Last week, this post was shown in order for readers to get a sense for how fast S&P 500 earnings were accelerating. With the Thomson Reuters data out this Friday, the 2018 “estimated” S&P 500 earnings growth rate is now 17.7% (let’s say 18%) up from last week’s 16%. What’s more, with the drop in the key benchmark this week, the P.E. on the S&P 500 of 17.8(x) is now exactly 1x the market’s expected growth rate this year.
On a P.E. to growth basis (PEG), the S&P 500 still looks reasonably valued.
Another stat that jumped out from the Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S report is that 80% of the S&P 500 companies that have reported Q4 ’17 financial results so far have beaten consensus REVENUE estimates. Normally just 60% beat on the top line estimate. That’s a big number, but retail is still to report through February ’18 so maybe that comes in a little.
The S&P 500 earnings yield actually jumped from 5.35% last week to 5.62% this week.
What’s it all mean with the big market drop this week?
The 10-Year Treasury yield has risen from 2.40% on 12.31.17 to 2.85 as of the market close today, 2.2.18.
Remember in 1994, the S&P 500 earnings grew 20% while the benchmark returned 1% that year on the back of 6 Greenspan-led fed funds rate hikes. This correction was badly needed – stay focused on the long game of S&P 500 earnings growth.
Here are expected S&P 500 earnings growth rates for the next 3 years:
- 2019: +10%
- 2018: +17.8%
- 2017: +12%
While a lot of bank write-offs happened post-2008, the last time we saw S&P 500 earnings growth like this was 2004 – 2006 and some of that was driven by the NASDAQ recovery.
Will update how 2018 estimates have changed by sector this weekend. Readers should find that interesting.