Core Viewpoint - The upcoming earnings season for U.S. stocks is expected to face significant challenges due to rising tariff costs, leading to a substantial slowdown in profit growth for S&P 500 companies [1][2]. Group 1: Earnings Growth Expectations - S&P 500's earnings per share (EPS) growth is projected to decline sharply from 12% in Q1 to only 4% in Q2, primarily due to increased pressure on profit margins [1][2]. - The effective tariff rate in the U.S. has risen from 3% at the beginning of the year to 13%, with expectations of further increases to 17% [1]. - Analysts predict that the EPS growth for the S&P 500 in Q2 will be the smallest increase in nearly two years, with a forecasted growth of only 2.6% from April to June [1][2]. Group 2: Sector Performance - Cyclical sectors such as energy, materials, and consumer discretionary are expected to see the largest declines in earnings, with energy projected to drop by 28% and materials and consumer discretionary both by 7% [3]. - Conversely, technology and communication services are expected to perform strongly, with projected earnings growth of 18% and 28%, respectively, which will help offset some negative impacts on overall S&P 500 earnings [3]. Group 3: Sales and Capital Expenditure Outlook - Despite tariff pressures, the sales outlook for the S&P 500 remains robust, with nominal GDP growth expected to average 4.5% in 2025 and 5.0% in 2026 [4]. - There is significant variation in capital expenditure expectations across industries, with sectors heavily exposed to AI, such as utilities and information technology, seeing the largest adjustments in capital spending [4]. - Major firms have maintained or increased their capital expenditure forecasts for 2025, indicating confidence in long-term growth despite current challenges [4]. Group 4: 2025 Profitability Outlook - The global tariff policy has caused volatility in the U.S. stock market, but the S&P 500 has rebounded due to signs of economic resilience and optimism regarding Federal Reserve rate cuts [5]. - Goldman Sachs maintains a forecast of 7% EPS growth for the S&P 500 in 2025, projecting EPS to reach $262, although this is lower than the consensus estimate of $300 [5]. - The S&P 500 is expected to rise by 5% over the next 12 months, with a target price of 6,500 points, based on a price-to-earnings ratio of 22 times future EPS [5].