Yahoo Finance·2026-01-28 13:30Group 1 - The fourth quarter earnings season is gaining momentum, with major tech companies like Microsoft, Meta, Tesla, and Apple leading the earnings calendar [1] - A consensus is forming among analysts, with 13% of S&P 500 companies having reported fourth quarter results, and an estimated 8.2% increase in earnings per share for the quarter, marking the potential for the 10th consecutive quarter of annual earnings growth for the index [2] - Analysts had initially expected an 8.3% increase in earnings per share, a decrease from the previous quarter's 13.6% growth rate, but have since raised expectations, particularly for tech companies [3] Group 2 - The earnings season will not only focus on Big Tech but will also include updates from a diverse range of companies such as UnitedHealth, Boeing, General Motors, IBM, Starbucks, and others, indicating a broad economic impact [4][5]