About 86% of the more than 440 S&P 500 companies that have reported results beat analysts' estimates, according to FactSet. The index is on course for its seventh consecutive quarter of double-digit earnings growth. S&P 500 blended earnings have increased by roughly 50%, the strongest growth since the stimulus-driven recovery in 2021. Alphabet and Amazon accounted for about 71% of the increase in blended S&P 500 earnings since July. Related articlesEarnings beats ease concerns over record U.S. stock rally - WSJSouth Korea stock volatility eases as leveraged trades unwindBerkshire's profit doubles as equity holdings surge; buys back $4.5 bln shares