Next three weeks will be important for stock market

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John Hintz, CFA
John Hintz, CFA

In the Winch Financial Investment Department it feels like we just completed evaluating first quarter earning’s reports from corporate America.  However, it is now time to start digging through second quarter reported results.

Approximately 75% of S&P 500 companies will be reporting second quarter results over the next three weeks.  While every earning’s season is important, this quarter’s results might be more important than typical.  As reported economic data demonstrated firm signs of growth over the past few months, investors bid the stock market up to all-time highs just last week.

With most stock market valuation metrics being stretched, it is now incumbent on corporate America to come through with strong earning’s results and guidance for future results.  Corporations need to demonstrate that the strong economic data we have been receiving is flowing through to the bottom line.

Last night we received results from the first real corporate stalwart in Alcoa.  Alcoa delivered strong results that handily beat Wall Street consensus sales and earning’s expectations and offered a favorable fundamental and financial outlook.

As I write this short blog, Alcoa’s shares are being rewarded with a 5.7% surge in early trading today and the stock is trading near three-year highs.  Alcoa continues to be a core long-term holding of Winch Financial and we are pleased to see the strong corporate results from Alcoa being recognized by investors.  While second quarter earning’s season is off to a good start on the heels of Alcoa’s results, it is just the first of many company scorecards the Investment Department will be scrutinizing over the coming month.  Given previously mentioned lofty stock market valuations, we are going to need to see more “Alcoa-like” results throughout earnings season to maintain recent stock market strength.