84% of S&P 500 companies have beaten earnings estimates this quarter—and these two words keep coming up

Good morning. Corporate earnings are coming in stronger than expected, but S&P 500 executives are still choosing their words carefully.

We’re about two-thirds of the way through Q1 earnings season, and several themes are emerging from earnings calls, from AI and revenue beats to geopolitical risk and oil prices. FactSet has released its latest update, and Q1 earnings season looks much stronger than expected, not just modestly better.

—With 63% of S&P 500 companies reporting so far...