Forward earnings estimates represent analysts’ consensus projections for a company or index’s earnings per share (EPS) over the next 12 months.
As of December 5, 2025, consensus estimates from FactSet indicate that the S&P 500 is estimated to produce $306.52 of earnings per share (EPS) over the next 12 months, the S&P 400 (Mid-Cap) is estimated to produce $206.49 of EPS, and the S&P 600 (Small-Cap) is estimated to produce $98.31 of EPS.
Estimated earnings can have a significant impact on how investors feel about the prospects of the stock market on a go-forward basis.