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How to Boost Your Portfolio with Top Computer and Technology Stocks Set to Beat Earnings

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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.

Hunting for 'earnings whispers' or companies poised to beat their quarterly earnings estimates is a somewhat common practice. But that doesn't make it easy. One way that has been proven to work is by using the Zacks Earnings ESP tool.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, Explained

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.

Now that we understand the basic idea, let's look at how the Expected Surprise Prediction works. 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.

Bringing together a positive earnings ESP alongside a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better has helped stocks report a positive earnings surprise 70% of the time. Furthermore, by using these parameters, investors have seen 28.3% annual returns on average, according to our 10 year backtest.

Stocks with a #3 (Hold) ranking, which is most stocks covered at 60%, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. But stocks that fall into the #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy) ranking, or the top 15% and top 5% of stocks, respectively, should outperform the market. Strong Buy stocks should outperform more than any other rank.

Should You Consider Keysight?

The final step today is to look at a stock that meets our ESP qualifications. Keysight (KEYS - Free Report) earns a #2 (Buy) 13 days from its next quarterly earnings release on May 16, 2023, and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $1.95 a share.

KEYS has an Earnings ESP figure of +0.09%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $1.95 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.94. Keysight is one of a large database of stocks with positive ESPs. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

KEYS is part of a big group of Computer and Technology stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Veeva Systems (VEEV - Free Report) as well.

Veeva Systems is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on June 7, 2023. VEEV's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $1 a share 35 days from its next earnings release.

Veeva Systems' Earnings ESP figure currently stands at +23.46% after taking the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.81.

Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, KEYS and VEEV 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 >>


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:


Veeva Systems Inc. (VEEV) - free report >>

Keysight Technologies Inc. (KEYS) - free report >>

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