Skip to Content
News & Analysis at your fingertips.

We use a range of cookies to give you the best possible browsing experience. By continuing to use this website, you agree to our use of cookies.
You can learn more about our cookie policy here, or by following the link at the bottom of any page on our site. See our updated Privacy Policy here.

Free Trading Guides
Subscribe
Please try again
Select

Live Webinar Events

0

Economic Calendar Events

0

Notify me about

Live Webinar Events
Economic Calendar Events

H

High

M

Medium

L

Low
More View More
Top Sectors and Industries To Watch During 3Q US Earnings

Top Sectors and Industries To Watch During 3Q US Earnings

Ryan Cox, Contributor

Share:

Talking Points:

  • The release of US corporate earnings will give us insight into growth prospect for corporate America
  • We give a breakdown of the sectors and industries to keep an eye on as earnings are reported
  • Want free access to premium content on DailyFX PLUS? Sign up for a 14-day trial here

The US corporate earnings season kicked off yesterday with the release of third quarter results from Alcoa Inc. A slowdown in global growth piloted by China and emerging market economies has stoked fears of a further decline in US growth. In the US, earnings results will be important for determining growth prospects of corporate America and the domestic strength of the US economy. We look more closely at a few important sectors and industries before the newswires heat up.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The information technology sector is related to research and development of technologically based goods and services. Within this sector are manufactures of electronics, software, and computer products or services. The ghost of the Dot.com bubble at the turn of the century still haunts many weathered investors, and technology was at the center of the storm. The technology sector performed admirably since the 2008 financial crisis. Strong earnings have driven growth for the top tech firms which have stockpiled large amounts of cash on hand, though many consider this a sign of risk in itself. Below are some of the larger technology firms that will be reporting earnings over the next two weeks.

FINANCIALS

The financial sector was one of the hardest hit industries by the 2008 financial crisis – dubbed the Great Financial Crisis. It has recovered steadily since with five year returns of 59 percent – though that lags behind the S&P 500 index returns of 73 percent over the same time period. While financial equities have extended their gradual recovery from the 2009 lows, earnings jumped quickly after the crisis amid stimulus and government support and have notably leveled off since. Below are some of the larger financial firms that will be reporting earnings over the next two weeks.

REAL ESTATE

Real estate was at the forefront of the last financial crisis. US home values fell 20 percent nationally from their peak in 2007 – hurting the industry that fueled the incredible climb. US home prices have risen steadily since their late 2011 trough and home values have advanced 3.3 percent over the past year. The real estate industry as a whole has been recovering since the 2009 market bottom and earnings of real estate companies have followed suit. Earnings did peak in 2014 and projected earnings are showing a possible further decline into 2016.

OIL & GAS

The oil and gas industry has been hit hard by the sharp decline in crude oil prices starting in 2014. The industry as a whole has declined 18.5 percent over the last year compared to the S&P 500 increase of 4 percent. As crude oil prices have held low, company earnings have continued to fall. Crude oil broke $50 this week for the first time since July giving some hope for reprieve. Projected earnings for oil and gas companies continue trudge markedly low levels into 2016 and third quarter releases will show how they are managing through prolonged price suppression.

BIOTECHNOLOGY

Biotechnology has proven one of the fast growing industries in the US over the past decade. The industry has outperformed the S&P500 index by 230 percentage points over the last ten years. Investors that have looked to benefit from these companies high growth stocks have kept plenty of cash flowing in to their research and development. Biotechnology stocks have begun to falter as of late although projected earnings are still trending upward. Third quarter earnings could forecast these companies futures going forward.

DailyFX provides forex news and technical analysis on the trends that influence the global currency markets.

DISCLOSURES