Russell 2000 Outperforms S&P 500 This Year Even as Earnings Estimates Fall

The Russell 2000 index has posted stronger year-to-date gains than the S&P 500. Market data show the small-cap benchmark advancing while large-cap stocks lag behind.

Fargo analysts noted that earnings estimates for companies in the Russell 2000 have fallen even as the index price has risen. The firm described the divergence as a trend that warrants caution for investors. The same analysis indicated that the gap between price performance and earnings revisions has widened in recent months.

Wells Fargo recommended that clients consider selling small-cap positions rather than adding to them.

U.S. companies. Its outperformance this year stands in contrast to the pattern observed in prior periods when small-cap rallies coincided with rising earnings forecasts. MarketWatch reported that the current rally masks the downward movement in earnings projections.

The outlet cited Wells Fargo research that examined revisions across the small-cap universe. " The report did not specify numerical targets for index levels or projected earnings declines. It focused instead on the direction of estimate revisions as the primary signal for the recommendation.