Worst earnings season since 2011 awaits investors Worst earnings season since 2011 awaits investors Worst earnings season since 2011 awaits investors

Worst earnings season since 2011 awaits investors

Equities 7 minutes to read
Peter Garnry

Head of Saxo Strats

Summary:  The market is clearly nervous going into the Q2 earnings season as investors have been flying blind into the storm with few companies providing an outlook in Q1. Expectations are looking for the worst earnings in the S&P 500 since late 2011 and if yesterday's disappointing earnings from Walgreens are any guidance it will be some tough weeks ahead for investors. The most important earnings to watch will be those from technology giants such as Amazon, Apple, Alphabet (Google), Facebook, Microsoft and Nvidia as these companies dominate the S&P 500 Index.


Earnings per share in the S&P 500 dropped 31.5% q/q in Q1 and estimates for Q2 as of 30 June were looking for another decline of 14.5% q/q in Q2. This obviously sounds like a recipe for disaster in the equity market, but the fact is that investors have looked over “the earnings valley” in the expectation of a V-shape recovery in the economy and corporate earnings. Sell-side analysts are backing this view with their estimates showing that corporate earnings are expected to be back to Q4 2019 levels at around Q2 2021 (see chart). As we have pointed out for a while on our daily podcast there is a disconnect between this prediction and then the forward curve on dividend futures suggesting corporate profitability measured by dividends will not return pre-COVID-19 levels for many years. Which prediction is correct investors will find out over time and maybe this Q2 earnings season will give clues?

Walgreens reported earnings yesterday with EPS missing estimates by 30% and FY20 outlook that was 13% below estimates on top of 4,000 job cuts in the UK and suspension of its share buyback programme. Investors were not pleased with the outlook and the shares were down 8%. With 80% of the companies in the S&P 500 pulling their guidance in Q1 investors have basically been flying blindly into the storm and mains questions are whether companies will provide guidance again and if not, how investors will react? If Walgreens earnings result is weak guidance, then the Q2 earnings season will shape up to be dramatic confirming why the VIX Index remains elevated around the 30 level.

Source: Saxo Group

Walgreens’ fiscal year is not following the calendar year, so their earnings release yesterday is typically not considered part of the Q2 season but with two fiscal months overlapping the Q2 calendar quarter it is indeed part of this earnings season. But next week is the real start to the Q2 earnings season with 34 companies in the S&P 500 reporting earnings (see list below). We would highlight three things to watch next week: 1) financials, 2) Delta Air Lines, and 3) Netflix. Financials are dominating the week and the focus will obviously be on loan losses which rose dramatically in Q1 and is the key reason why the Fed is recommending banks to hold back on dividends to build up their buffers against loan losses. Delta Air Lines will be the first airliner to report numbers for Q2 and it will be interesting to see whether management dares provide a guidance for FY20. Netflix is part of the group of online/technology stocks that has been pushed higher this year as investors have shifted portfolio exposure towards growth stocks. Netflix is coming into the earnings season with very high expectations for revenue growth (estimates are looking for 23% y/y growth in revenue) and investors are increasingly demanding a visible path to being cash flow positive. 

