Q4 Earnings Season: Valuations Stretch, What to Focus?
Q4 earnings from the S&P 500 are sending mixed signals. Blended Q4 earnings growth stands at 8.2%, marking a potential 10th straight quarter of YoY growth, led by Information Technology and Materials, while Energy and Consumer Discretionary lag. Revenues are growing 7.8%, still solid but below long-term averages. Meanwhile, the forward P/E has climbed to 22.2, well above historical norms, raising questions about how much good news is already priced in.
What to focus during this earnings season?