Reporting Season Overview - Stellar earnings results from corporate Australia

CommSec Chief Economist Craig James reviews the results from the February 2017 earnings season. Of the 142 companies analysed, almost 94% reported a profit. Excluding BHP Billiton, aggregate profits lifted by 37%.  

Each ‘earnings season’ or ‘profit-reporting season’ CommSec tracks all the earnings results of ASX 200 companies to obtain a comprehensive picture of the aggregate health of Corporate Australia.

It has been a very good earnings season. Remarkably all but 8 of the 142 companies produced a profit for the six months to December. That is, around 94 per cent of companies made money. Excluding BHP Billiton, aggregate profits lifted by 37 per cent.

Overall, 88 per cent of half-year reporting companies elected to pay a dividend.
Cash levels rose. For all ASX 200 companies reporting interim or full-year results, cash levels rose by 11 per cent to over $110 billion.

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