Companies' third-quarter 2006 earnings reports, just released as of 20 November 2006, were strong.

Judge on Q3 2006 earnings for US companies broadly (the S&P 500) as reported by November 2006. True: aggregate S&P 500 Q3 2006 earnings showed strong growth (roughly double-digit year-on-year) and/or a clear majority of companies beat estimates, as described in contemporaneous summaries (Thomson Financial, FactSet or similar). Mostly true: earnings were solidly positive but somewhat below "shining", for example high single-digit growth with most companies beating estimates. Mixed: results were mixed, with modest growth or a roughly even split of beats and misses. Mostly false: earnings were weak overall, with only some sectors strong. False: aggregate Q3 2006 earnings declined or broadly disappointed.

Set before the research began.

1. E1 US profits rise 23% in Q3, but pace may slow Economic Times (India), reporting from Dallas · 6 November 2006

   “Third-Quarter earnings of US companies rose an average of 23%, led by investment banks including Goldman Sachs Group and insurer Allstate.”

2. E2 US profits rise 23% in Q3, but pace may slow Economic Times (India), reporting from Dallas · 6 November 2006

   “Lagging in the quarter were the health-care, consumer discretionary and information technology groups, with average growth of between 9% and 11%.”

3. E3 S&P 500 profits manage to reach major milestone Chicago Tribune · 7 November 2006

   “The $203.3 billion in third-quarter profits is up nearly 20 percent from the $169.9 billion in profits the S&P 500 companies posted in last year’s third quarter.”

4. E4 Market Records a Boon for Companies, but What About Workers? ABC News · 24 October 2006

   “The latest figures from Thomson Financial show that third quarter corporate profits are up 15.9 percent, with almost half of all companies reporting.”

E3 (Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov 2006) says S&P 500 third-quarter profits were $203.3 billion, up nearly 20% from $169.9 billion a year earlier. E1 (Economic Times, 6 Nov 2006) says third-quarter earnings of US companies rose an average of 23%. E4 (ABC News, 24 Oct 2006) gives an earlier Thomson Financial reading of 15.9% growth with almost half of companies reported. E2 notes that even the lagging sectors grew 9–11% on average, while E1 and E3 report aggregate growth of about 20–23%, which meets the criteria for "true".