S&P 500 Q4 EPS estimates rise 1.4% in October, FactSet says
SPY•Analysts raised S&P 500 fourth-quarter 2026 EPS estimates 1.4% to $94.79 between September 30 and October 29. Full-year 2026 estimates rose 0.6% to $363.94.
1. Quarterly estimates rise
Analysts raised fourth-quarter 2026 S&P 500 EPS estimates to $94.79 from $93.49 between September 30 and October 29, marking the third consecutive quarter of first-month upgrades. The average first-month change over the past decade was a 1.3% decline.
2. Sector changes vary
Energy led sector upgrades with a 20.3% increase, while consumer staples had the largest reduction, at 4%. Five of the 11 sectors recorded higher estimates and five saw declines. Full-year 2026 EPS estimates increased to $363.94 from $361.80 over the same period.
