Welcome to this week’s Money Wise, where we recap the week in markets and highlight the stories shaping investor behavior. In the week that just passed, markets continued their upward momentum this week, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average gaining about 0.5%, the S&P 500 rising roughly 0.9%, and the Nasdaq advancing around 1.2%. Year to date, all three major indexes remain solidly positive, with the Dow up 3%, the S&P 500 up 5.6%, and the Nasdaq leading at 8.2%. The Money Wise guys note that both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reached new all-time highs by the end of the week, extending the market’s recent strength.
A major focus of the discussion centered on the strength of corporate earnings and their role in driving the market higher, even as geopolitical concerns and rising oil prices remain in the background. A large percentage of companies reporting so far have exceeded expectations on both earnings and revenue, with growth rates coming in well above historical averages. The guys emphasize that while short-term market movements can be influenced by headlines and sentiment, long-term performance continues to be driven by fundamentals. The broader takeaway reinforced that strong earnings growth is currently outweighing external concerns, keeping markets focused on underlying business performance rather than short-term noise.
Earnings Strength Leads the Way
Earnings strength has been a key driver of the market’s recent momentum, with a large majority of companies reporting results that exceed expectations. Both earnings per share and revenue growth have come in above historical averages, reinforcing the underlying health of corporate fundamentals. This level of performance has helped support equity prices even as external factors like geopolitical tensions and energy prices remain in the background. For investors, it highlights how sustained earnings growth continues to play a central role in driving long-term market trends.
In the second hour, the Money Wise guys give listenters a peek into what Wall Street Won’t Tell You. You don’t want to miss the details! Tune in for the full discussion on your favorite podcast provider or at davidsoncap.com, where you can also learn more about the Money Wise guys or take advantage of a portfolio review and analysis with Davidson Capital Management.