Oct. 26 - With over half of the earnings reported for the S&P 500 the numbers are coming in ahead of expectation, which considering two thirds of the issues historically beat their estimates, doesn't say that much.
Specifically 65% of the issues beat their operating estimate, with 44% beating last year's earnings; 68% beat their sales, with just 29% beating their last year's sales and 45% of the companies beat their As Reported number from last year. So far there have been few items and fewer major charges, as evident by the fact that the bottom line for both Operating and As Reported, at least so far, are the same.
