Finance
European Corporate Earnings Set for Meagre Growth, Barring Energy Majors
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on April 16, 2026
2 min readLast updated: April 16, 2026
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European STOXX 600 Q1 earnings are projected to grow modestly (+2.8%), but excluding energy that drops to just +0.3%. Energy firms benefit from crude gains, while real estate and utilities decline sharply.
European Blue-Chip Earnings Edge Up in Q1 as Energy Majors Outperform
Q1 Earnings Overview for European Blue-Chip Companies
By Javi West Larrañaga
April 16 (Reuters) - European blue-chip companies are set to deliver meagre profit growth in the first quarter, the latest forecasts showed on Thursday, though energy majors are expected to benefit hugely from higher crude prices.
STOXX 600 Index Performance
Companies on Europe's benchmark STOXX 600 index are expected to report growth of 2.8% in their first-quarter earnings, on average, according to LSEG I/B/E/S data. However, when excluding the energy sector, the growth rate is seen at a mere 0.3%.
Revenue and Earnings Breakdown
- Revenues for non-energy European blue chips are expected to fall 1.1% on average
- Earnings of energy companies are expected to rise by 24.3%, according to the data, as the war in the Middle East has pushed oil prices higher
Impact of Geopolitical Events on Energy Sector
- That is in stark contrast to the pre-war forecast, as energy majors were expected to deliver 2.0% lower Q1 profits as of February 26, Tajinder Dhillon, head of earnings research at LSEG, told Reuters
- While crude futures have fallen as peace prospects have gained steam, they are still 30% to 40% higher than before the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran that started the war
Changes in Earnings Forecasts
- Estimates for European corporate earnings took a sharp turn compared to last week's 4.2% growth forecast
- Earnings of real estate companies and utilities are expected to fall by 13.7% and 12.2%, respectively, according to the I/B/E/S report
Revenue Trends and Cost-Cutting Measures
- Revenues have lagged or fallen more than earnings in seven out of eight previous quarters
- That may be a sign that companies' efforts to cut costs and restructure businesses could be paying off
Investor Outlook and Future Expectations
- Though the war might not hugely affect Q1 earnings, investors say the outlook for 2026 might disappoint this earnings season
(Reporting by Javi West Larrañaga; Editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)
Key Takeaways
- •Overall STOXX 600 Q1 earnings are expected to rise ~2.8%, but non‑energy growth is negligible at ~0.3%, reflecting sector disparity.
- •Energy sector earnings forecast to surge ~24.3%, a dramatic swing from the –2.0% projection just before the war, driven by elevated oil prices.
- •Real estate and utilities face steep declines in earnings (~–13.7% and –12.2% respectively), while revenue trends further highlight cost-cutting efficacy among companies.
Frequently Asked Questions about European corporate earnings set for meagre growth, barring energy majors
1What is the expected profit growth for European blue-chip companies in Q1?
European blue-chip companies are expected to report average earnings growth of 2.8% in the first quarter.
2How does the energy sector impact overall European corporate earnings?
Excluding the energy sector, growth drops to just 0.3%, while energy company earnings are expected to rise by 24.3% due to higher crude prices.
3What might disappoint investors this earnings season?
Investors say the outlook for 2026 might disappoint, even though Q1 earnings are not hugely affected by the ongoing war.
