Chart of the Day - After a 92% decline, S&P 500 earnings have ticked up

Chart of the Day

With second-quarter earnings largely in the books (over 99% of S&P 500 companies have reported for Q2 2009), today's chart provides some long-term perspective to the current earnings environment by focusing on 12-month, as reported S&P 500 earnings. Today's chart illustrates how earnings declined over 92% since peaking in Q3 2007, which makes it easily the largest decline on record (the data goes back to 1936). On the positive side, S&P 500 earnings have moved off their lows – slightly.

Notes:
- Where's the market headed? The answer may surprise you. Find out right now with the exclusive & Barron's recommended charts of Chart of the Day Plus.

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Quote of the Day
"Bureaucracy defends the status quo long past the time when the quo has lost its status." - Laurence J. Peter

Events of the Day
September 22, 2009 - First Day of Autumn (Northern Hemisphere)
September 27, 2009 - Yom Kippur

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