How to Boost Your Portfolio with Top Finance Stocks Set to Beat Earnings

In this article:

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.

We know earnings results are vital, but how a company performs compared to bottom line expectations can be even more important when it comes to stock prices, especially in the near-term. This means that investors might want to take advantage of these earnings surprises.

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.

The final step today is to look at a stock that meets our ESP qualifications. FS KKR Capital (FSK) earns a Zacks Rank #2 five days from its next quarterly earnings release on November 6, 2023, and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $0.78 a share.

By taking the percentage difference between the $0.78 Most Accurate Estimate and the $0.77 Zacks Consensus Estimate, FS KKR Capital has an Earnings ESP of 1.83%.

FSK is one of just a large database of Finance stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is Unum (UNM).

Unum, which is readying to report earnings on January 30, 2024, sits at a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) right now. It's Most Accurate Estimate is currently $1.92 a share, and UNM is 90 days out from its next earnings report.

Unum's Earnings ESP figure currently stands at 0.31% after taking the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.91.

Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, FSK and UNM 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

FS KKR Capital Corp. (FSK) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Unum Group (UNM) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research

Advertisement