U.S. industrial sector earnings lead with impressive performance: average surpasses expectations by 24%, defense and AI spending become core drivers

格隆汇 March 16th丨Last quarter, US industrial enterprises exceeded profit expectations, becoming the most surprising sector in terms of earnings across industries. Defense demand, commercial aerospace, and capital expenditures related to artificial intelligence drove performance growth. Industrial companies in the S&P 500 index exceeded expectations by an average of 24%, due to increased demand for aerospace and defense stocks driven by geopolitical tensions and rising US law enforcement activities. Machinery and electrical equipment companies also surpassed profit expectations, benefiting from AI-driven spending and the momentum gained from infrastructure projects.