Advertisement
UK markets open in 7 hours 41 minutes
  • NIKKEI 225

    39,583.08
    +241.58 (+0.61%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    17,718.61
    +2.11 (+0.01%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    81.47
    -0.07 (-0.09%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,334.50
    -5.10 (-0.22%)
     
  • DOW

    39,118.86
    -45.24 (-0.12%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    49,611.55
    +1,452.29 (+3.02%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,302.70
    +18.87 (+1.47%)
     
  • NASDAQ Composite

    17,732.60
    -126.10 (-0.71%)
     
  • UK FTSE All Share

    4,451.92
    -8.35 (-0.19%)
     

These 2 Computer and Technology Stocks Could Beat Earnings: Why They Should Be on Your Radar

Wall Street watches a company's quarterly report closely to understand as much as possible about its recent performance and what to expect going forward. Of course, one figure often stands out among the rest: earnings.

Life and the stock market are both about expectations, and rising above what is expected is often rewarded, while falling short can come with negative consequences. Investors might want to try to capture stronger returns by finding positive earnings surprises.

2 Stocks to Add to Your Watchlist

The Zacks Earnings ESP, or Expected Surprise Prediction, aims to find earnings surprises by focusing on the most recent analyst revisions. The basic premise is that if an analyst reevaluates their earnings estimate ahead of an earnings release, it means they likely have new information that could possibly be more accurate. The core of the ESP model is comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, where the resulting percentage difference between the two equals the Expected Surprise Prediction.

ADVERTISEMENT

The last thing we will do today, now that we have a grasp on the ESP and how powerful of a tool it can be, is to look at a qualifying stock. Verizon Communications (VZ) holds a Zacks Rank #3 at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $1.08 a share 27 days away from its upcoming earnings release on January 23, 2024.

VZ has an Earnings ESP figure of 0.26%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $1.08 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.07.

VZ is just one of a large group of Computer and Technology stocks with a positive ESP figure. Oracle (ORCL) is another qualifying stock you may want to consider.

Slated to report earnings on March 14, 2024, Oracle holds a #3 (Hold) ranking on the Zacks Rank, and it's Most Accurate Estimate is $1.38 a share 78 days from its next quarterly update.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Oracle is $1.37, and when you take the percentage difference between that number and its Most Accurate Estimate, you get the Earnings ESP figure of 0.42%.

Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, VZ and ORCL could potentially post earnings beats in their next reports.

Find Stocks to Buy or Sell Before They're Reported

Use the Zacks Earnings ESP Filter to turn up stocks with the highest probability of positively, or negatively, surprising to buy or sell before they're reported for profitable earnings season trading. Check it out here >>

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Oracle Corporation (ORCL) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research