Stocks

S&P 500 Earnings Soar 50% Year-Over-Year Amid AI-Fueled Growth

Guavy AI Editorial Team Published August 18, 2026

Instruments

HD WMT

The second quarter earnings season for S&P 500 companies has shown remarkable strength, with a 50% year-over-year growth rate in earnings. This is the highest growth rate since 2021.

According to FactSet data, this surge in earnings can be attributed to artificial intelligence, which has been the growth engine behind broad-based earnings growth, according to Bank of America strategists.

Home Depot's (HD) results on Tuesday showed that consumers continued to spend, albeit on smaller projects, as geopolitical concerns and inflation weigh on US households. The big box stores reporting this week include Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), and Lowe's (LOW).

S&P 500 Earnings Soar 50% Year-Over-Year Amid AI-Fueled Growth

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