Looking for a stock that might be in a good position to beat earnings at its next report? Consider Halliburton Company HAL, a firm in the Oil and Gas – Field Services industry, which could be a great candidate for another beat.
This company has seen a nice streak of beating earnings estimates, especially when looking at the previous two reports. In fact, in these reports, HAL has beaten estimates by at least 20% in both cases, suggesting it has a nice short-term history of crushing expectations.
Earnings in Focus
Two quarters ago, HAL expected to post a loss of 19 cents per share, while it actually produced a loss of 14 cents per share, a beat of 26.3%. Meanwhile, for the most recent quarter, the company looked to deliver loss of 7 cents per share, when it actually reported earnings of 1 cent per share instead, representing a 114.3% positive surprise.
HALLIBURTON CO Price and EPS Surprise
Thanks in part to this history, recent estimates have been moving higher for Halliburton. In fact, the Earnings ESP for HAL is positive, which is a great sign of a coming beat.
After all, the Zacks Earnings ESP compares the most accurate estimate to the broad consensus, looking to find stocks that have seen big revisions as of late, suggesting that analysts have recently become more bullish on the company’s earnings prospects. This is the case for HAL, as the firm currently has a Zacks Earnings ESP of 300%, so another beat could be around the corner.
This is particularly true when you consider that HAL has a great Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) which can be a harbinger of outperformance and a signal for a strong earnings profile. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
When you add this solid Zacks Rank to a positive Earnings ESP, a positive earnings surprise happens nearly 70% of the time, so it seems pretty likely that HAL could see another beat at its next report, especially if recent trends are any guide.
Zacks’ Best Private Investment Ideas
In addition to the recommendations that are available to the public on our website, how would you like to follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time?
Our experts cover all kinds of trades… from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from stocks that corporate insiders are buying up to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises. You can even look inside exclusive portfolios that are normally closed to new investors. Starting today, for the next month, you can have unrestricted access. Click here for Zacks' private trades >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Be the first to comment