US companies’ earnings are growing at the fastest pace in four years, defying predictions that President Donald Trump’s trade war would trigger a slowdown across corporate America.
Median earnings growth year-on-year across the Russell 3000 index — a benchmark for the entire US stock market — hit 11 per cent in the third quarter, up from 6 per cent in the previous three months, according to Morgan Stanley. That is the fastest growth rate since the third quarter of 2021.
Six of the 11 sectors that make up the blue-chip S&P 500 index have reported positive average earnings growth in the three months to September, according to Deutsche Bank analysts, up from just two — financials and megacap technology stocks — between April and June.