• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back

2

When SpaceX starts trading, some 'shareholders' will discover they own nothing at all

3

Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer

1

Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back

2

When SpaceX starts trading, some 'shareholders' will discover they own nothing at all

3

Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer
Finance

How bad will Q2 earnings be?

Anne Sraders
By
Anne Sraders
Anne Sraders
Down Arrow Button Icon
Anne Sraders
By
Anne Sraders
Anne Sraders
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 13, 2020, 11:11 AM ET

This is the quarter we’ve been waiting for.

Since the country plunged into lockdown in March, analysts have long projected the data in the second fiscal quarter of the year would be the most grisly—and we’re about to find out just how bad things actually were.

“The second quarter of 2020 is expected to be the nadir for this earnings recession within the current economic contraction,” CFRA’s Sam Stovall wrote in a Monday note.

But according to Goldman Sachs, the estimates for how bad earnings will be in the second quarter aren’t sober enough: The firm is projecting earnings will plunge 60% year over year, versus the Street consensus of around 44%, analysts at the firm wrote on Friday.

Despite that, analysts at Goldman are actually raising their full-year 2020 S&P 500 earnings estimate from $110 in earnings per share (EPS) to $115 EPS. What’s more, the firm is projecting a far more optimistic outlook in 2021 and 2022—and anticipates that’s what many executives will focus on in earnings calls.

“Given the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., we expect management commentary will prove more important to gauging the forward path of earnings than actual 2Q results,” the analysts wrote.

The firm estimates earnings will recover 48% (reaching $170) next year. Plus, something new: Goldman also introduced a 2022 EPS estimate, at $188 EPS (both above the Street’s consensus).

The main driver for the firm’s better-than-consensus estimates? Goldman’s economists’ estimates for GDP growth this year and next are above consensus, the firm writes. Indeed, economists at the firm wrote on Sunday, “Our baseline economic forecast is consistent with a ‘partial V’ [recovery] with more than half of the output decline reversing by September, but pre-corona GDP levels not achieved until mid-2021.” Elsewhere on Wall Street, some economists are saying we’re actually seeing the start of a reverse square root recovery.

Meanwhile, the market also seems a bit more optimistic, with the S&P 500 having risen over 2% in the past two weeks. “I think it’s safe to say, with the market bouncing back like this, it is expecting solid earnings or better-than-expected earnings,” LPL Financial’s Ryan Detrick recently told Fortune.

That’s what Goldman Sachs is seeing, too. “We—and many investors—expect the coronavirus-induced collapse in profits will be concentrated in 2020,” analysts wrote.

Still, those like Charles Schwab’s chief investment strategist Liz Ann Sonders have long been wary of investors looking into 2021 and 2022 for earnings growth: “Even on 2021 earnings, to the extent you believe them, I don’t think anyone can have conviction in earnings in this environment,” she recently told Fortune. And with valuations for stocks so high, “we’re set up for some risks here,” she told Fortune back in June.

One thing to keep an eye on: big-bank earnings. JPMorgan Chase, First Republic Bank, Wells Fargo, and Citibank are all reporting on Tuesday, and Goldman projects bank earnings will decline by 69% in the second quarter.

Unsurprisingly, tech is supposed to outperform the pack.

More must-read finance coverage from Fortune:

  • If Ernst & Young auditors had done this one thing, they might have uncovered Wirecard’s $2 billion fraud years earlier
  • After overbooking flights in a pandemic, American Airlines is now paying passengers to get off
  • Should Facebook investors ride out the ad boycott—or cash out?
  • Safelite’s CEO on steering the company through crisis—and getting sales back to pre-pandemic levels
  • Former Honeywell CEO David Cote just wrote one of the best guides ever on how to lead a company
About the Author
Anne Sraders
By Anne Sraders
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Finance

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Finance

gavin
North AmericaCalifornia
Newsom called homelessness California’s calling in 2020. His budget still spends less than 0.5% on it
By Benjamin F. Henwood and The ConversationJune 12, 2026
2 hours ago
ss
CommentaryWorld Cup
‘Soccernomics’ co-author: FIFA’s ticket strategy isn’t price discovery, it’s a wealth filter
By Stefan Szymanski and The ConversationJune 12, 2026
2 hours ago
fla
EnvironmentInsurance
Florida’s insurance exodus is triggering a 2008-style chain reaction — with one critical difference
By The ConversationJune 12, 2026
3 hours ago
reagan
Personal FinanceSocial Security
Social Security’s 2032 deadline puts a 22% cut on the table — but Washington has way less room to negotiate than 1983
By John W. Diamond and The ConversationJune 12, 2026
3 hours ago
gill
EconomyWorld Bank
World Bank warns the 2020s are becoming a ‘lost decade’ for the global economy — ‘barring a miracle’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 12, 2026
3 hours ago
owen
Investingbubble
The economist who said ‘no bubble’ just sounded the alarm: ‘The season of chaos is at hand’
By Nick LichtenbergJune 12, 2026
4 hours ago

Most Popular

Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back
Environment
Corporate America has been draining the world's water. Matt Damon's new campaign calls on Gap, Starbucks, and Amazon to help give it back
By Catherina GioinoJune 9, 2026
3 days ago
When SpaceX starts trading, some 'shareholders' will discover they own nothing at all
Investing
When SpaceX starts trading, some 'shareholders' will discover they own nothing at all
By Jim EdwardsJune 12, 2026
11 hours ago
Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer
Energy
Analysts expected oil to surge above $200 but China has quietly kept prices half of that—and can’t for much longer
By Sasha RogelbergJune 10, 2026
2 days ago
Current price of oil as of June 11, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 11, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 11, 2026
1 day ago
American taxpayers have spent $33 billion on sports stadiums. They got fewer seats—and higher prices
Success
American taxpayers have spent $33 billion on sports stadiums. They got fewer seats—and higher prices
By Catherina GioinoJune 11, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of oil as of June 12, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of June 12, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJune 12, 2026
8 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.