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How to Find Strong Consumer Staples Stocks Slated for Positive Earnings Surprises

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Quarterly financial reports play a vital role on Wall Street, as they help investors see how a company has performed and what might be coming down the road in the near-term. And out of all of the metrics and results to consider, earnings is one of the most important.

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.

The ability to identify stocks that are likely to top quarterly earnings expectations can be profitable, but it's no simple task. Here at Zacks, our Earnings ESP filter helps make things easier.

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 ranking of #3 (Hold), or 60% of all stocks covered by the Zacks Rank, are expected to perform in-line with the broader market. Stocks with rankings of #2 (Buy) and #1 (Strong Buy), 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 Smucker?

Now that we understand what the ESP is and how beneficial it can be, let's dive into a stock that currently fits the bill. Smucker (SJM - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) right now and its Most Accurate Estimate sits at $2.33 a share, just 13 days from its upcoming earnings release on June 6, 2024.

SJM has an Earnings ESP figure of +0.44%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $2.33 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.32. Smucker 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.

SJM is part of a big group of Consumer Staples stocks that boast a positive ESP, and investors may want to take a look at Dutch Bros (BROS - Free Report) as well.

Dutch Bros is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on August 13, 2024. BROS' Most Accurate Estimate sits at $0.13 a share 81 days from its next earnings release.

Dutch Bros' Earnings ESP figure currently stands at +1.74% after taking the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.12.

Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, SJM and BROS 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:


The J. M. Smucker Company (SJM) - free report >>

Dutch Bros Inc. (BROS) - free report >>

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