Report Cards for Corporate America - A Rapid Rundown

Earnings drive stock prices. Profit growth is the fuel for Corporate America. That's the long-term Market theme. However, the Fed has been the greatest impact on the Market in 2022. That will change at some point, and fundamentals will take over again. It changed a little already. Earnings took center stage this week, as investors study the facts of how some of the largest companies in the Stock Market are navigating this challenging environment. Earnings Season brings a lot to learn about the present and the future. We sure learned a lot. 165 companies, representing nearly half of the total value of the S&P 500 index submitted their report cards this week. It included all of the Big Tech names. The Top 5 companies account for 20% of the S&P Market Cap and 15% of earnings. This week mattered. It mattered a lot.