Earnings Season: Your Guide To When Each Sector Reports

The fourth-quarter earnings season is imminent, and to capitalize on corporate financial results, knowing when sectors and companies report is key. 

Around the earnings season, the chatter surrounds whether the company hits, misses or exceeds expectations. This invariably triggers at least a near-term move in the stock. Apart from earnings and revenues, some key industry metrics, guidance and commentary on the forward outlook could also move stocks.

Elevated Q4 Expectations

Expectations for the fourth quarter are fairly upbeat, with Factset estimating earnings growth of 10.5 percent for the S&P 500. All 11 S&P 500 sector classes are expected to report earnings growth for the quarter, with energy likely to be the top performer, according to Factset's Earnings Insight. About 4 percent of the S&P 500 companies have reported their results so far.

Corporate profit growth has been robust in recent times despite talk of an imminent slowdown. Profit growth has been identified as one of the key factors responsible for the market's bull run.

See also: Current Economic Expansion Into Its Ninth Year; How It Fares Compared To Predecessors

Here's a rough itinerary of when each sector reports. 

Early Reporters

An assorted group of companies, mostly in the software sector, report earnings roughly a month ahead of the official start of the reporting season. Some of the noteworthy companies reporting well ahead of the start of the season are:

• Adobe Systems Incorporated ADBE
• Costco Wholesale Corporation COST
• Jabil Inc JBL
• Oracle Corporation ORCL
• Darden Restaurants, Inc. DRI
• FedEx Corporation FDX
• Micron Technology, Inc. MU
• Red Hat Inc RHT
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. BBBY
• General Mills, Inc. GIS
• Finish Line Inc FINL
• Accenture Plc ACN
• CarMax, Inc KMX
• Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. HOV
• Paychex, Inc. PAYX
• Nike Inc NKE

Pre-earnings Week

• Homebuilders

Week 1

• Big banks
• Regional banks

Week 2

• Banks
• Technology
• Transportation
• Big pharma
• Defense contractors
• Oilfield services
• Online brokerage
• Toy
• Casino and resort operating companies

Week 3

• Defense contractors
• Financial services
• Banks 
• Technology 
• Insurance/reinsurance
• Health care
• Transportation
• Steel
• Housing
• Energy
• Pharma
• Auto/auto parts retailers Media
• Payment processors

Week 4

• Entertainment
• Auto/auto parts retailers
• Restaurants
• Energy 
• Gaming software
• Utility

Week 5

• Real estate investment trusts
• Energy 
• Travel, tour operators and hotels
• Food

Week 6 & 7

• Retail
• Energy 

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