Company earnings have come into sharp focus forward of second-quarter outcomes, with market watchers anticipating additional inventory pullbacks as corporations report decrease earnings and steerage. This earnings season is seen by many as a barometer of the state of the economic system, after a sequence of rate of interest hikes by the Federal Reserve — together with a 75 foundation level hike in June that rocked fairness markets — prompted fears of an financial slowdown. Trevor Greetham, head of multi-asset at Royal London Asset Administration, mentioned earnings would be the “subsequent downside” for markets . He warned an “earnings recession” is coming, which might drag on for a while. In the meantime, Goldman Sachs strategist Ben Snider famous that earnings estimates are increased now than they have been initially of the 12 months — and he expects extra earnings downgrades forward. Inventory screener In opposition to this backdrop, CNBC Professional sought to seek out shares with a confirmed observe file of rising their earnings per share (EPS) and which have seen extra analyst upgrades than downgrades this 12 months. We used FactSet information to display screen for MSCI World shares with EPS progress of greater than 20% over the previous 5 years. The record is then whittled down to incorporate solely these which analysts have given extra EPS upgrades than downgrades to this 12 months. These shares are additionally buy-rated by nearly all of analysts, with common potential upside of at the very least 20% primarily based on consensus worth targets, in accordance with FactSet information. Shares that made the display screen A raft of semiconductor shares made the display screen. The sector — one of many largest winners of the inventory market bull run final 12 months — has taken a drubbing this 12 months amid considerations over a list glut and slowing gross sales of client electronics. However the longer-term outlook for the sector stays shiny given chips’ extensive number of functions — from PCs and smartphones, to family home equipment and electrical autos. Additionally they play an important position within the improvement of synthetic intelligence and quantum applied sciences. Chip shares that turned up on the display screen embody Superior Micro Units (AMD), STMicroelectronics , ASM Worldwide , Synopsys and Taiwan’s Unimicron Expertise . AMD grew its EPS by a whopping 92.1% over the previous 5 years, in accordance with FactSet information. Analysts have given the inventory common potential upside of 26.1%. A number of monetary shares made the display screen too. They embody India’s ICICI Financial institution , British personal fairness agency 3i Group , Connecticut-based insurer W. R. Berkley and French funding group Eurazeo . Monetary shares have been certainly one of 2021’s standout performers, as bumper company deal-making resulted in increased funding charges whereas a recovering economic system led to fewer dangerous loans than was anticipated throughout the peak of the pandemic. Monetary shares additionally usually do properly in a rising rate of interest surroundings because the curiosity earnings earned by banks from loans and investments rises quicker than what they pay for funding. A bunch of vitality names additionally popped up on the display screen. The vitality sector has been one of the best performing sector by a mile this 12 months on the again of a pointy rise in oil costs. Learn extra Wall Avenue believes these beaten-down world shares are set for a rebound How you can commerce mounting recession dangers, in accordance with Goldman Sachs, Wells Fargo and extra ‘Dividend aristocrats’: Strategists identify high-yielding shares to trip out a bear market The vitality shares that turned up on the display screen embody ConocoPhillips , Devon Vitality , Cheniere Vitality , and Pioneer Pure Sources within the U.S. Brazilian state-owned agency Petroleo Brasileiro , Canadian Pure Sources and Chinese language state-owned agency PetroChina additionally made the record. Devon Vitality has the very best potential upside at 122.5%, in accordance with analysts’ estimates. The corporate has grown its EPS by 28% during the last 5 years. A variety of industrial shares additionally turned up on CNBC Professional’s display screen. They embody Danish delivery big AP Moller-Maersk , Japanese delivery agency Nippon Yusen and Texas-based vitality infrastructure companies agency Quanta Providers . Hong Kong-listed Orient Abroad Worldwide additionally made the record. The corporate is the mother or father of Orient Abroad Container Line, one of many world’s largest container delivery corporations. Automobile components and gear retailer AutoZone additionally appeared on the record. The corporate has traditionally outperformed throughout bear markets and Goldman Sachs believes the corporate is “defensively positioned” to climate inflation resulting from its skill to go by means of inflationary value will increase. Fertilizer shares Nutrien and Corteva made the display screen too. Each shares are anticipated to profit from provide challenges by means of 2023 and past, in accordance with Barclays . The financial institution described Nutrien as a “best-in-class” operator that may proceed to generate regular earnings from its retail enterprise. It additionally sees Corteva as an “engaging” method to achieve publicity to the broader agriculture sector with restricted draw back.