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AI-Driven Companies Expected to Fuel Third-Quarter US Earnings Growth
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CNBC TV18•09-10-2026, 20:57
AI-Driven Companies Expected to Fuel Third-Quarter US Earnings Growth
- •US companies are projected to post strong third-quarter earnings growth, with artificial intelligence-related firms driving the vast majority of the gains.
- •Analysts expect S&P 500 earnings to rise about 31% year-over-year, with two-thirds of the increase driven by the technology sector and AI heavyweights like Alphabet, Amazon.com, and Meta Platforms.
- •Energy sector earnings are also anticipated to surge roughly 115% compared to the previous year, supported by a 30% jump in US oil prices due to geopolitical tensions.
- •Despite robust growth, some investors and strategists are questioning how long the AI-fueled boom can be sustained and whether earnings growth is approaching its cyclical peak.
- •Semiconductor companies continue to benefit heavily from the AI boom, though momentum is showing signs of cooling compared to the massive gains seen in the second quarter.
Key Questions Answered
Analysts expect S&P 500 earnings to rise about 31% year-over-year for the third quarter, with two-thirds of that leap coming from the technology sector and AI heavyweights like Alphabet, Amazon.com, and Meta Platforms.
Earnings for US semiconductor companies are expected to have increased by about 136% in the third quarter, compared to an increase of about 158% in the previous quarter.
Energy earnings are projected to be up about 115% from a year ago, driven by US oil prices surging roughly 30% in the third quarter due to the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran.
