Understand what drives the S&P 500
Every quarter, the biggest companies in the market tell you what's really happening — in their earnings calls. We read them so you don't have to. Below: a sector-by-sector synthesis of the latest S&P 500 earnings calls — who beat, who missed, and the themes moving each sector.
Last updated August 31, 2026 · rolling 90-day window · 11 GICS sectors
Communication Services
The Communication Services sector demonstrated robust performance this quarter, with an impressive 80% of companies beating expectations. A dominant theme across the sector was the…
Consumer Discretionary
The Consumer Discretionary sector showcased resilience this quarter, driven by strong operational execution and strategic initiatives, despite facing headwinds from macroeconomic c…
Consumer Staples
The Consumer Staples sector demonstrated resilience this quarter, driven by strong demand trends and strategic pricing adjustments amidst ongoing inflationary pressures. Notably, c…
Energy
The energy sector delivered a stellar performance this quarter, with all five reporting companies beating earnings expectations. A dominant theme was the strong operational perform…
Financials
The Financials sector exhibited remarkable resilience in Q2 2026, with 78% of companies beating earnings expectations, driven primarily by strong loan growth, robust fee income, an…
Health Care
The Health Care sector exhibited robust performance this quarter, with 85% of companies beating earnings expectations. Key themes driving this positive momentum include strong dema…
Industrials
The industrials sector demonstrated robust performance in the last quarter, with 79% of companies beating earnings expectations, driven primarily by strong demand trends, disciplin…
Information Technology
The Information Technology sector delivered a robust performance this quarter, with 82% of companies beating earnings expectations, largely driven by strong demand for AI-related p…
Materials
The Materials sector exhibited mixed results in Q2 2026, driven by divergent demand trends, pricing pressures, and strategic shifts among key players. A prominent theme was the foc…
Real Estate
The Real Estate sector showcased robust performance in the latest quarter, with 77% of companies beating earnings expectations. Key themes driving this success include strong deman…
Utilities
The utilities sector exhibited robust performance in the last quarter, with an impressive 84% of companies beating earnings expectations. Key themes driving this success include st…