Research Briefing | May 4, 2021

US | Q1 earnings: upward revisions continue for now

US earnings growth continues to surprise to the upside, with more cyclical sectors leading the way in the Q1 earnings season. This positive momentum supports our existing overweights on Financials, Materials and Industrials.

However, longer-term expectations appear overly optimistic. The bottom-up consensus points to an ongoing profit margin expansion over the next few years and we think this is unlikely against a backdrop of rising cost pressures and proposals for higher corporate tax rates.

We see scope for downward revisions to EPS forecasts as attention turns towards 2022 later this year, and this could prove a headwind for US equities in the context of elevated valuation multiples.

Back to Resource Hub

Related Services

Post

Trump policies provide tailwinds for industries, with exceptions in Japan

We expect the impact of Trump policies will be a net positive for Japan. The boost from higher import demand due to expansionary fiscal policies will likely overwhelm the adverse impact of targeted tariffs on Japan. The US is Japan's biggest goods export destination, accounting for 20% of total. Most traded items such as machinery and automotives are set to benefit from higher investment demand and consumer spending.

Find Out More

Post

Alberta’s success at attracting migrants is building pressures

Alberta's population has grown rapidly over the last three years, driven by a surge in international migration.

Find Out More