Back to top

Image: Bigstock

How to Boost Your Portfolio with Top Basic Materials Stocks Set to Beat Earnings

Read MoreHide Full 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.

The earnings figure itself is key, of course, 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 and vice versa.

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 Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete 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 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 Freeport-McMoRan?

The final step today is to look at a stock that meets our ESP qualifications. Freeport-McMoRan (FCX - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) 24 days from its next quarterly earnings release on July 20, 2023, and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $0.36 a share.

By taking the percentage difference between the $0.36 Most Accurate Estimate and the $0.33 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Freeport-McMoRan has an Earnings ESP of +7.58%. Investors should also know that FCX 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.

FCX is part of a big group of Basic Materials stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Albemarle (ALB - Free Report) as well.

Albemarle is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on August 2, 2023. ALB's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $6 a share 37 days from its next earnings release.

Albemarle's Earnings ESP figure currently stands at +40.3% after taking the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.28.

FCX and ALB's positive ESP figures tell us that both stocks have a good chance at beating analyst expectations in their next earnings report.

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:


Freeport-McMoRan Inc. (FCX) - free report >>

Albemarle Corporation (ALB) - free report >>

Published in