Despite the propaganda of a strengthening economy, financial reality clearly shows that corporate earnings are fading fast. Since corporate sales cannot be increased with a wilting middle class, another round of deep job cuts may likely be required to maintain healthly profits.

Regards - VHF

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Earnings Not Quite Living Up To Expectations

B.I.G.

May 6, 2011

Earnings season took somewhat of a backseat to external market events and the big drop in commodities this week, but if the market had been paying more attention to earnings, maybe it would have fallen even farther. As shown below, just 60% of US companies have beaten earnings per share estimates this earnings season. In the early stages of the reporting period, the "beat rate" was much higher, but it has drifted lower and lower to its current level as earnings season has progressed. More than 1,800 companies have already reported their quarterly numbers this season, and with so few companies left to report, it's going to be hard to bring the overall "beat rate" reading up. If earnings season were to end today, it would have the lowest "beat rate" of any quarter during the current bull market.