The two-month Up/Down Ratio for Q1 results shows a reading of 1.48. Like the quarter before, an excellent “one-month” figure has been dragged down by a second month’s results.
The final month of 2015 earnings reports registered an Up/Down Ratio of 1.07. Once again, we have to go back to the dark days of 2009 to find a lower “three-month” ratio.
The second month of Q4 2015 earnings reports registered an Up/Down Ratio of 1.12—up from the post- financial crisis low of 1.11 last quarter. With 51% of the observations in February, the “Up” count edged out the “Down,” but barely.
It’s a scary thought but what does 2015 have in common with the infamous years of 2001, 2008, and 2009? An earnings recession for the S&P 500 — and the 2015 vintage certainly has some unique traits.
The second month of Q3 2015 earnings reports registered an Up/Down Ratio of 1.11. On its own, the month of November was particularly weak with a stand-alone Up/Down Ratio of 0.97.
The third and final month of Q2 earnings reports registered an Up/Down Ratio of 1.18. This is the second lowest “three month” reading of the past 23 quarters.
