The latest ZRS Chart of the Month compares forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratios for nine S&P 500 sectors, using data measured on September 30, 2026. It excludes Energy and Real Estate. The available summaries identify the chart’s scope and date but do not expose its sector-level figures or conclusions, so no sector ranking can be verified here.
What the October 2026 chart covers
John Blank’s Zacks Market Strategy item was published October 2, 2026. Its table examines forward 12-month P/E ratios for nine S&P 500 sectors, measured September 30, 2026. Energy and Real Estate are excluded, so the comparison is not a complete view of all S&P 500 sectors. Zacks’ commentary feed and the Market Strategy archive identify the item and summarize its coverage.
How to read a sector forward P/E comparison
Forward P/E compares a stock price or sector value with expected earnings over the coming 12 months. In a sector table, it can show how much investors are paying relative to forecast earnings across the included groups. A lower multiple is not automatically a better investment: expectations, risks, and the quality or reliability of forecasts can differ between sectors.
For a relative valuation judgment, compare each sector’s current forward P/E with the historical median for that same sector, using the chart’s own definitions and date. The accessible October summaries do not provide those medians, current sector values, or the chart’s interpretation. They therefore do not establish which included sector is cheaper or more expensive.
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What the chart can—and cannot—tell you
- It can frame a dated comparison: the measurement date is September 30, 2026, rather than the publication date of October 2.
- It covers a defined subset: nine S&P 500 sectors, excluding Energy and Real Estate.
- It is not a forecast guarantee: forward P/E depends on expected earnings, which can change.
- It is not a stand-alone buy signal: a sector’s multiple alone does not establish whether it suits your goals, risk tolerance, or time horizon.
Because the published summaries do not show the chart’s actual readings, use the full chart itself before relying on any numerical comparison or valuation conclusion. Do not substitute figures from an earlier monthly edition; that would describe a different measurement date.
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