A Closer Look at Q2 Earnings: What Can Investors Expect?

Core Insights - The S&P 500 index is expected to see Q2 earnings increase by +4.9% year-over-year, driven by a +3.9% rise in revenues [3][4] - Earnings estimates for Q2 have faced significant downward revisions, particularly in the Tech and Finance sectors, which together account for 51% of total S&P 500 earnings [4][6] - Despite the overall pressure on estimates, three sectors are projected to achieve double-digit earnings growth: Aerospace (+15.1%), Tech (+11.8%), and Consumer Discretionary (+105.6%) [4][5] Sector Performance - 13 out of 16 Zacks sectors have seen earnings estimates decline since the start of Q2, with notable drops in Transportation, Autos, Energy, Construction, and Basic Materials [5] - The only sectors with upward revisions are Aerospace, Utilities, and Consumer Discretionary [5] - The Tech sector's earnings are expected to grow by +11.8% in Q2, although this is a reduction from earlier estimates [6][11] Future Outlook - The Q2 earnings season is anticipated to gain momentum with major financial institutions like JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo reporting [4] - While current estimates for 2025 Q2 have been under pressure, there have not been significant changes to estimates for the following two years [16] - The macroeconomic environment remains uncertain, particularly regarding tariff impacts, which could continue to influence earnings estimates [16]