STOXX 600 Q2 Earnings Growth Estimate Reaches 24.1%
Maya Sinclair
Companies in the STOXX 600 index are now expected to report aggregate earnings growth of 24.1% for Q2 2026, up from last week’s 23.4% estimate, according to LSEG I/B/E/S data reported by Thomson Reuters on Aug 19, 2026. The print is notable because the recovery is extending beyond energy and many companies have exceeded expectations in a historically strong season, Reuters said.
Data Snapshot
| Metric | Current | Previous | Change | Period | As of | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STOXX 600 aggregate earnings growth estimate (Q2) | 24.1% | 23.4% | up from last week’s 23.4% estimate | Second quarter (Q2) 2026 | Aug 19, 2026 | Thomson Reuters (LSEG I/B/E/S data) |
| Percent of STOXX 600 firms that have topped estimates | 59.9% of the 282 firms that have already reported | — | — | Q2 reporting season (as of report) | Aug 19, 2026 | Thomson Reuters (LSEG I/B/E/S data) |
| Energy sector expected profit change (STOXX 600) | 138.6% profit jump | — | — | Q2 2026 (sector forecast) | Aug 19, 2026 | Thomson Reuters (LSEG I/B/E/S data) |
| STOXX 600 earnings growth excluding energy | 13.1% | — | — | Q2 2026 (ex-energy) | Aug 19, 2026 | Thomson Reuters (LSEG I/B/E/S data) |
| Projected sales (STOXX 600) | 11.2% year-on-year | 11.4% (last week’s estimate) | — | Q2 2026 (sales forecast) | Aug 19, 2026 | Thomson Reuters (LSEG I/B/E/S data) |
Energy’s 138.6% profit jump and 13.1% ex‑energy growth
Energy is set for a 138.6% profit jump in Q2 2026, the outsized sector move anchoring the current revision cycle reported by Reuters. Excluding energy, STOXX 600 profits are expected to grow 13.1%. Those two figures sit beneath the 24.1% index estimate, which rose from 23.4% week-on-week. Forecasts show gains outside oil and gas too, not just a single-sector swing. The energy surge supplies a large lift, yet the 13.1% ex‑energy line points to broader participation in the rebound. LSEG’s I/B/E/S is the dataset used for these aggregates, as referenced in its 2026 Mid‑Year Outlook.
The 24.1% sits on that two-speed mix.
Beat rate: 59.9% of the 282 firms that have already reported
So far this season, 59.9% of the 282 firms that have already reported topped estimates as of Aug 19, 2026, in what Reuters called a historically strong stretch for beats here. That percentage covers only those reporters; the 24.1% remains an analyst estimate from LSEG I/B/E/S for the full STOXX 600.
Sales projection dips to 11.2% as profit estimate rises
Sales are projected to increase 11.2% year-on-year, dipping from last week’s 11.4% estimate reported by Reuters. At the same time, the profit-growth estimate rose to 24.1% from 23.4%.
All figures draw on LSEG I/B/E/S and a partial Q2 tally as of Aug 19, 2026, so additional results can still move the aggregate from here.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
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