13 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · Apr 30
More than 70% of large US companies have reported, putting S&P 500 earnings per share on track for their strongest season in years.
FactSet data show net profit margins at a 15-year high, but historical patterns suggest such rapid growth late in an economic boom often precedes weak 12-month stock returns.
Analysts expect earnings growth of 19.5% this year and 15.7% in 2027, though past boom-time forecasts have often proved too optimistic.
Are today's record profits echoing the ominous market warnings that preceded the crashes of 1929 and 2000?
As tech giants spend trillions on AI, will it create record growth or history's largest financial blind spot?