Advertisement
Canada markets close in 3 hours 51 minutes
  • S&P/TSX

    21,921.30
    +98.08 (+0.45%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,122.75
    +58.55 (+1.16%)
     
  • DOW

    38,663.26
    +437.60 (+1.14%)
     
  • CAD/USD

    0.7312
    -0.0002 (-0.03%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    78.35
    -0.60 (-0.76%)
     
  • Bitcoin CAD

    84,637.47
    +3,747.16 (+4.63%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,329.95
    +52.97 (+4.15%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,302.30
    -7.30 (-0.32%)
     
  • RUSSELL 2000

    2,034.28
    +18.17 (+0.90%)
     
  • 10-Yr Bond

    4.5080
    -0.0630 (-1.38%)
     
  • NASDAQ

    16,148.34
    +307.38 (+1.94%)
     
  • VOLATILITY

    13.68
    -1.00 (-6.82%)
     
  • FTSE

    8,213.49
    +41.34 (+0.51%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    38,236.07
    -37.98 (-0.10%)
     
  • CAD/EUR

    0.6786
    -0.0031 (-0.45%)
     

How to Boost Your Portfolio with Top Retail-Wholesale 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 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.

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. Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) holds a Zacks Rank #3 at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $11.78 a share two days away from its upcoming earnings release on April 24, 2024.

Chipotle Mexican Grill's Earnings ESP sits at 1.86%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $11.78 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.56.

CMG is one of just a large database of Retail-Wholesale stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is Shake Shack (SHAK).

Slated to report earnings on May 2, 2024, Shake Shack holds a #3 (Hold) ranking on the Zacks Rank, and it's Most Accurate Estimate is $0.11 a share 10 days from its next quarterly update.

For Shake Shack, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.10 is 8.33%.

Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, CMG and SHAK 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

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (CMG) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Shake Shack, Inc. (SHAK) : Free Stock Analysis Report

To read this article on Zacks.com click here.

Zacks Investment Research