Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Wynn Resorts (WYNN - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on lower revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on November 5. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis casino operator is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.59 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -31.4%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.77 billion, down 3.4% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 13.06% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Wynn?For Wynn, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -15.98%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Wynn will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Wynn would post earnings of $1.01 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.24, delivering a surprise of +22.77%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Wynn doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAnother stock from the Zacks Gaming industry, Flutter Entertainment (FLUT - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $0.26 per share for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -84.2%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $4.02 billion, up 6.1% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for Flutter has been revised 2% down to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of +12.50%, reflecting a higher Most Accurate Estimate.

When combined with a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell), this Earnings ESP makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Flutter will beat the consensus EPS estimate. Over the last four quarters, the company surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Cheniere Energy (LNG - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $3.62 per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.2 per share. This compares to earnings of $4.75 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of -13.81%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this natural gas company would post earnings of $2.89 per share when it actually produced earnings of $3.02, delivering a surprise of +4.5%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates two times.

Cheniere Energy, which belongs to the Zacks Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry, posted revenues of $6.17 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 14.85%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $4.44 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Cheniere Energy shares have added about 53.2% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13.1%.

What's Next for Cheniere Energy?While Cheniere Energy has outperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Cheniere Energy was favorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to outperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $5.03 on $5.89 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $9.12 on $22.23 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States is currently in the top 11% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Another stock from the same industry, SM Energy (SM - Free Report) , has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on November 3.

This independent oil and gas company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.03 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +52.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 20.3% higher over the last 30 days to the current level.

SM Energy's revenues are expected to be $1.97 billion, up 142.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Investors interested in Internet - Content stocks are likely familiar with Yelp (YELP) and RELX PLC (RELX). But which of these two companies is the best option for those looking for undervalued stocks?

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.

The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.

It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.

What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.

Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.

The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:

Value ScoreFor value investors, it's all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

Growth ScoreGrowth investors, on the other hand, are more concerned with a company's financial strength and health, and its future outlook. The Growth Style Score examines things like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will experience sustainable growth over time.

Momentum ScoreMomentum trading is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook, and these investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." The Momentum Style Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.

VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.

How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank A proprietary stock-rating model, the Zacks Rank utilizes the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings outlook, to help investors create a successful portfolio.

#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.82% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.

With more than 800 top-rated stocks to choose from, it can certainly feel overwhelming to pick the ones that are right for you and your investing journey.

That's where the Style Scores come in.

To have the best chance of big returns, you'll want to always consider stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B, which will give you the highest probability of success. If you're looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, it's important they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.

As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.

A stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, for instance, even one with Scores of A and B, will still have a declining earnings forecast, and a greater chance its share price will fall too.

Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.

Stock to Watch: McKesson (MCK - Free Report) McKesson Corporation, headquartered in Irving, TX, is one of the largest global healthcare companies and the leading pharmaceutical distributor in North America. The company operates across four business segments: North American Pharmaceutical, which distributes branded, generic, and specialty drugs; Prescription Technology Solutions, which provides patient access, affordability, and third-party logistics services for biopharma manufacturers and payors; Medical-Surgical Solutions, supplying alternate-site providers such as physician offices and home health; and Oncology & Multispecialty, primarily focused on provider solutions. Specialty pharmaceuticals, oncology services, and GLP-1 medications for diabetes and obesity are key growth engines. In FY25, GLP-1 revenues alone reached nearly $41 billion.

MCK is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.

Additionally, the company could be a top pick for growth investors. MCK has a Growth Style Score of A, forecasting year-over-year earnings growth of 14.3% for the current fiscal year.

Two analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2027. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.10 to $44.71 per share. MCK boasts an average earnings surprise of +4.3%.

With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Growth and VGM Style Scores, MCK should be on investors' short list.

