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.

The earnings figure itself is key, 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 even higher.

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 last thing we will do today, now that we have a grasp on the ESP and how powerful of a tool it can be, is to look at a qualifying stock. EPR Properties (EPR) holds a Zacks Rank #2 at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $1.18 a share 30 days away from its upcoming earnings release on May 7, 2025.

By taking the percentage difference between the $1.18 Most Accurate Estimate and the $1.16 Zacks Consensus Estimate, EPR Properties has an Earnings ESP of 1.08%.

EPR is just one of a large group of Finance stocks with a positive ESP figure. Virtu Financial (VIRT) is another qualifying stock you may want to consider.

Virtu Financial, which is readying to report earnings on April 23, 2025, sits at a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) right now. It's Most Accurate Estimate is currently $1.15 a share, and VIRT is 16 days out from its next earnings report.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Virtu Financial is $1.02, and when you take the percentage difference between that number and its Most Accurate Estimate, you get the Earnings ESP figure of 13.3%.

EPR and VIRT'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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EPR Properties (EPR) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

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