"2023 Fourth-Quarter Earnings Surge Led by Tech, US Outperforms Europe"

Fourth-quarter corporate profits are exceeding expectations, with a nearly 8% rise in earnings growth for the season and 80% of S&P 500 companies beating estimates. Strong performances in the energy, healthcare, and tech sectors have contributed to this trend, resulting in a 7.8% growth rate in earnings per share, the highest of 2023. However, these positive figures follow a significant drop in earnings expectations, and the outlook for first-quarter and full-year 2024 earnings remains cautious as companies issue conservative guidance.