Trick or trend: We’re seeing a near record earnings performance and an almost record increase in earnings estimates

Trick or trend: We’re seeing a near record earnings performance and an almost record increase in earnings estimates

Wall Street analysts have increased their 2021 forecast for S&P 500 earnings by 3.6% to $170.3 a share in January. That’s the biggest jump in earnings estimates in January for any year dating back to 2013 except the revisions in 2018 on the heels of the December 2017 tax cuts. Of course, a good part of this higher estimate is already figured into stock prices.