biggestbeneficiariesupturn economic conditions.Inf With the...

biggestbeneficiariesupturn economic conditions.Inf With the coming of spring, perhaps the timing is right for a long-awaited upturn in earnings in the first quarter of 2002. As of mid-March, S&P analysts were projecting an approximate 6% increase in year over year earnings per share for the first quarter. S&P analysts also believe that subsequent quarters will see continued earnings progress, culminating in an approximate 36% increase in earnings for the full year, to $52.69. S&P analysts expect these gains to be led by a significant recovery in the Telecommunication Services, Information Technology, Consumer Discretionary, and Materials sectors. This is not too surprising, as these economically-sensitive sectors have historically been the biggest beneficiaries of an upturn in economic conditions.