Estimates for the Finance sector have come down, as JPMorgan (JPM - Free Report) , Wells Fargo (WFC - Free Report) and the other banks start coming out with quarterly results from October 15th. Driving this negative revisions trend has been the persistent pressures on banks’ margins, a function of the Fed’s accommodative monetary policy. Other businesses like investment banking and trading have been less than robust as well.

One favorable aspect to Finance’s underwhelming expectations is that it wouldn’t take much to come out with positive surprises, which could serve as a much needed catalyst for these stocks.

Beyond Finance, earnings growth in Q3 is expected to be in negative territory, with the first earnings decline since 2016 at -5.1%. This is keeping the ‘earnings recession’ narrative alive. We don’t think describing this year’s growth challenge as an ‘earnings recession’ is fair, since it primarily reflects tough comparisons. The chart below shows the annual earnings growth picture for the S&P 500 index.

For more details about the Q3 earnings season and the evolving picture for the current and coming quarters, check out our weekly Earnings Trends report.

Breakout Biotech Stocks with Triple-Digit Profit Potential

The biotech sector is projected to surge beyond $775 billion by 2024 as scientists develop treatments for thousands of diseases. They’re also finding ways to edit the human genome to literally erase our vulnerability to these diseases.

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Zacks Names "Single Best Pick to Double"

From thousands of stocks, 5 Zacks experts each have chosen their favorite to skyrocket +100% or more in months to come. From those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian hand-picks one to have the most explosive upside of all.

It’s a little-known chemical company that’s up 65% over last year, yet still dirt cheap. With unrelenting demand, soaring 2022 earnings estimates, and $1.5 billion for repurchasing shares, retail investors could jump in at any time.

This company could rival or surpass other recent Zacks’ Stocks Set to Double like Boston Beer Company which shot up +143.0% in little more than 9 months and NVIDIA which boomed +175.9% in one year.

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