Q4 Earnings Season Gets Off To a Solid Start

Core Insights - The market's reaction to Q4 results from major banks like JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Citigroup suggests a disappointing performance, but the underlying results and outlook are not negative, indicating a 'sell-the-news' scenario after prior outperformance [2] - Citigroup has significantly outperformed its peers and the broader market over the past year, driven by investor confidence in its new management's restructuring plans, while JPMorgan continues to benefit from its reputation for operational excellence [3] - Despite the recent downturn in share prices for Citigroup, Bank of America, and JPMorgan since the start of the year, the Q4 earnings results have contributed to this trend [4] Earnings Performance - Total earnings for 25 S&P 500 members reporting Q4 results are up 17.9% year-over-year, with revenues increasing by 7.8%, and 88% of companies beating EPS estimates while 72% exceeded revenue estimates [5] - The Q4 earnings growth pace indicates an acceleration compared to the first three quarters of 2025, with total S&P 500 earnings expected to rise by 8.5% year-over-year in Q4 2025 [5] - The positive trend in corporate earnings estimates has been noted, with expectations for continued growth across various sectors as the Q4 earnings season progresses [5] Macroeconomic Outlook - Management teams have provided reassuring commentary on macroeconomic conditions, highlighting favorable consumer spending and stable credit quality trends, with a positive outlook for loan demand and investment banking advisory services [6] - However, growth in these areas may be delayed due to policy uncertainties, including tariffs and Federal Reserve actions, while ongoing discussions about credit card plans present headwinds [6] Sector Insights - The Finance sector, which includes major players like JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Bank of America, accounts for approximately two-thirds of the sector's total earnings, with blended Q4 earnings and revenue growth expectations outlined [7] - The Tech sector is projected to contribute 35.9% of the S&P 500's total earnings over the next four quarters and currently represents 43.1% of the index's total market capitalization, driven by a positive estimate revision trend [16]