Second Quarter Sector Beat Rates

We separated the more than 2,300 US stocks that have reported earnings since early July into their respective sectors and calculated the percentage that beat earnings estimates.  As shown below, the Industrials sector takes the title for the second-quarter reporting period with a "beat" rate of 70.1%.  Industrials are trailed by Consumer Staples at 64.7% and Health Care at 63%.  Overall, just under 60% of companies beat earnings estimates, which is inline with the prior two earnings seasons.  Financials and Telecom were the only two sectors that had a "beat" rate of less than 50%.