Key Takeaways Lumentum's Systems revenues surged 122.6% year over year to $356.9 million in fiscal Q4 2026.LITE is shipping 1.6T transceivers for higher manufacturing yields and capacity utilization.LITE's earnings estimates imply 147% growth in fiscal 2027.
Lumentum Holdings Inc. (LITE - Free Report) is benefiting from rising demand for high-speed optical transceivers as artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud infrastructure deployments expand. The company’s transition toward next-generation 1.6T transceivers, improving manufacturing yields and record cloud shipments position its Systems business for further growth.

Lumentum’s Systems revenues reached $356.9 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, up 29.7% sequentially and 122.6% year over year. Cloud transceivers and optical circuit switching were the primary drivers of sequential growth, supported by record cloud transceiver shipments.

Most cloud transceiver shipments remained at 800G speeds, while Lumentum began shipping 1.6T products as planned. Management expects 1.6T adoption to intensify in the first quarter of fiscal 2027 and continue throughout 2027. The company is shipping several 1.6T stock-keeping units ahead of major competitors following improvements in product quality and time to market.

Transceiver profitability also improved as manufacturing yields and capacity utilization increased, while the initial rollout of higher-priced 1.6T products supported product mix. Additionally, some initial 1.6T offerings incorporate internally produced continuous-wave (CW) lasers, strengthening vertical integration.

Despite the positive momentum, Lumentum’s transceiver business continues to face a profitability gap against leading competitors. Cloud Light, LITE’s transceiver business, is generating more than $200 million in quarterly revenues, but gross margins remain below those of top peers.

How Competitors Fare Against LumentumLumentum faces stiff competition from the likes of Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI - Free Report) and Coherent (COHR - Free Report) in the optical networking market.

Applied Optoelectronics is benefiting from the growing demand for its 400G and 800G products as global organizations are shifting from legacy data centers to AI-driven infrastructures. Applied Optoelectronics has also reduced its reliance on China, sourcing less than 10% of the value of its 800G and 1.6T components from China in the most recent quarter.

Coherent and NVIDIA recently announced a multi-year strategic agreement to develop advanced optical technologies used in AI data centers. As part of the deal, NVIDIA has made a multibillion-dollar purchase commitment for Coherent’s laser and optical networking products. In addition, NVIDIA will invest $2 billion in Coherent to support research and development, expand manufacturing capacity and strengthen operations as Coherent increases its U.S.-based production capabilities.

LITE’s Price Performance, Valuation and EstimatesShares of Lumentum have rallied 148% year to date compared with the Communication - Components industry’s growth of 67.3%.

LITE YTD Performance Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

From a valuation standpoint, Lumentum trades at a forward price-to-sales ratio of 11.04X, higher than the industry’s average of 5.85X.

LITE Forward 12-Month (P/S) Valuation Chart
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Lumentum's fiscal 2027 and 2028 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 147% and 64%, respectively. The estimates for fiscal 2026 have been revised downward in the past 30 days.

Image Source: Zacks Investment Research

Lumentum currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The market expects Lincoln National (LNC - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on November 5, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis insurance and retirement business is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.96 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -3.9%.

Revenues are expected to be $5.01 billion, up 4.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 0.48% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Lincoln National?For Lincoln National, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.31%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination indicates that Lincoln National will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?While calculating estimates for a company's future earnings, analysts often consider to what extent it has been able to match past consensus estimates. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Lincoln National would post earnings of $2 per share when it actually produced earnings of $2.24, delivering a surprise of +12.00%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Lincoln National appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAmong the stocks in the Zacks Insurance - Life Insurance industry, Primerica (PRI - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $6.39 per share for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +1%. This quarter's revenue is expected to be $900.94 million, up 7.4% from the year-ago quarter.

The consensus EPS estimate for Primerica has been revised 0.3% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. However, a higher Most Accurate Estimate has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +0.35%.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggests that Primerica will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Sabre (SABR - Free Report) is expected to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook gives a good sense of the company's earnings picture, but how the actual results compare to these estimates is a powerful factor that could impact its near-term stock price.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on November 5. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis provider of technology services to the travel industry is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.02 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +300%.