NameIndustry groupMarket cap (USD mn.)DatePeriod
PepsiCo IncFood, Beverage & Tobacco184,1357/13/2020FY20 Q2
JPMorgan Chase & CoBanks278,1327/14/2020FY20 Q2
Fastenal CoCapital Goods24,7567/14/2020FY20 Q2
First Republic Bank/CABanks17,5247/14/2020FY20 Q2
Delta Air Lines IncTransportation16,3597/14/2020FY20 Q2
Citigroup IncBanks102,9457/14/2020FY20 Q2
Wells Fargo & CoBanks98,5647/14/2020FY20 Q2
Bank of New York Mellon Corp/TDiversified Financials32,8947/15/2020FY20 Q2
PNC Financial Services Group IBanks41,9387/15/2020FY20 Q2
UnitedHealth Group IncHealth Care Equipment & Servic276,1307/15/2020FY20 Q2
US BancorpBanks51,5457/15/2020FY20 Q2
Goldman Sachs Group Inc/TheDiversified Financials70,5617/15/2020FY20 Q2
Bank of America CorpBanks197,5447/16/2020FY20 Q2
Cintas CorpCommercial & Professional Serv27,6927/16/2020FY20 Q2
Charles Schwab Corp/TheDiversified Financials43,6187/16/2020FY20 Q2
Truist Financial CorpBanks45,2907/16/2020FY20 Q2
Johnson & JohnsonPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology375,4037/16/2020FY20 Q2
Domino's Pizza IncConsumer Services15,0807/16/2020FY20 Q2
Abbott LaboratoriesHealth Care Equipment & Servic165,6887/16/2020FY20 Q2
Morgan StanleyDiversified Financials74,8597/16/2020FY20 Q2
Netflix IncMedia & Entertainment223,3157/16/2020FY20 Q2
PPG Industries IncMaterials24,7897/16/2020FY20 Q2
JB Hunt Transport Services IncTransportation13,1837/16/2020FY20 Q2
Citizens Financial Group IncBanks9,6977/17/2020FY20 Q2
Regions Financial CorpBanks9,4347/17/2020FY20 Q2
Progressive Corp/TheInsurance45,5387/17/2020FY20 Q2
Honeywell International IncCapital Goods99,2207/17/2020FY20 Q2
Dover CorpCapital Goods13,6557/17/2020FY20 Q2
E*TRADE Financial CorpDiversified Financials10,8647/17/2020FY20 Q2
Omnicom Group IncMedia & Entertainment11,0707/17/2020FY20 Q2
Danaher CorpHealth Care Equipment & Servic131,3037/17/2020FY20 Q2
Kansas City SouthernTransportation13,5737/17/2020FY20 Q2
BlackRock IncDiversified Financials84,2857/17/2020FY20 Q2
State Street CorpDiversified Financials21,7027/17/2020FY20 Q2

Looking further into the future the list below shows the 30 largest stocks in the S&P 500 Index. These are the key names to watch as they represent 44% of the S&P 500. Already by 31 July, after three weeks of earnings, we will know the shape and hopefully a trajectory of US corporate earnings. Technology earnings hold the key to overall market sentiment and levels in US equities so names such as Amazon, Alphabet, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple and Nvidia must deliver for equities to remain at current levels. Our advice to investors is to be cautious going into the Q2 earnings season and avoiding having full exposure in equities as it could become a volatile summer.

NameIndustry groupMarket cap (USD mn.)Report date
PepsiCo IncFood, Beverage & Tobacco184,1357/13/2020
JPMorgan Chase & CoBanks278,1327/14/2020
UnitedHealth Group IncHealth Care Equipment & Servic276,1307/15/2020
Johnson & JohnsonPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology375,4037/16/2020
Netflix IncMedia & Entertainment223,3157/16/2020
Bank of America CorpBanks197,5447/16/2020
Microsoft CorpSoftware & Services1,625,2837/22/2020
Intel CorpSemiconductors & Semiconductor247,3507/23/2020
AT&T IncTelecommunication Services210,4737/23/2020
Amazon.com IncRetailing1,587,4207/24/2020
Alphabet IncMedia & Entertainment1,033,9127/24/2020
Verizon Communications IncTelecommunication Services223,2037/24/2020
Visa IncSoftware & Services373,5607/28/2020
Pfizer IncPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology185,8657/28/2020
Facebook IncMedia & Entertainment697,1527/29/2020
PayPal Holdings IncSoftware & Services215,1417/29/2020
Apple IncTechnology Hardware & Equipmen1,658,8807/30/2020
Procter & Gamble Co/TheHousehold & Personal Products303,2177/30/2020
Mastercard IncSoftware & Services295,6927/30/2020
Comcast CorpMedia & Entertainment179,3267/30/2020
Merck & Co IncPharmaceuticals, Biotechnology193,5737/31/2020
Exxon Mobil CorpEnergy174,8797/31/2020
Berkshire Hathaway IncDiversified Financials434,8928/3/2020
Walt Disney Co/TheMedia & Entertainment210,9908/4/2020
Cisco Systems IncTechnology Hardware & Equipmen197,1818/12/2020
NVIDIA CorpSemiconductors & Semiconductor258,5218/16/2020
Home Depot Inc/TheRetailing266,6878/18/2020
Walmart IncFood & Staples Retailing361,7828/18/2020
salesforce.com IncSoftware & Services180,8678/23/2020
Adobe IncSoftware & Services221,0499/15/2020

