First-quarter earnings reporting season is in full swing. But investors playing the long game want to know which S&P 500 companies will profit most from President Donald Trump's full term four years from now.
And it turns out 12 S&P 500 companies, like Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Ventas and Palantir Technologies, are all expected to post at least 200% adjusted earnings growth from now through 2028, says an Investor's Business Daily analysis of data from S&P Global Market Intelligence and MarketSurge.
Short-term disruptions to trade by Trump are prompting investors to assess what kind of long-term damage will be done. And as with most periods of chaos, some winners may eventually emerge.
"Volatility typically brings both risk and opportunities," said a report from Nikko Asset Management. "Significant fundamental changes have been set in motion, leading to long-term, sustainable investment opportunities in the days and months ahead."
2028 Will Be Here Before You Know It
2028 might seem like a long way off. But analysts already have 2028 earnings projections on 450 stocks in the S&P 500.
And overall the forecasts are fairly bullish. Analysts are calling for 62% average growth among the S&P 500 companies. Nearly all the companies with estimates are seen posting positive earnings growth in the period.
But there are still run runaway favorites in the period.
Profiting Most During Mayhem: Vertex
Some companies can continue to perform well despite disruptions. And analysts are pretty confident of who some of these winners may be.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is seen as the biggest earnings gainer during the Trump term. The Boston-based company is working on a number of treatments for conditions like cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease.
Analysts think the company will earn $25.42 a share in 2028. If that's right, it would mark a 5,952% increase from 2024. That's the highest expected EPS jump of any S&P 500 company during this period.
Investors are bullish on the company. Shares are up roughly 22% this year, already defying the Trump slump. The stock carries an RS Rating of 89. The shares are consolidating around 519.88.
Betting On Aging Over Time
Another variable that won't change under Trump is the force of humans' aging. And that's behind the bullish forecasts for Ventas, which operates senior housing facilities.
Analysts think the company will earn $1.45 a share in 2028, up 751% from the 17 cents a share it made in 2024. Again, investors like what they see, sending shares up 15% this year. The stock sports an RS Rating of 94 and is just about at its buy point of 67.52.
But some of the expected profit winners are more overt. Maker of high-tech defense systems Palantir is expected to make 244% more in 2028 than it did in 2024. Again, shares are already on the rise, gaining 23% just this year. Palantir's RS Rating is a perfect 99. Shares, though, are extended currently.
So while there's plenty of reason to lament the tumult in the markets, even in times of high volatility you can find opportunities.
Biggest S&P 500 Profiteers Under Trump
Top EPS gains expected through 2028
| Company | Ticker | YTD stock % ch. | 2024-2028 % EPS growth Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals | VRTX | 21.5% | 5,951.8% |
| Ventas | VTR | 15.3% | 751.4% |
| Incyte | INCY | -15.8% | 734.3% |
| GE Vernova | GEV | -1.6% | 665.2% |
| Expand Energy | EXE | 7.2% | 561.7% |
| Digital Realty Trust | DLR | -14.9% | 558.2% |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb | BMY | -12.8% | 412.2% |
| International Paper | IP | -14.0% | 280.5% |
| DoorDash | DASH | 7.8% | 260.3% |
| Palantir Technologies | PLTR | 23.0% | 243.9% |
| Eli Lilly | LLY | 9.3% | 229.6% |
| Dow | DOW | -30.0% | 226.9% |
