May 04

Earnings Watch: Expectations remain high

Equities 8 minutes to read
Picture of Peter Garnry
Peter Garnry

Chief Investment Strategist

Summary:  Q3 earnings reports continue to trickle in even though the season has officially ended. One of the most striking features is the widespread optimism on what lies ahead despite rising uncertainty around the globe.


The official Q3 earnings season has ended but many companies are not following the usual calendar and thus earnings releases are still being published. This week around 36 earnings are released with no major companies reporting important earnings.

Given the US-China trade war and rising uncertainty this year with global equities down 3% it is quite interesting to observe that 12-month forward EBITDA estimates are still up for the year. Even more strikingly, it has remained very stable throughout the year and even during October when you would have imagined sell-side analysts to have reduced their estimates.

It seems like the equity market is too complacent as the recession risk is rising and for equity analysts not revising their numbers down it’s a dangerous sign. It’s very likely that current forward estimates are too optimistic going into 2019.
chart
Source: Saxo Bank
Usually we only highlight the major companies reporting earnings but in this week’s Earnings Watch we focus on names we don't usually focus on.

Toll Brothers

Reports FY18 Q4 earnings on Tuesday (aft-mkt) with analysts expecting EPS $1.83 up 55% y/y and revenue at $2.35bn up 16% y/y. It has been a tough year for Toll Brothers with the stock price down 31% mostly driven by lower sentiment on US housing as rising interest rate expectations have slowed housing starts and permits. Last quarter showed better than expected orders intake and margins are still stable despite concerns over cost headwinds. The earnings release is the first since Fed chair Powell’s latest speech slowing interest rate expectations, so any comments from management on the US housing market given these developments are of interest to investors in general.

Lululemon Athletica

Reports Q3 earnings on Wednesday (aft-mkt) with analysts expecting EPS $0.69 up 24% y/y and revenue at $736mn up 19% y/y. This is a highly anticipated earnings release as many momentum traders have been buying into the incredible strength this year as the share price has risen 69% despite ongoing weakness across the board in the US equities. The stock is richly valued at 12-month trailing EV/EBITDA ratio at 24.2 which is almost double global equities. High valuations always increase the risk over an earnings release so we expect volatility to be high around this earnings release.

Momo

Reports Q3 earnings on Wednesday (bef-mkt) with analysts expecting EPS $0.53 up 18% and revenue at $533mn up 50% y/y. Momo is a social media company based in China and has been profitable for the past four years showing margin expansion. The company has historically surprised against earnings estimates. The stock price typically moves around 11% over the earnings release.

The table below shows the 30 largest companies reporting earnings this week.
 
chart

Outrageous Predictions 2026

01 /

  • Executive Summary: Outrageous Predictions 2026

    Outrageous Predictions

    Executive Summary: Outrageous Predictions 2026

    Saxo Group

    Read Saxo's Outrageous Predictions for 2026, our latest batch of low probability, but high impact ev...
  • A Fortune 500 company names an AI model as CEO

    Outrageous Predictions

    A Fortune 500 company names an AI model as CEO

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Can AI be trusted to take over in the boardroom? With the right algorithms and balanced human oversi...
  • Dollar dominance challenged by Beijing’s golden yuan

    Outrageous Predictions

    Dollar dominance challenged by Beijing’s golden yuan

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Beijing does an end-run around the US dollar, setting up a framework for settling trade in a neutral...
  • Obesity drugs for everyone – even for pets

    Outrageous Predictions

    Obesity drugs for everyone – even for pets

    Jacob Falkencrone

    Global Head of Investment Strategy

    The availability of GLP-1 drugs in pill form makes them ubiquitous, shrinking waistlines, even for p...
  • Dumb AI triggers trillion-dollar clean-up

    Outrageous Predictions

    Dumb AI triggers trillion-dollar clean-up

    Jacob Falkencrone

    Global Head of Investment Strategy

    Agentic AI systems are deployed across all sectors, and after a solid start, mistakes trigger a tril...
  • Quantum leap Q-Day arrives early, crashing crypto and destabilizing world finance

    Outrageous Predictions

    Quantum leap Q-Day arrives early, crashing crypto and destabilizing world finance

    Neil Wilson

    Investor Content Strategist

    A quantum computer cracks today’s digital security, bringing enough chaos with it that Bitcoin crash...
  • Taylor Swift-Kelce wedding spikes global growth

    Outrageous Predictions

    Taylor Swift-Kelce wedding spikes global growth

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    Next year’s most anticipated wedding inspires Gen Z to drop the doomscrolling and dial up the real w...
  • SpaceX announces an IPO, supercharging extraterrestrial markets

    Outrageous Predictions

    SpaceX announces an IPO, supercharging extraterrestrial markets

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    Financial markets go into orbit, to the moon and beyond as SpaceX expands rocket launches by orders-...
  • Britain’s Great EU Backdoor Return

    Outrageous Predictions

    Britain’s Great EU Backdoor Return

    Neil Wilson

    Investor Content Strategist

    Faced with rolling fiscal, economic, trade and political crises the UK government sneaks back into t...
  • Despite concerns, U.S. 2026 mid-term elections proceed smoothly

    Outrageous Predictions

    Despite concerns, U.S. 2026 mid-term elections proceed smoothly

    John J. Hardy

    Global Head of Macro Strategy

    In spite of outstanding threats to the American democratic process, the US midterms come and go cord...

This content is marketing material. 

None of the information provided on this website constitutes an offer, solicitation, or endorsement to buy or sell any financial instrument, nor is it financial, investment, or trading advice. Saxo Capital Market Ltd. (SCML) provides execution-only services, with all trades and investments based on self-directed decisions. Analysis, research, and educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered advice or a recommendation.

SCML content may reflect the personal views of the author, which are subject to change without notice. Mentions of specific financial products are for illustrative purposes only and may serve to clarify financial literacy topics. Content classified as investment research is marketing material and does not meet legal requirements for independent research.

SCML partners with companies that provide compensation for promotional activities conducted on its platform. Some partners also pay retrocessions contingent on clients investing in products from those partners. 

While SCML receives compensation from these partnerships, all educational and research content remains focused on providing information to clients.

Before making any investment decisions, you should assess your own financial situation, needs, and objectives, and consider seeking independent professional advice. SCML does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information provided and assumes no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages resulting from the use of this information.

Please refer to our full disclaimer and notification on non-independent investment research for more details.

Saxo
40 Bank Street, 26th floor
E14 5DA
London
United Kingdom

Contact Saxo

Select region

United Kingdom
United Kingdom

Trade Responsibly
All trading carries risk. To help you understand the risks involved we have put together a series of Key Information Documents (KIDs) highlighting the risks and rewards related to each product. Read more
Additional Key Information Documents are available in our trading platform.

Saxo is a registered Trading Name of Saxo Capital Markets UK Ltd (‘Saxo’). Saxo is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, Firm Reference Number 551422. Registered address: 26th Floor, 40 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DA. Company number 7413871. Registered in England & Wales.

This website, including the information and materials contained in it, are not directed at, or intended for distribution to or use by, any person or entity who is a citizen or resident of or located in the United States, Belgium or any other jurisdiction where such distribution, publication, availability or use would be contrary to applicable law or regulation.

It is important that you understand that with investments, your capital is at risk. Past performance is not a guide to future performance. It is your responsibility to ensure that you make an informed decision about whether or not to invest with us. If you are still unsure if investing is right for you, please seek independent advice. Saxo assumes no liability for any loss sustained from trading in accordance with a recommendation.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.

©   since 1992