Yahoo Finance How to Boost Your Portfolio with Top Medical Stocks Set to Beat Earnings
Earnings are arguably the most important single number on a company's quarterly financial report. Wall Street clearly dives into all of the other metrics and management's input, but the EPS figure helps cut through all the noise.
The earnings figure itself is key, but a beat or miss on the bottom line can sometimes be just as, if not more, important. Therefore, investors should consider paying close attention to these earnings surprises, as a big beat can help a stock climb even higher.
2 Stocks to Add to Your Watchlist
The Zacks Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information. The ESP is calculated by comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the percentage difference between the two giving us the Zacks ESP figure.
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. Cigna (CI) holds a Zacks Rank #3 at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $6.20 a share 14 days away from its upcoming earnings release on May 2, 2024.
By taking the percentage difference between the $6.20 Most Accurate Estimate and the $6.17 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Cigna has an Earnings ESP of 0.48%.
CI is just one of a large group of Medical stocks with a positive ESP figure. Universal Health Services (UHS) is another qualifying stock you may want to consider.
Universal Health Services, which is readying to report earnings on April 24, 2024, sits at a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) right now. It's Most Accurate Estimate is currently $3.41 a share, and UHS is six days out from its next earnings report.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Universal Health Services is $3.14, and when you take the percentage difference between that number and its Most Accurate Estimate, you get the Earnings ESP figure of 8.56%.
CI and UHS' positive ESP metrics may signal that a positive earnings surprise for both stocks is on the horizon.
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 >>
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Cigna Group (CI) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
