Corporate Profit Rebound Slows in ‘Grind-It-Out’ Economy

This year’s rebound in corporate earnings is losing steam as slower economic growth and greater strain on consumers threaten sales and profit margins at companies from Texas Instruments Inc. to Google Inc.

Earnings per share for the Standard & Poor’s 500, excluding financial companies, rose 14 percent in the third quarter, the smallest gain since the end of 2009, analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg show. That compares with 19 percent in the second quarter and 20 percent in the first. Analysts have begun reducing forecasts for the current quarter and beyond.