AI Takes Over the Economy, Earnings Season Scorecard, a Bid for eBay, Berkshire Post-Buffett, Uber Preview

May 6, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

This episode covers a standout earnings season driven by AI-fueled growth, alongside updates on Ryan Cohen's bid for eBay, Berkshire Hathaway's first post-Buffett meeting, Uber's upcoming report, and the broader AI economy reshaping investment.

Earnings Season Exceeds Expectations

As of early May, 70.6% of S&P 500 market cap had reported, with analysts forecasting 25.8% year-over-year profit growth—134 basis points above initial estimates and the fastest pace since Q4 2021. Reported profits already hit 24%, with 81.7% of companies beating estimates (above the 77% five-year average). Sales growth expectations rose to 10.8%, 138 basis points higher than start-of-season figures, across nine of 11 sectors. Tech led with 46.4% blended earnings growth and 30% revenue growth; communication services hit 54%; even non-tech S&P 500 saw 20% upward revisions since late March. Mag 7 revisions jumped 57% in the same period.

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

Never miss an episode of The Compound and Friends

Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

What you'll learn

1 (04:48) **Earnings Season Overview** - Broad S&P 500 results show 25.8% profit growth expected, actuals at 24% for 70.6% reported
2 (07:35) **Earnings Takeaways for Investors** - Highlights ongoing double-digit growth, challenges "as good as it gets" narrative
3 (10:49) **Companies Reporting This Week** - Uber, Disney, McDonald's, Coinbase highlighted amid mixed reactions to recent reports
4 (14:02) **Blended Earnings & Revenue Growth by Sector** - S&P at 25.8% earnings growth; tech at 46.4%, comm services 54%
5 (16:33) **Earnings Revisions & Sector Outlook** - Non-Mag7 S&P revisions +20% since late March; semis expected +38% next 12 months
6 (23:06) **Ryan Cohen's eBay Bid Proposal** - GameStop chair pitches $56B acquisition using cash, stock, financing
7 (27:38) **eBay Bid Analyst Reactions** - Universal doubt: no synergies, financial engineering, poison pill risk

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

This episode is sponsored by Fidelity Investments and ClearBridge Investments.

Learn more at http://www.fidelity.com/TraderPlus

Rising geopolitical tensions, continued market uncertainty, stocks backed by can offer more predictable cash flows as volatility increases. Learn more at https://www.clearbridge.com/

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://instagram.com/thecompoundnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/thecompoundnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-compound-media/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@thecompoundnews⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Investing involves the risk of loss. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be or regarded as personalized investment advice or relied upon for investment decisions. Michael Batnick and Josh Brown are employees of Ritholtz Wealth Management and may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this video. All opinions expressed by them are solely their own opinion and do not reflect the opinion of Ritholtz Wealth Management.

The Compound Media, Incorporated, an affiliate of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ritholtz Wealth Management⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, receives payment from various entities for advertisements in affiliated podcasts, blogs and emails. Inclusion of such advertisements does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof, or any affiliation therewith, by the Content Creator or by Ritholtz Wealth Management or any of its employees. For additional advertisement disclaimers see here ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ritholtzwealth.com/advertising-disclaimers⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Investments in securities involv