Third-quarter earnings season will “officially” start next Thursday when Alcoa (AA) reports. Overall corporate profit growth should be good. Standard & Poor’s predicts that per share operating earnings for the S&P 500 will rise 31% this quarter on a year-over-year basis. Thomson Reuters calculates the consensus growth estimate as being slightly more conservative at 24%. Either [...] (AA) Five Details to Look At This Earnings Season – AAII Investor Update – September 30, 2010