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.

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.

2 Stocks to Add to Your Watchlist

The Zacks Expected Surprise Prediction, or ESP, works by locking in on the most up-to-date analyst earnings revisions because they can be more accurate than estimates from weeks or even months before the actual release date. The thinking is pretty straightforward: analysts who provide earnings estimates closer to the report are likely to have more 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 final step today is to look at a stock that meets our ESP qualifications. Lyft (LYFT) earns a Zacks Rank #3 29 days from its next quarterly earnings release on February 11, 2025, and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $0.26 a share.

By taking the percentage difference between the $0.26 Most Accurate Estimate and the $0.23 Zacks Consensus Estimate, Lyft has an Earnings ESP of 13.75%.

LYFT is one of just a large database of Computer and Technology stocks with positive ESPs. Another solid-looking stock is Fortinet (FTNT).

Fortinet is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, and is getting ready to report earnings on February 6, 2025. FTNT's Most Accurate Estimate sits at $0.60 a share 24 days from its next earnings release.

For Fortinet, the percentage difference between its Most Accurate Estimate and its Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.60 is 0.22%.

LYFT and FTNT'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 >>

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Lyft, Inc. (LYFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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