Earnings are arguably the most important single number on a company's quarterly financial report. Wall Street clearly dives into all of the other metrics and management's input, but the EPS figure helps cut through all the noise.

Life and the stock market are both about expectations, and rising above what is expected is often rewarded, while falling short can come with negative consequences. Investors might want to try to capture stronger returns by finding positive earnings surprises.

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 #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 MSCI?

The final step today is to look at a stock that meets our ESP qualifications. MSCI (MSCI Quick QuoteMSCI - Free Report) earns a #3 (Hold) 11 days from its next quarterly earnings release on October 20, 2026, and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $5.05 a share.

MSCI's Earnings ESP sits at +0.60%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $5.05 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.01. MSCI is also part of a large group of stocks that boast a positive ESP. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

MSCI is one of just a large database of Finance stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is Arch Capital Group (ACGL Quick QuoteACGL - Free Report) .

Slated to report earnings on October 27, 2026, Arch Capital Group holds a #3 (Hold) ranking on the Zacks Rank, and its Most Accurate Estimate is $2.13 a share 18 days from its next quarterly update.

Arch Capital Group's Earnings ESP figure currently stands at +8.91% after taking the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.96.

Because both stocks hold a positive Earnings ESP, MSCI and ACGL 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 >>