Revenues are expected to be $729.06 million, up 1.9% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts may not always get reflected in the aggregate change.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Sabre?For Sabre, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +50.00%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #5.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Sabre will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Sabre would post a loss of$0.07 per share when it actually produced a loss of -$0.17, delivering a surprise of -142.86%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates two times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Sabre doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

A fat dividend yield means nothing if the company is borrowing to fund it. These five stocks prove their payouts with cold, hard cash flow numbers that tell a very different story than the yield alone.

For the quarter ended September 2026, LKQ (LKQ - Free Report) reported revenue of $3.32 billion, down 5.1% over the same period last year. EPS came in at $0.50, compared to $0.84 in the year-ago quarter.

The reported revenue represents a surprise of -0.12% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.32 billion. With the consensus EPS estimate being $0.48, the EPS surprise was +4.17%.

While investors scrutinize revenue and earnings changes year-over-year and how they compare with Wall Street expectations to determine their next move, some key metrics always offer a more accurate picture of a company's financial health.

As these metrics influence top- and bottom-line performance, comparing them to the year-ago numbers and what analysts estimated helps investors project a stock's price performance more accurately.

Here is how LKQ performed in the just reported quarter in terms of the metrics most widely monitored and projected by Wall Street analysts:

Revenue - Organic - YoY change: -5% versus -3.8% estimated by two analysts on average.Organic Growth - Parts and services - Wholesale - North America: -2.4% compared to the -0.2% average estimate based on two analysts.Organic Growth - Other: 13.6% versus the two-analyst average estimate of 21.5%.Organic Growth - Parts and services - Specialty: 0.9% compared to the -2.4% average estimate based on two analysts.Revenue- Other- Total: $97 million versus $99.59 million estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a +14.1% change.Revenue- Parts and Services- Europe: $1.45 billion versus $1.47 billion estimated by three analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -10.2% change.Revenue- Parts and Services: $3.22 billion compared to the $3.25 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -5.6% year over year.Revenue- Parts and Services- Specialty: $465 million versus the three-analyst average estimate of $443.06 million. The reported number represents a year-over-year change of +2%.Revenue- Parts and Services- Wholesale- North America: $1.31 billion compared to the $1.34 billion average estimate based on three analysts. The reported number represents a change of -2.8% year over year.Revenue- Specialty: $465 million compared to the $445.59 million average estimate based on two analysts. The reported number represents a change of +1.8% year over year.Revenue- Europe: $1.45 billion versus $1.48 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -10.3% change.Revenue- Wholesale- North America: $1.4 billion versus $1.39 billion estimated by two analysts on average. Compared to the year-ago quarter, this number represents a -1.5% change.View all Key Company Metrics for LKQ here>>>

Shares of LKQ have returned -24.7% over the past month versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +0.9% change. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell), indicating that it could underperform the broader market in the near term.

The market expects Microchip Technology (MCHP - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The stock might move higher if these key numbers top expectations in the upcoming earnings report, which is expected to be released on November 5. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call will mostly determine the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations, it's worth having a handicapping insight into the odds of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis chipmaker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.94 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +168.6%.

Revenues are expected to be $1.61 billion, up 41% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.96% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. Our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction) -- has this insight at its core.

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Microchip Tech?For Microchip Tech, the Most Accurate Estimate is higher than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bullish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of +3.31%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #2.

So, this combination indicates that Microchip Tech will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Microchip Tech would post earnings of $0.7 per share when it actually produced earnings of $0.76, delivering a surprise of +8.57%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Microchip Tech appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

An Industry Player's Expected ResultsON Semiconductor Corp. (ON - Free Report) , another stock in the Zacks Semiconductor - Analog and Mixed industry, is expected to report earnings per share of $0.88 for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate points to a year-over-year change of +39.7%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $1.71 billion, up 10% from the year-ago quarter.

Over the last 30 days, the consensus EPS estimate for ON Semiconductor Corp. has been revised 0.7% up to the current level. Nevertheless, the company now has an Earnings ESP of +5.68%, reflecting a higher Most Accurate Estimate.

This Earnings ESP, combined with its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), suggests that ON Semiconductor Corp. will most likely beat the consensus EPS estimate. The company beat consensus EPS estimates in each of the trailing four quarters.

Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

Emcor Group (EME - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $9.6 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $8.33 per share. This compares to earnings of $6.57 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +15.25%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this construction and maintenance company would post earnings of $7.23 per share when it actually produced earnings of $9.06, delivering a surprise of +25.31%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

Emcor Group, which belongs to the Zacks Building Products - Heavy Construction industry, posted revenues of $5.54 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.52%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $4.3 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Emcor Group shares have added about 10.9% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13.1%.

What's Next for Emcor Group?While Emcor Group has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Emcor Group was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $8.58 on $5.33 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $32.98 on $20.31 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Building Products - Heavy Construction is currently in the bottom 23% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

Tutor Perini (TPC - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on November 4.

This construction company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $1.34 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +16.5%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

Tutor Perini's revenues are expected to be $1.62 billion, up 14.3% from the year-ago quarter.

Agco (AGCO - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $1.05 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.87 per share. This compares to earnings of $1.35 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +20.69%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this farm equipment maker would post earnings of $1.54 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.43, delivering a surprise of -7.14%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times.

Agco, which belongs to the Zacks Manufacturing - Farm Equipment industry, posted revenues of $2.26 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.77%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $2.48 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates two times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Agco shares have lost about 2.1% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13.1%.

What's Next for Agco?While Agco has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Agco was mixed. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to perform in line with the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $2.32 on $2.87 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $5.54 on $10.15 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Manufacturing - Farm Equipment is currently in the bottom 15% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

CNH Industrial (CNH - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on November 9.

This truck, tractor and bus maker is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.10 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +25%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 2.5% lower over the last 30 days to the current level.

CNH Industrial's revenues are expected to be $4.44 billion, up 1% from the year-ago quarter.

Investors interested in Transportation stocks should always be looking to find the best-performing companies in the group. Herc Holdings (HRI - Free Report) is a stock that can certainly grab the attention of many investors, but do its recent returns compare favorably to the sector as a whole? By taking a look at the stock's year-to-date performance in comparison to its Transportation peers, we might be able to answer that question.

Herc Holdings is a member of our Transportation group, which includes 114 different companies and currently sits at #13 in the Zacks Sector Rank. The Zacks Sector Rank includes 16 different groups and is listed in order from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors.

The Zacks Rank is a proven model that highlights a variety of stocks with the right characteristics to outperform the market over the next one to three months. The system emphasizes earnings estimate revisions and favors companies with improving earnings outlooks. Herc Holdings is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy).

Within the past quarter, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for HRI's full-year earnings has moved 5.4% higher. This is a sign of improving analyst sentiment and a positive earnings outlook trend.

Based on the latest available data, HRI has gained about 12% so far this year. At the same time, Transportation stocks have gained an average of 9.5%. As we can see, Herc Holdings is performing better than its sector in the calendar year.

Another stock in the Transportation sector, International Seaways (INSW - Free Report) , has outperformed the sector so far this year. The stock's year-to-date return is 130.2%.

The consensus estimate for International Seaways' current year EPS has increased 11.9% over the past three months. The stock currently has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).

Breaking things down more, Herc Holdings is a member of the Transportation - Equipment and Leasing industry, which includes 11 individual companies and currently sits at #81 in the Zacks Industry Rank. Stocks in this group have gained about 7.3% so far this year, so HRI is performing better this group in terms of year-to-date returns.

International Seaways, however, belongs to the Transportation - Shipping industry. Currently, this 29-stock industry is ranked #49. The industry has moved +73.1% so far this year.

Herc Holdings and International Seaways could continue their solid performance, so investors interested in Transportation stocks should continue to pay close attention to these stocks.

The Supply Chain Quietly Powering the AI Boom—And 4 Ways to Play ItEntegris NASDAQ: ENTG reported record third-quarter 2026 revenue of $1.006 billion, up 25% from a year earlier and 14% sequentially, as demand strengthened across advanced logic, advanced memory and semiconductor capital-equipment markets.

