despite the darkening outlook for the coming earnings season many companies are still expected to report modest growth through yearend stocks finally snapped a threeweek streak of losses whether they can keep up their recovery may depend in part on how earnings season plays out next month analysts have cut their estimates for thirdquarter earnings growth by 55 percentage points since june 30 according to john butters senior earnings analyst at factset  that is more than usual and marks the biggest cut since the second quarter of 2020 when the covid19 pandemic and ensuing lockdowns brought economic activity to a standstill