Forbesยท2025-10-26 09:53Core Insights - The third-quarter earnings season is underway, with significant reports expected from major companies including five of the Magnificent 7 and Berkshire Hathaway [2] - So far, 29% of S&P 500 companies have reported, with 86% exceeding consensus earnings estimates, leading to a blended earnings growth rate of 9.2% year-over-year, surpassing the 7.9% expectation [3][4] - The Magnificent 7, which includes key tech companies, continues to be a focal point for earnings growth, although Tesla's recent earnings fell short of expectations [6][7] Earnings Performance - The S&P 500's earnings growth is primarily driven by positive surprises in the financials, information technology, and industrials sectors [7] - Notable contributors include Capital One Financial and Chubb in financials, Intel in technology, and RTX and GE Aerospace in industrials [8] Sales Growth - Sales growth is currently at 7.0%, exceeding expectations, with consumer discretionary and financials sectors being the main drivers [9] - The nominal GDP growth estimate for Q3 is 4.8%, indicating potential downside risks to sales growth if this estimate holds [9] Inflation and Economic Outlook - Recent consumer inflation data showed a year-over-year increase of 3% for both headline and core CPI, which was better than expected [10] - The Federal Reserve is anticipated to implement a 25 basis point rate cut, with markets also expecting further cuts in December [12][13] Market Dynamics - The ongoing government shutdown is affecting economic data releases, but the overall economy remains resilient, with recession odds for 2025 dropping to 4% [12] - The upcoming earnings reports from the Magnificent 7 are crucial for assessing the health of the AI boom and the broader technology sector [11]