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How to Find Strong Business Services Stocks Slated for Positive Earnings Surprises

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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.

Now that we know how important earnings and earnings surprises are, it's time to show investors how to take advantage of these events to boost their returns by utilizing the Zacks Earnings ESP filter.

The Zacks Earnings ESP, Explained

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.

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 system also utilizes our core Zacks Rank to provide a stronger system for identifying stocks that might beat their next quarterly earnings estimate and possibly see the stock price climb.

In fact, when we combined a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) or better and a positive Earnings ESP, stocks produced a positive surprise 70% of the time. Perhaps most importantly, using these parameters has helped produce 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 SPX Technologies?

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 quickly look at a qualifying stock. SPX Technologies (SPXC - Free Report) holds a #2 (Buy) at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $1.28 a share nine days away from its upcoming earnings release on August 1, 2024.

By taking the percentage difference between the $1.28 Most Accurate Estimate and the $1.26 Zacks Consensus Estimate, SPX Technologies has an Earnings ESP of +1.59%. Investors should also know that SPXC is one of a large group 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.

SPXC is one of just a large database of Business Services stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH - Free Report) .

Slated to report earnings on July 26, 2024, Booz Allen Hamilton holds a #2 (Buy) ranking on the Zacks Rank, and it's Most Accurate Estimate is $1.55 a share three days from its next quarterly update.

For Booz Allen Hamilton, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.52 is +1.95%.

SPXC 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 >>


See More Zacks Research for These Tickers


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Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (BAH) - free report >>

SPX Technologies, Inc. (SPXC) - free report >>

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