The weeks when most listed companies report profits. In Australia, February and August; in the US, the weeks after each quarter ends.
ASX companies with June year-ends report full-year results in August and half-year results in February. US companies report every quarter, starting about two weeks after quarter end with the big banks.
Alongside profit, companies give guidance for the coming period, which often matters more to the share price than the result itself.
Why it matters
Results season is when expectations meet reality. Shares that beat on earnings and raise guidance tend to keep outperforming for weeks (post-earnings drift); those that miss and cut tend to keep lagging.
