Mixed Earnings Season as Banks Diverge and ASML Sets Record
Morgan Stanley and BlackRock both beat expectations on earnings and revenue, while Bank of America missed on both measures. ASML reported record third-quarter sales and raised its outlook, though several smaller financial and industrial firms posted mixed results. Revenue shortfalls were common even among companies that beat profit estimates.
[paragraph] Need ensure no extra. We can include blank line between paragraphs? "2 short paragraphs" under EXPANDED. We can put two paragraphs separated by blank line. Then CONTEXT. That's okay. Total expanded under 120. Let's count final expanded exactly. EXPANDED: Morgan Stanley and BlackRock each exceeded profit and sales forecasts, helped by trading and asset-management demand. Bank of America fell short on both measures, while State Street beat EPS narrowly but missed revenue and saw shares drop. ASML reported record third-quarter sales and lifted its full-year 2026 outlook, citing AI-related semiconductor demand. Across 16 reports, 7 were beats, 5 mixed, and 4 misses. Smaller firms split: Home BancShares, Comtech, and Equity Bancshares beat or matched EPS but missed revenue; Winmark missed EPS yet beat revenue. Progressive and Sono-Tek missed both. Fastenal beat both, though heavier outlays worried investors. Accenture rose on upbeat targets; Lonza raised medium-term goals; Ro