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Can NetApp (NTAP) Keep the Earnings Streak Alive This Quarter?

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Looking for a stock that might be in a good position to beat earnings at its next report? Consider NetApp, Inc. (NTAP - Free Report) , a firm in the Computer-Storage Devices industry, which could be a great candidate for another beat.

This company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. In fact, in these reports, NTAP has beaten estimates by at least 10% in both cases, suggesting it has a nice short-term history of crushing expectations.

Earnings in Focus

Two quarters ago, NTAP expected to post earnings of 18 cents per share, while it actually produced earnings of 28 cents per share, a beat of 55.6%. Meanwhile, for the most recent quarter, the company looked to deliver earnings of 38 cents per share, when it actually produced earnings of 42 cents per share, representing a 10.5% positive surprise.

NETAPP INC Price and EPS Surprise

 

Thanks in part to this history, recent estimates have been moving higher for NetApp. In fact, the Earnings ESP for NTAP is positive, which is a great sign of a coming beat.

After all, the Zacks Earnings ESP compares the most accurate estimate to the broad consensus, looking to find stocks that have seen big revisions as of late, suggesting that analysts have recently become more bullish on the company’s earnings prospects. This is the case for NTAP, as the firm currently has a Zacks Earnings ESP of 1.70%, so another beat could be around the corner.

This is particularly true when you consider that NTAP has a great Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) which can be a harbinger of outperformance and a signal for a strong earnings profile. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

When you add this solid Zacks Rank to a positive Earnings ESP, a positive earnings surprise happens nearly 70% of the time, so it seems pretty likely that NTAP could see another beat at its next report, especially if recent trends are any guide.

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