4 Stocks Set to Comfortably Beat Analyst Expectations This Earnings Season

 | Oct 11, 2023 05:42AM ET

  • U.S. companies are gearing up for the Q3 earnings season
  • In this article, we'll examine five essential financial metrics to gauge a company's health before the earnings floodgates open
  • Later, we'll take a closer look at four companies poised to announce strong earnings with positive outlooks
  • Earnings play a crucial role in shaping how investors perceive a company's strength, and this, in turn, can significantly impact the performance of its stock. Today, we'll delve into four companies set to report better-than-expected earnings soon and, possibly, promising outlooks for 2024.

    But first, let's clarify some essential financial metrics to keep in mind when assessing a company's financial health:

    • Profit: This represents the capital left after deducting the company's expenses during a specific timeframe. In simple terms, it's the difference between the money earned from selling goods or services and what's spent.
    • Revenue: It's the total capital generated by a company without accounting for expenses during a given period. Essentially, it's the pre-profit stage. For companies, profitability should always trump revenue because having high revenue doesn't guarantee high profit. If there's a lot of money coming in but it's quickly spent, the company won't thrive.
    • Cash Flow: This figure reflects the net money flowing in and out of a company during a specific period. It's crucial that this remains positive; otherwise, the company might struggle to meet its financial obligations.
    • EPS (Earnings Per Share): In the United States, it's often abbreviated as EPS. This metric represents the portion of a company's net profit allocated to each of its outstanding shares. The calculation involves dividing the company's net profit by the total number of common shares.
    • EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization): EBITDA measures a company's profitability before considering taxes, interest, depreciation, and amortization. Its purpose is to provide an accurate picture of what a company truly earns or loses.

    Now, let's explore 4 companies that are anticipated to deliver strong results in the current year and the next, backed by favorable ratings.

    1. American International/h2