US Earnings Surge 28% YoY, S&P 500 Hits Record Highs
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- S&P 500 is up about 6% year‑to‑date and has risen more than 14% since March 30, riding the earnings‑driven rally.
- First‑quarter earnings for S&P 500 companies are estimated to have jumped 28.2% year‑over‑year, the highest growth since Q4 2021.
- Analysts’ 12‑month earnings forecasts for U.S. companies have risen by more than 10% since the start of the year, according to LSEG Datastream.
- AI hyperscalers are projected to spend $751 billion on capital expenditures in 2026, helping AI‑benefiting firms lift Q1 earnings by about 50%.
- Upcoming reporters include Nvidia, Walmart, Home Depot and Salesforce.
Why it matters: Investors reap higher returns as the S&P 500 breaks records, while AI‑heavy firms capture outsized profit growth; analysts’ upgraded forecasts tighten market expectations and shift capital toward tech and AI sectors.
