Core Insights - Wall Street has experienced a robust start to the third-quarter 2025 earnings season, with 99 S&P 500 companies reporting their financial results as of October 22 [1][2] Earnings Performance - Total earnings for the 99 companies increased by 13.7% year over year, supported by an 8.2% rise in revenues [2] - A significant 86.9% of these companies exceeded earnings estimates, while 81.8% surpassed revenue estimates; notably, 75.8% beat both earnings and revenue estimates [2] - Overall, S&P 500 earnings are projected to grow by 7.3% year over year, with revenues expected to rise by 6.7% [2] Consumer Discretionary Sector - The consumer discretionary sector has shown moderate growth in the first three quarters of 2025, with expectations for improvement in the fourth quarter [4] - This sector is characterized by long-term growth potential, with share prices sensitive to market interest rate movements [4] Interest Rate Environment - The Federal Reserve cut the benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points in September 2025, with expectations for two additional cuts this year [5] - A low-interest rate environment is anticipated to enhance the net present value of investments in growth stocks, benefiting sectors like consumer discretionary, technology, and cryptocurrency [6] Company Highlights: Carnival Corporation - Carnival Corporation reported adjusted earnings of $1.43 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.32 and the previous year's earnings of $1.27 [11] - Quarterly revenues reached $8.15 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.07 billion and reflecting a 3.3% year-over-year increase [11] - The company is experiencing strong travel demand, higher onboard spending, and disciplined cost management, with forward bookings for 2026 outpacing capacity growth [9][10] Company Highlights: Las Vegas Sands Corp. - Las Vegas Sands reported adjusted earnings of 78 cents per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 62 cents and the previous year's earnings of 44 cents [14] - Quarterly revenues amounted to $3.33 billion, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.01 billion and showing a 24.2% year-over-year increase [14] - The company is benefiting from strong travel demand and improved conditions in Macao and Singapore, focusing on growth through capital investments [15]