Earnings Season
Earnings season is the period each quarter when most public companies release their quarterly financial results.
Public companies in the US report their results every quarter, and many of them do so within a few weeks of each other. This busy stretch is known as earnings season. It typically starts a couple of weeks after the end of each calendar quarter, with large banks often among the first to report, and lasts about six weeks.
During earnings season, investors compare actual results for revenue, earnings per share and other key figures with analysts' expectations. Companies also update their guidance for the coming quarters. Stock prices can move sharply on these reports, especially if results or the outlook surprise the market.
Earnings season also gives a broad picture of the economy. Analysts track how many companies in the S&P 500 beat or miss estimates and how overall earnings are growing compared with the prior year.
Companies announce their reporting dates in advance, and many release results before the market opens or after it closes, followed by a conference call with analysts.
Example: a company with a fiscal year matching the calendar year reports its fourth-quarter results in late January or February.