o The total profit of S&P 500 companies in the second quarter of 2026 is projected to increase by 52% compared to the same period last year.
- Approximately 85% of more than 450 S&P 500 companies that have reported earnings so far have exceeded market consensus (expectations).
o One of the main drivers of this strong earnings performance is the increase in equity holdings and valuation gains for AI-related companies.
- Goldman Sachs analyzed that AI infrastructure-related stocks accounted for about one-third of the S&P 500's EPS growth in the second quarter.
Given this trend, it appears that the AI theme is not just hype but is actually improving the profitability of these companies.
While current AI investments are boosting earnings, it remains to be seen whether massive capital injections will continue to generate sufficient returns in the future. We need to keep a close eye on this.
▶ Original source: https://www.reuters.com/business/gains-ai-company-stakes-juice-second-quarter-earnings-sp-500-2026-08-20/
