First Quarter Corporate Earnings

Corporate earnings have been rolling out and so far things look pretty good. I have had a few people take advantage of the matching contribution offer to the American Cancer Society. If you want to participate, just send a check to me made out to American Cancer Society by the end of May. At the end are some quotes on Money Issues for your enjoyment.






Vanguard



The U.S. economy grew at a slower pace in the first quarter of 2012 than in the previous quarter, according to the closely watched gross domestic product (GDP) report. Other economic data supported the view that the recovery continues to advance at a modest but uneven pace. For the week ended April 27, the S&P 500 Index rose 1.8% to 1,403 (for a year-to-date total return—including price change plus dividends—of about 12.3%). The yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note fell 3 basis points to 1.96% (for a year-to-date increase of 7 basis points).





First Quarter Corporate Earnings



Corporate earnings seem to be doing well. I found 2 articles that illustrates this point. The first is from the April 30, 2012 Barron's that 275 of 500 companies that comprise the S&P 500 have reported earnings and 3/4th of them have exceeded expectations above the normal 2/3rds.



The other is from the April 25, 2012 Wall Street Journal that reported earnings by sector with about 1/3rd of the companies reporting at that time. Here is the info:



Financials: 26 Beat, 4 Met, & 5 Missed

Industrials: 21 Beat, 2 Met, & 1 Missed

Materials: 9 Beat, 1 Met, & 1 Missed

Information Technology: 19 Beat, 4 Met, & 3 Missed

Consumer Staples: 10 Beat, 1 Met, & 1 Missed

Consumer Discretionary: 19 Beat, 2 Met, & 2 Missed

Health Care: 10 Beat, 1 Met, & 1 Missed





Money Issues



When a man retires, his wife gets twice the husband but only half the income.

Chi Chi Rodriguez



Retirement is like a long vacation in Las Vegas. The goal is to enjoy it the fullest, but not so fully that you run out of money.

Jonathan Clements



It is time I stepped aside for a less experienced and less able man.

Scott Elledge



Another good thing about being poor is that when you are seventy your children will not have declared you legally insane in order to gain control of your estate.

Woody Allen



The question isn't at what age I want to retire, it's at what income.

George Foreman



I advise you to go on living solely to enrage those who are paying your annuities. It is the only pleasure I have left.

Voltaire



People may live as much retired from the world as they like, but sooner or later they find themselves debtor or creditor to some one.

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe



Cessation of work is not accompanied by cessation of expenses.

Cato



Money is something you got to make in case you don’t die.

Max Asnas



It is better to live rich than to die rich.

Samuel Johnson



Not having to worry about money is almost like not having to worry about dying.

Mario Puzo



You can be young without money but you can’t be old without it.

Tennessee Williams