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Wall Street Benchmarks Rise as Earnings Season Approaches

lite News Desk 2 min read

At a glance

  • All major U.S. equity indexes closed the week with gains.
  • S&P 500 rose about 0.6% for the week ending October 9, 2026.
  • Analysts project strong year-over-year earnings growth for Q3.

Wall Street’s main stock indexes ended the week higher as investors prepared for the start of the third-quarter earnings season, which is scheduled to begin the week of October 12, 2026.

The S&P 500 increased by roughly 0.6% over the week, reflecting positive sentiment ahead of upcoming corporate results. All three major U.S. equity benchmarks recorded gains during this period.

Analyst forecasts indicate that S&P 500 companies are expected to deliver year-over-year earnings growth of approximately 29.5% for the third quarter. FactSet’s projections are similar, with an estimated 29.6% increase in earnings compared to the same period last year.

According to market research, all 11 sectors within the S&P 500 are anticipated to report growth in both revenues and earnings for the third quarter, which is described as an uncommon occurrence. This broad-based growth outlook has contributed to the positive market performance observed at the end of the week.

What the numbers show

  • The S&P 500 rose about 0.6% for the week ending October 9, 2026.
  • Analysts expect S&P 500 earnings growth of around 29.5% to 29.6% year-over-year for Q3.
  • Major U.S. banks are projected to report nearly US$19 billion in trading revenue for the quarter.

FactSet’s analysis also notes the potential for S&P 500 earnings growth to exceed 35% for the third quarter, based on historical reporting trends. This projection is in line with other analyst expectations for strong corporate performance during this period.

Major U.S. banks are forecasted to generate close to US$19 billion in trading revenue for the quarter. This figure highlights the role of the financial sector in the broader earnings outlook for the S&P 500.

Veteran strategist Ed Yardeni described the third quarter as “shaping up to be another blockbuster” for corporate results, reflecting the consensus among market analysts regarding the anticipated strength of earnings reports.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.

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