The Corporate Profit Engine May Be Slowing

摘要

For the first time in more than a year, Wall Street analysts cut their forecasts for Standard & Poor's 500-stock index earnings during the course of a quarter, casting a shadow over the stock market outlook. Analysts reduced their estimates for S&P 500 companies' combined 2011 profit to $95.21 a share as of Sept. 30, down from an August high of $96.16 and $95.50 on June 30, according to more than 8,500 forecasts tracked by Bloomberg. The last time analysts' earnings estimates fell during a quarter was in the three months ended June 2009. The figure has since rebounded to $95.97 a share.