Doom and gloom… and record earnings?

It seems like it’s been nothing but bad news on the stock markets for the last while. So it might come as a surprise to learn that corporate America is earning more money than it ever has. 2011 Q2 earnings per share for the S&P 500 was $24.86 (projection based on 99% report rate). Q3 is projected to be even higher at $25.42 (projection based on 88.1% report rate).

I’d play The Twilight Zone music in the background, but that would just be sensationalist. :)

Source: Standard & Poor’s, J.P. Morgan Asset Management.EPS levels are based on operating earnings per share. Most recently available is a 2Q11 99% complete estimate. Data reflect most recently available as of 9/30/11.

Source: BEA, FactSet, J.P. Morgan Asset Management.

Graphs courtesy JP Morgan Asset Management.