Yahoo Finance How to Find Strong Business Services Stocks Slated for Positive Earnings Surprises
Quarterly financial reports play a vital role on Wall Street, as they help investors see how a company has performed and what might be coming down the road in the near-term. And out of all of the metrics and results to consider, earnings is one of the most important.
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 Expected Surprise Prediction, or ESP, works by locking in on the most up-to-date analyst earnings revisions because they can be more accurate than estimates from weeks or even months before the actual release date. The thinking is pretty straightforward: analysts who provide earnings estimates closer to the report are likely to have more information. With this in mind, the Expected Surprise Prediction compares the Most Accurate Estimate (being the most recent) against the overall Zacks Consensus Estimate. The percentage difference provides the ESP figure.
Now that we understand what the ESP is and how beneficial it can be, let's dive into a stock that currently fits the bill. ExlService Holdings (EXLS) earns a Zacks Rank #2 right now and its Most Accurate Estimate sits at $1.62 a share, just 29 days from its upcoming earnings release on April 27, 2023.
ExlService Holdings' Earnings ESP sits at 0.83%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $1.62 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.61.
EXLS is one of just a large database of Business Services stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH).
Booz Allen Hamilton is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on May 19, 2023. BAH's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $0.94 a share 51 days from its next earnings release.
For Booz Allen Hamilton, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.92 is 2.62%.
EXLS and BAH's 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 >>
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
ExlService Holdings, Inc. (EXLS) : Free Stock Analysis Report
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (BAH) : Free Stock Analysis Report