Get Entegris alerts:

CEO Dave Reeder said the company benefited from continued investment in artificial-intelligence infrastructure, increasing semiconductor process complexity and improved internal execution. He said Entegris increased manufacturing output and converted more backlog into revenue than expected during the quarter.

Industrial Tech Crossovers: When Manufacturing Meets Innovation“Demand was strong,” Reeder said on the company’s earnings call. “The teams increased production and throughput really beyond our expectations, which allowed us to convert more demand to backlog into revenue.”

Entegris said unit-driven revenue growth accelerated to 20% in the third quarter from about 6% in the first quarter. The company expects wafer starts to grow approximately 8% in 2026, while its capital-expenditure-related businesses grew more than 35% in the third quarter, driven particularly by wafer fab equipment demand.

Margins Expand as Volume and Productivity Improve
5 Trends You Need to Know This QuarterGAAP net income totaled $158 million in the quarter, while non-GAAP net income was $190 million, an increase of 73% year over year. GAAP diluted earnings per share were $1.03, and non-GAAP EPS rose 71% to $1.23.

GAAP gross margin reached 49.7%, while adjusted gross margin was 48.9%, improving 130 basis points sequentially and 530 basis points from a year earlier. Adjusted EBITDA was $303 million, or 30.2% of sales, compared with 27.3% in the prior-year quarter.

CFO Sukhi Nagesh attributed the margin improvement to higher volumes, factory absorption, yield gains, productivity initiatives and lower inventory scrap and rework. The gains offset a 30% year-over-year increase in direct factory headcount, along with higher incentive compensation and other spending to support customer demand.

Reeder said the company’s gross-margin improvement was achieved without a material pricing benefit. Entegris said it evaluates pricing at the product and customer level, but Nagesh said the company had not included material pricing actions in either third-quarter results or fourth-quarter guidance.

Segment Growth Broadens
Materials Solutions, or MS, generated third-quarter revenue of $404 million, up 16% year over year and 9% sequentially. The segment’s adjusted operating margin was about 20.4%. Entegris cited growth across CMP consumables, advanced deposition materials, specialty gases and coatings.

Advanced Planarization Solutions, or APS, posted record quarterly sales of $605 million, up 31% year over year and 18% sequentially. APS adjusted operating margin was 34.4%, supported by higher production volumes, productivity improvements and favorable mix.

Regionally, growth was strongest in markets investing at the leading edge. Reeder said Taiwan was the company’s largest growth contributor, with additional momentum in Korea, Southeast Asia and North America. In response to an analyst question, he said China was flat year over year in the third quarter and up approximately 6% sequentially.

The company also highlighted new customer wins, including a significant extreme ultraviolet filtration application at the 2-nanometer node, an advanced-materials plan of record with a major smartphone and technology provider, and multiple CMP plans of record with memory manufacturers.

Book-to-bill remained “significantly above one,” according to Reeder. Backlog increased more than 35% sequentially and more than doubled from a year earlier. The company said customers are providing longer planning horizons and increased visibility into future capacity ramps.

Capacity, Cash Flow and Debt Reduction
Entegris reported record operating cash flow and free cash flow of $224 million, equal to 22.2% of sales. The company said the result reflected higher earnings, lower capital spending and working-capital improvements.

During the quarter, Entegris fully repaid its 2029 term loan ahead of schedule, reducing net leverage to 2.9 times at the end of the quarter. Nagesh said the company now expects to end 2026 with leverage of approximately 2.7 times, more than one turn lower than at the start of the year.

Management said it has substantial capacity within its existing manufacturing network and expects to address potential bottlenecks through selective spending, network optimization, procurement centralization, yield improvements and productivity programs. Reeder said the company had more capacity at the end of the quarter than it had entering the year, despite closing three dilutive facilities.

The company said its KSP South facility reached gross-profit breakeven in the third quarter. Management expects KSP to remain dilutive to enterprise gross margins through most of 2027 before becoming roughly neutral as that year ends. The Colorado facility is producing customer samples and is expected to begin generating revenue in 2027.

