As of Tuesday morning, July 15th, second quarter 2025 earnings reporting season is off to a solid start with several high-profile financial stocks announcing results that exceeded expectations. S&P 500 second quarter earnings are expected to grow 4.5% year-over-year, with earnings growth accelerating into the second half of 2025. Overall, investors expect corporate earnings to grow 9% in 2025, and 14% in 2026, on top of last year’s 11% earnings growth. This positive earnings forecast is one of many supporting factors propelling markets to all-time highs.

The markets closed out the second quarter on a high note, despite unprecedented levels of uncertainty and geopolitical risk. The market’s resilience can be attributed to five key areas where investors hold an optimistic outlook: strong economic data, pro-growth policies, moderate tariffs, continued earnings growth, and advancements in artificial intelligence.

The S&P 500 hit a post “liberation day” high on June 12th, before news of Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and senior military personnel caused the market to trade lower. In addition to the human impact of these conflicts, markets remain sensitive to the influence on energy prices. As of this writing it doesn’t appear that Iran’s oil infrastructure has been specifically targeted, but the price of Brent Crude Oil contracts spiked 8% to close Friday at $75 per barrel, higher but below the highs of earlier this year.

Thomas Bayer, CFP®, MT, Wealth Planner tbayer@haverfordquality.com When the Markets Give You Lemons, Make [...]

Thomas Bayer, Jr., CFP®, MT Senior Wealth Planner One of the greatest gifts or [...]

Since the administration capitulated to market forces on April 9th, significant progress has been made in three distinct areas of Trump’s big gamble of imposing wide-ranging tariffs. As of Friday, May 23rd, the S&P 500 has increased by roughly 17% during this period.

The news last week included numerous market-moving events, which appears to be the norm at present. In the midst of this activity we held our 2025 Investors Forum featuring D.C. policy research expert Dan Clifton, Head of Washington Policy Research from Strategas. Dan clarified recent news while sharing his views on the current state of the policy debate in D.C.

One hundred days into the Trump administration many investors are feeling bruised and battered. Those hoping for a focus on regulatory rollback and tax reforms have instead endured the upending of trade policy and verbal barbs aimed at the Federal Reserve Chair.