Yahoo Finance How to Find Strong Medical Stocks Slated for Positive Earnings Surprises
Two factors often determine stock prices in the long run: earnings and interest rates. Investors can't control the latter, but they can focus on a company's earnings results every quarter.
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.
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. Eli Lilly (LLY) holds a Zacks Rank #3 at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $2.82 a share 28 days away from its upcoming earnings release on August 8, 2024.
By taking the percentage difference between the $2.82 Most Accurate Estimate and the $2.65 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Eli Lilly has an Earnings ESP of 6.49%.
LLY is part of a big group of Medical stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at HCA Healthcare (HCA) as well.
HCA Healthcare is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on July 23, 2024. HCA's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $5.32 a share 12 days from its next earnings release.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCA Healthcare is $4.97, and when you take the percentage difference between that number and its Most Accurate Estimate, you get the Earnings ESP figure of 7.1%.
LLY and HCA'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 >>
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Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) : Free Stock Analysis Report
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