Fourth-Quarter Outlook
For the fourth quarter, Entegris forecast revenue of $1.025 billion to $1.055 billion. At the midpoint, the outlook represents approximately 26% year-over-year growth. The company expects gross margin of 49.2% to 49.7% on both a GAAP and non-GAAP basis.

GAAP EPS outlook: $1.09 to $1.17 per share
Non-GAAP EPS outlook: $1.32 to $1.40 per share
Expected adjusted EBITDA margin at midpoint: about 31%
Expected 2026 capital expenditures: about $200 million

Looking into the first quarter of 2027, Entegris expects revenue to decline by a mid-single-digit percentage sequentially due to fewer selling days and typical seasonal patterns, while increasing more than 20% from a year earlier. Management said both the MS and APS segments are expected to post double-digit year-over-year growth in the fourth quarter and first quarter.

Reeder said Entegris expects semiconductor capital spending to remain strong in 2027, with the company viewing the industry as still being in the earlier stages of a multiyear investment cycle. Entegris plans to discuss its long-term growth framework, AI-native strategy and financial targets at its Capital Markets Day on Nov. 9.

About Entegris (NASDAQ:ENTG)Entegris, Inc is a materials science and process technology company that supplies products and solutions used in the manufacture of semiconductors and other advanced technology products. Its offerings help chipmakers manage contamination, handle sensitive materials, and improve process control across the semiconductor production cycle.

The company's products include specialty chemicals and gases, filtration and purification systems, wafer and substrate handling products, fluid-management components, and advanced materials used in semiconductor fabrication.

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest reporting and unbiased coverage. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].

Should You Invest $1,000 in Entegris Right Now?Before you consider Entegris, you'll want to hear this.

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This weekly update tracks some of the largest cryptocurrencies by market share: bitcoin and ether.

zkLink announced that it has confirmed an ongoing attack on the Arbitrator contracts of zkLink Nova deployed on Ethereum and Optimism. Its technical team is taking urgent action to contain losses. The official called on the attacker to cease further exploitation of cross-chain contracts and return the affected funds; cooperation in returning the funds will earn a 20% white hat bounty, with no further action taken against the attacker. Earlier, security firm SlowMist issued a security alert noting the incident has caused approximately $783,100 in losses. The root vulnerability stems from the Arbitrator contract’s claimMessage function not clearing the temporary finalizeMessageHash and not requiring each call to go through a new authentication callback. Attackers exploited the publicly callable authorized SyncL2TxHashRelayer to inject a forged batch root and siphon assets.

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The market expects Ameren (AEE - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year increase in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.

The earnings report, which is expected to be released on November 5, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.

While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.

Zacks Consensus EstimateThis utility is expected to post quarterly earnings of $2.29 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of +5.5%.

Revenues are expected to be $2.88 billion, up 6.8% from the year-ago quarter.

Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.05% lower over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.

Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.

Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise

Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).

The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.

Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.

A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.

Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).

How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for Ameren?For Ameren, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.47%.

On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.

So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that Ameren will beat the consensus EPS estimate.

Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.

For the last reported quarter, it was expected that Ameren would post earnings of $1.08 per share when it actually produced earnings of $1.13, delivering a surprise of +4.63%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates four times.

Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.

That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.

Ameren doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.

Expected Results of an Industry PlayerAnother stock from the Zacks Utility - Electric Power industry, MGE (MGEE - Free Report) , is soon expected to post earnings of $1.16 per share for the quarter ended September 2026. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -4.9%. Revenues for the quarter are expected to be $181.67 million, up 3.4% from the year-ago quarter.

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Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.

American Water Works Company, Inc. ( AWK ) Q3 2026 Earnings Call October 29, 2026 9:00 AM EDT Company Participants Aaron Musgrave - Vice President of Investor Relations John Griffith - CEO, President & Director David Bowler - Executive VP & CFO Cheryl Norton - Executive VP & COO Conference Call Participants Shahriar Pourreza - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division Nicholas Campanella - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division Paul Zimbardo - Jefferies LLC, Research Division Anthony Crowdell - Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Research Division Gregg Orrill - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division Richard Sunderland - Truist Securities, Inc., Research Division Presentation Operator Good morning, and welcome to American Water's Third Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. As a reminder, this call is being recorded and is also being webcast with an accompanying slide presentation through the company's Investor Relations website.

