Earnings for the S&P 500 are growing at their fastest rate since 2022 and analysts see that trend continuing into next quarter, setting up a positive backdrop for stocks.

Net profit margins are pacing for 11.7% growth in the first quarter, above the five-year average of 11.5% growth and higher than the same period a year ago, per FactSet.

Largely, this has been driven by cost-cutting, not rising revenues. In 2023, investors cheered Big Tech’s cost-cutting efforts that led to significant earnings growth. In 2024, companies outside the tech sector have tapped a similar playbook, setting up the rest of the index for earnings growth through the rest of the year.