Zacks Earnings Trends Highlights: Pepsi, FedEx and Nike

For Immediate ReleaseChicago, IL – October 10, 2024 – Zacks Director of Research Sheraz Mian says, "Estimates have come down since the start of the period, with the current +3.1% growth pace down from +6.9% at the start of July."A Detailed Analysis of Q3 Earnings ExpectationsNote: The following is an excerpt from this week’sEarnings Trends report. You can access the full report that contains detailed historical actual and estimates for the current and following periods, please click here>>>Here are the key points:Estimates for 2024 Q3 came down since the start of the quarter on July 1st, with the magnitude of estimate cuts significantly bigger than what we had seen in the comparable periods of other recent quarters. This negative shift in the revisions trend sharply contrasts the prior favorable development on this front in recent quarters.Total S&P 500 earnings are currently expected to be up +3.1% from the same period last year on +4.4% higher revenues. Estimates came down since the start of the period, with the current +3.1% growth pace down from +6.9% at the start of July.2024 Q3 is the 5th consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth (up +11.5%) for the Tech sector. Excluding the Tech sector’s contribution, Q3 earnings for the rest of the index would be down -0.2%.Earnings growth is expected to accelerate after the modest growth in Q3, with double-digit earnings growth forecasted for the S&P 500 index in each of the following four quarters.Not only is the year-over-year growth pace in aggregate earnings expected to accelerate over the next four periods, but the absolute dollar level of quarterly earnings is expected to reach new all-time records in each quarter. Analyzing the Early Q3 Earnings ReportsThe Q3 earnings season will really get going with the big banks coming out with their results. However, the reporting cycle has already gotten underway, with Pepsi PEP becoming the latest S&P 500 member to come out with quarterly results. Pepsi’s report on October 8th was for the company’s September quarter. The other 21 S&P 500 members that have reported already in recent days were for their fiscal quarters ending in August, which we count as part of the September quarter tally.Pepsi came out with a slight EPS beat but missed on the top line and also modestly cut guidance. As problematic as this mixed showing suggests, Pepsi’s Q3 results and guidance were actually better than what many in the market feared. In other words, the mixed showing from Pepsi isn’t the same as the problematic reports from FedEx FDX and Nike NKE a few days earlier in this cycle. Importantly, Pepsi reiterated the existing long-term earnings growth guidance.We provide a scorecard of the 22 S&P 500 members that have already reported Q3 in the body of the report. Looking at the results in terms of recent history, we see that the earnings and revenue growth pace for these 22 index members represents a decelerating trend, while the EPS and revenue beat percentages at this stage are tracking modestly below the historical averages for this same group of companies.The Earnings Big PictureWe noted earlier how the revisions trend has been notably negative ahead of the start of the Q3 earnings season.This is a more significant decline to estimates relative to the comparable periods for the two preceding quarters. The negative revisions trend is widespread and not concentrated in one or two sectors, with estimates for 14 of the 16 Zacks sectors getting cut over this period. The Tech and Finance sectors are the only ones enjoying positive estimate revisions over this period.The negative revisions trend has been most pronounced for the Transportation and Energy sectors. We know that Energy sector estimates come under pressure when oil prices decline, with a softening oil price backdrop typically serving as a catalyst for positive estimate revision trends in the Transportation sector since fuel expenses are so costly. However, the weakening revisions trend for the Transportation sector shows that operators in the space are faced with softening demand trends as well.The quarterly earnings growth pace is expected to improve from next quarter onwards.Please note that this year’s +7.8% earnings growth on only +1.9% top-line gains reflects revenue weakness in the Finance sector. Excluding the Finance sector, the earnings growth pace changes to +7.3%, and the revenue growth rate improves to +4.3%. In other words, about half of this year’s earnings growth comes from revenue growth, with margin gains accounting for the rest.Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.0 average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +44.9%, +48.4% and +55.2% per year.Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.See Stocks Free >>Media ContactZacks Investment Research800-767-3771 ext. 9339support@zacks.comhttps://www.zacks.comZacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.This top pick is among the most innovative financial firms. With a fast-growing customer base (already 50+ million) and a diverse set of cutting edge solutions, this stock is poised for big gains. Of course, all our elite picks aren’t winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Nano-X Imaging which shot up +129.6% in little more than 9 months.Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report NIKE, Inc. (NKE): Free Stock Analysis Report PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP): Free Stock Analysis Report FedEx Corporation (FDX): Free Stock Analysis ReportTo read this article on Zacks.com click here.Zacks Investment ResearchWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Zacks