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP (“SBS”), a national shareholder rights litigation firm, reminds investors of a class action lawsuit against AppLovin Corporation (“AppLovin” or “the Company”) (NASDAQ: APP) for violations of §§10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Shareholders who purchased shares of APP during the class period listed are encouraged to contact the firm regarding possible lead plaintiff appointments. Appointment as lead plaintiff is not required to partake in any recovery.

CLASS PERIOD: February 12, 2026 to August 5, 2026

DEADLINE: November 16, 2026

If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate.

CASE DETAILS: According to the Complaint, the Company made false and misleading statements to the market. AppLovin’s generative AI video tool for its AppLovin Ads platform suffered from significant delays. The Company overstated improvements to its AI models. The Company exaggerated the benefits of the “virtuous cycle” it claimed its AI provided to both customers and itself. Based on these facts, the Company’s public statements were false and materially misleading throughout the class period. When the market learned the truth about AppLovin, investors suffered damages.

We also encourage you to contact Brian Schall or David Schwartz of Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP, 2049 Century Park East, Suite 2460, Los Angeles, CA 90067, at 310-301-3335, to discuss your rights free of charge. You can also reach us through the firm's website at www.schallfirm.com, or by email at [email protected].

The class, in this case, has not yet been certified, and until certification occurs, you are not represented by an attorney. If you choose to take no action, you can remain an absent class member.

Join the case to recover your losses

WHY SBS? Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP represents investors around the world and specializes in securities class action lawsuits and shareholder rights litigation. Bringing together the extensive experience and diverse skillsets of founding partners Brian Schall, Andrew Brown, and David Schwartz, SBS is dedicated to aggressively advocating for every investor.

This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and rules of ethics.        

CONTACT:

Schall, Brown & Schwartz LLP
Brian Schall, Esq.,
Andrew Brown, Esq.,
David Schwartz, Esq.,
www.schallfirm.com
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Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

While the top- and bottom-line numbers for Alnylam (ALNY) give a sense of how the business performed in the quarter ended September 2026, it could be worth looking at how some of its key metrics compare to Wall Street estimates and year-ago values.

Ameriprise Financial Services (AMP - Free Report) came out with quarterly earnings of $12.07 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.6 per share. This compares to earnings of $9.92 per share a year ago. These figures are adjusted for non-recurring items.

This quarterly report represents an earnings surprise of +4.05%. A quarter ago, it was expected that this financial services company would post earnings of $10.72 per share when it actually produced earnings of $11.07, delivering a surprise of +3.26%.

Over the last four quarters, the company has surpassed consensus EPS estimates four times.

Ameriprise, which belongs to the Zacks Financial - Investment Management industry, posted revenues of $5.07 billion for the quarter ended September 2026, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.79%. This compares to year-ago revenues of $4.61 billion. The company has topped consensus revenue estimates four times over the last four quarters.

The sustainability of the stock's immediate price movement based on the recently-released numbers and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's commentary on the earnings call.

Ameriprise shares have lost about 0.1% since the beginning of the year versus the S&P 500's gain of 13.1%.

What's Next for Ameriprise?While Ameriprise has underperformed the market so far this year, the question that comes to investors' minds is: what's next for the stock?

There are no easy answers to this key question, but one reliable measure that can help investors address this is the company's earnings outlook. Not only does this include current consensus earnings expectations for the coming quarter(s), but also how these expectations have changed lately.

Empirical research shows a strong correlation between near-term stock movements and trends in earnings estimate revisions. Investors can track such revisions by themselves or rely on a tried-and-tested rating tool like the Zacks Rank, which has an impressive track record of harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions.