In terms of sectors the chart illustrates expectations across sectors ahead of earnings. Analysts have remained relatively bullish on utilities, information technology, health care, consumer staples and telecommunication services. In other words, expectations are the highest here and thus represent the biggest downside risk to the market if these expectations are not met. It also worth noting that expectations for earnings in the real estate sector are continuing down which is a bad signal for banks and eventually overall credit flow as worsening collateral on real estate could force banks to tighten credit standards even more. Also note that the energy sector is missing but that is because earnings expectations are down 72% from 23 March and would destroy readability of the chart. The two sectors with the worst expectations are consumer discretionary and energy where analysts are expecting negative aggregate earnings as the lockdowns have hit these two sectors the hardest in Q2.

Disclaimer

The Saxo Group entities each provide execution-only service, and access to analysis permitting a person to view and/or use content available on or via the website is not intended to and does not change or expand on this. Such access and use are at all times subject to (i) The Terms of Use; (ii) Full Disclaimer; (iii) The Risk Warning; (iv) the Inspiration Disclaimer and (v) Notices applying to Trade Inspiration, Saxo News & Research and/or its content in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of hyperlinks on the website of a member of the Saxo Group by which access to Saxo News & Research is gained. Such content is therefore provided as no more than information. In particular, no advice is intended to be provided or to be relied on as provided nor endorsed by any Saxo Group entity; nor is it to be construed as solicitation or an incentive provided to subscribe for or sell or purchase any financial instrument. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. As such no Saxo Group entity will have or be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information which is available on Saxo News & Research or as a result of the use of the Saxo News & Research. Orders given and trades effected are deemed intended to be given or effected for the account of the customer with the Saxo Group entity operating in the jurisdiction in which the customer resides and/or with whom the customer opened and maintains his/her trading account. Saxo News & Research does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication under relevant laws.

Please read our disclaimers:
Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)
Full disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-sg/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)

None of the information contained here constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument, or to make any investments. Saxo Markets does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information nor for any loss arising from any investment made in reliance of this presentation. Any opinions made are subject to change and may be personal to the author. These may not necessarily reflect the opinion of Saxo Markets or its affiliates.

Saxo Markets
88 Market Street
CapitaSpring #31-01
Singapore 048948

Contact Saxo

Select region

Singapore
Singapore

Saxo Capital Markets Pte Ltd ('Saxo Markets') is a company authorised and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) [Co. Reg. No.: 200601141M ] and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saxo Bank A/S, headquartered in Denmark. Please refer to our General Business Terms & Risk Warning to consider whether acquiring or continuing to hold financial products is suitable for you, prior to opening an account and investing in a financial product.

Trading in financial instruments carries various risks, and is not suitable for all investors. Please seek expert advice, and always ensure that you fully understand these risks before trading. Trading in leveraged products such as Margin FX products may result in your losses exceeding your initial deposits. Saxo Markets does not provide financial advice, any information available on this website is ‘general’ in nature and for informational purposes only. Saxo Markets does not take into account an individual’s needs, objectives or financial situation.

The Saxo trading platform has received numerous awards and recognition. For details of these awards and information on awards visit www.home.saxo/en-sg/about-us/awards.

The information or the products and services referred to on this website may be accessed worldwide, however is only intended for distribution to and use by recipients located in countries where such use does not constitute a violation of applicable legislation or regulations. Products and Services offered on this website are not intended for residents of the United States, Malaysia and Japan. Please click here to view our full disclaimer.

This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Apple and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc, registered in the US and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.