# Apple, Estee Lauder and others joined the list of companies delivering fatter profits for the start of the year than analysts expected.

*fintech · news · 2026-05-01 · Boston.com*

## Key points

- Apple's 3.3% stock rally was the main driver for the S&P 500's record close.
- 84% of S&P 500 companies reporting so far have surpassed analysts’ earnings estimates, per FactSet.
- Estee Lauder raised some financial forecasts after better-than-expected earnings driven by strong China performance.
- Brent crude fell 2% to $108.17, despite remaining elevated due to Strait of Hormuz war risks.
- Despite better-than-expected oil company profits, both Exxon Mobil and Chevron shares declined on net income drops.

**Companies:** Apple, Estee Lauder, Sandisk, Colgate-Palmolive, Exxon Mobil, Chevron
**Countries:** United States, China, Iran, Japan, United Kingdom

[Read the full story on Boston.com](https://www.boston.com/news/business/2026/05/01/apple-leads-wall-street-to-more-records-as-oil-prices-pull-back/)

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