Ahead of this earnings release, the estimate revisions trend for Ameriprise was unfavorable. While the magnitude and direction of estimate revisions could change following the company's just-released earnings report, the current status translates into a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) for the stock. So, the shares are expected to underperform the market in the near future. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

It will be interesting to see how estimates for the coming quarters and the current fiscal year change in the days ahead. The current consensus EPS estimate is $12.22 on $5.2 billion in revenues for the coming quarter and $46.13 on $19.99 billion in revenues for the current fiscal year.

Investors should be mindful of the fact that the outlook for the industry can have a material impact on the performance of the stock as well. In terms of the Zacks Industry Rank, Financial - Investment Management is currently in the bottom 18% of the 250 plus Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

PennantPark (PFLT - Free Report) , another stock in the same industry, has yet to report results for the quarter ended September 2026. The results are expected to be released on November 23.

This investment company is expected to post quarterly earnings of $0.27 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -3.6%. The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has remained unchanged over the last 30 days.

PennantPark's revenues are expected to be $66.51 million, down 3.6% from the year-ago quarter.

Key Takeaways Ameriprise's Q3 earnings of $11.26 per share missed estimates but rose 14% y/y.AMP's adjusted revenues rose 7% to $5.08B, while operating expenses climbed 8%.Ameriprise's AUM grew 8% y/y to $1.37T, and the company announced a $5.5B buyback plan.
Ameriprise Financial’s (AMP - Free Report)  third-quarter 2026 adjusted operating earnings were $11.26 per share, which missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $11.60. However, the bottom line reflected a rise of 14% from the year-ago quarter. Excluding unlocking, adjusted operating earnings were $12.07 per share, up 22% year over year.

Results benefited from higher revenues and an improvement in assets under management (AUM), assets under administration (AUA) and assets under advisement balances. However, an increase in expenses was a headwind.

After considering significant items, net income (GAAP basis) was $1.13 billion or $12.32 per share, up from $912 million or $9.33 per share in the prior-year quarter.

AMP’s Adjusted Revenues Improve, Expenses RiseAdjusted operating total net revenues in the reported quarter were $5.08 billion, increasing 7% year over year. The top line beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $5.03 billion. Excluding unlocking, adjusted operating net revenues were $5.07 billion, up 10% year over year. Total GAAP net revenues were $5.12 billion, up 7% year over year.

The rise in revenues was primarily driven by asset growth and strong client engagement. Management and financial advice fees increased 15% year over year to $3.23 billion, while distribution fees rose 5% to $568 million. Net investment income declined 1% to $908 million.

Adjusted operating expenses totaled $3.77 billion, rising 8% year over year. Excluding unlocking, adjusted operating expenses were $3.68 billion, up 9% year over year.

As of Sept. 30, 2026, total AUM, AUA and assets under advisement were $1.78 trillion, up 8% year over year. AUM increased 8% to $1.37 trillion, while AUA rose 4% to $363 billion.

The adjusted operating return on equity, excluding accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI), was 55.3%, up from 52.8% in the prior-year quarter. Excluding unlocking, the ratio was 56.2%, up from 52.8%.

Update on AMP’s Share RepurchasesThe company repurchased 1.6 million shares for $871 million in the reported quarter.

Also, Ameriprise announced a share repurchase authorization of $5.5 billion through Sept. 30, 2028.

Our Take on AMPAmeriprise is well-positioned for top-line growth on the back of its robust asset balances, strong client engagement and investments in the client and advisor experience. However, elevated expenses due to volume-related costs and investments for growth will likely remain a headwind.

Performance of Other Asset ManagersBlackRock’s (BLK - Free Report) third-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings of $15.93 per share surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $13.97. The figure reflects a 38% rise from the year-ago quarter’s actual.

BLK’s results benefited from higher revenues, robust asset inflows and improved operating performance. However, higher expenses weighed on BlackRock’s results to an extent.

Blackstone’s (BX - Free Report) third-quarter 2026 distributable earnings of $1.32 per share outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.26. However, the bottom line declined 13% from the prior-year quarter.

BX’s results benefited from a rise in the AUM balance to record levels and higher fee-related earnings. However, a decline in segment revenues was the undermining factor.