation: The forward 12-month P/E ratio for the S&P 500 is 17.1. This P/E ratio is above the 5-year average
(15.0) and the 10-year average (14.4).
Earnings Scorecard: As of today (with 3 companies in the S&P 500 reporting earnings for Q4 2016), 2 S&P 500
companies have reported earnings above the mean estimate and 1 S&P 500 company has reported sales
above the mean estimate.
All data published in this report is available on FactSet. Please contact [email protected] or 1-877-FACTSET for more information.
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Earnings Revisions: Materials Sector Has Recorded Largest Drop in Expected Earnings Growth
No Change in Estimated Earnings Growth Rate for Q4 This Week
The estimated earnings growth rate for the fourth quarter is 3.0% this week, which is unchanged from the estimated
earnings growth rate of 3.0% last week.
Overall, the estimated earnings growth rate for Q4 2016 of 3.0% today is below the estimated earnings growth rate of
5.2% at the start of the quarter (September 30). Eight sectors have recorded a decline in expected earnings growth
since the beginning of the quarter due to downward revisions to earnings estimates, led by the Materials, Industrials,
Consumer Discretionary, Utilities, and Real Estate sectors. Three sectors have recorded an increase in expected
earnings growth since the start of the quarter due to upward revisions to earnings estimates, led by the Information
Technology and Energy sectors.
Industrials: 2
The Industrials sector has recorded the second largest decrease in expected earnings growth since the start of the
quarter (to -8.7% from -2.9%). Overall, 55 of the 69 companies in this sector (80%) have seen a decline in their mean
EPS estimate to date. Of these 55 companies, 14 have recorded a drop in their mean EPS estimate of more than
10%, led by Delta Air Lines (to $0.74 from $1.27) and Caterpillar (to $0.67 from $1.02). Delta Air Lines and Caterpillar
are also the largest contributors to the decrease in the expected earnings growth rate for this sector since September
30. Despite the overall decrease in estimated earnings, the Industrials sector has witnessed an increase in price of
8.5% since the start of the quarter.
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Energy: 2
The Energy sector has recorded the second largest increase in expected earnings growth since the start of the
quarter (to -0.6% from -1.3%). Overall, 20 of the 36 companies in this sector (56%) have seen an increase in their
mean EPS estimate to date. Of these 20 companies, 13 have recorded an increase in their mean EPS estimate of
10% or more, led by Apache (to 0.08 from $0.03), Halliburton (to $0.01 from -$0.04), and Devon Energy (to $0.18
from $0.10). However, Baker Hughes (to -$0.11 from -$0.35) is the largest contributor to the decrease in the
projected earnings decline for this sector since September 30. The Energy sector has witnessed an increase in price
of 6.9% since the start of the quarter.
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Financials: AIG and Goldman Sachs Lead Growth on Comparisons to Low Year-Ago EPS
The Financials sector is expected to report the second highest (year-over-year) earnings growth of all eleven sectors
at 14.2%. At the industry level, four of the five industries in this sector are predicted to report earnings growth, led by
the Insurance (44%) and Capital Markets (27%) industries. At the company level, AIG and Goldman Sachs are the
largest contributors to earnings growth for this sector. However, the EPS growth for both companies is benefitting
from comparisons to unusually low earnings in Q4 2015. The mean EPS estimate for AIG for Q4 2016 is $1.17,
compared to year-ago EPS of -$1.10. In the companys earnings release for Q4 2015, AIG noted, The fourth quarter
operating loss was primarily due to adverse prior year loss reserve development, and lower returns on alternative
investments. The mean EPS estimate for Goldman Sachs for Q4 2016 is $4.56, compared to year-ago EPS of
$1.27. In the companys earnings release from Q4 2015, Goldman Sachs noted, During the fourth quarter of 2015,
the firm recorded provisions for the settlement with the RMBS Working Group of $1.80 billion ($1.54 billion after-tax),
which reduced diluted earnings per common share by $3.41 and annualized ROE by 8.1 percentage points. If these
two companies are excluded, the estimated earnings growth rate for the Financials sector would drop to 5.0% from
14.6%.
Telecom Services: Level 3 Communications Leads Decline on Comparison to High Year-Ago EPS
The Telecom Services sector is expected to report the largest (year-over-year) earnings decline of all eleven sectors
at -28.0%. Overall, 3 of the 5 companies in the sector (60%) are projected to report a decrease in EPS for the
quarter. The one company that is driving the earnings decline for this sector is Level 3 Communications. However,
the EPS decrease for this company is exacerbated by a comparison to unusually high earnings in Q4 2015. The
mean EPS estimate for Level 3 Communications for Q4 2016 is $0.44, compared to year-ago EPS of $9.24. In the
companys earnings release from Q4 2015, Level 3 Communications stated (regarding EPS for the quarter), This
includes a non-cash benefit to the fourth quarter Income Tax Expense of approximately $3.3 billion related to the
release of the companys valuation allowance against U.S. federal and state deferred tax assets If this company is
excluded, the estimated earnings decline for the Telecom Services sector would drop to -0.4% from -28.0%.
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Valuation: Forward P/E Ratio is 17.1, above the 10-Year Average (14.4)
The forward 12-month P/E ratio is 17.1. This P/E ratio is above the 5-year average of 15.0, and above the 10-year
average of 14.4. It is also above the forward 12-month P/E ratio of 16.8 recorded at the start of the fourth quarter
(September 30). Since the start of the fourth quarter, the price of the index has increased by 3.6%, while the forward
12-month EPS estimate has increased by 1.6%.
At the sector level, the Energy (41.3) sector has the highest forward 12-month P/E ratio, while the Telecom Services
(13.5) sector has the lowest forward 12-month P/E ratio. Nine sectors have forward 12-month P/E ratios that are
above their 10-year averages, led by the Energy (41.3 vs. 17.7) sector. One sector (Telecom Services) has a forward
12-month P/E ratio that is below the 10-year average (13.5 vs. 14.6). Historical averages are not available for the
Real Estate sector.
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Q3 2016: Scorecard
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Q3 2016: Scorecard
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Q3 2016: Scorecard
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Q3 2016: Growth
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Q4 2016: Growth
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CY 2016: Growth
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CY 2017: Growth
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