Earnings estimate

Earnings Estimate

An analyst's best guess as to what a company's earnings will be for a given quarter or year. Analysts use a variety of methods, mostly involving past information and current news, to arrive at earnings estimates. They are circulated prior to a company's announcement of its earnings statement. If earnings are lower than most estimates, this can cause a decline in its share price. Likewise, unexpectedly high earnings can cause a price jump.

Earnings estimate.

Professional stock analysts use mathematical models that weigh companies' financial data to predict their future earnings per share on a quarterly, annual, and long-term basis.

Investment research companies, such as Thomson Financial and Zacks, publish averages of analysts' estimates for specific companies. These averages are called consensus estimates.

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The free special report; "Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions" is available to provide this insightful background.

Zacks Sell List Highlights: Andrx, Adams Respiratory, ADTRAN and Daktronics

a Zacks #1 Rank stock, topped the Street's earnings estimate for the past four quarters by an average margin of 19.

Zacks Buy List Highlights: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., SEI Investments Company, Daktronics, Inc., and Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc

This is evidenced by increases in earnings estimate revisions.

Zacks Buy List Highlights: Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited, Sun Life Financial, Inc., News Corporation, and USG Corporation

The trend in earnings estimate revisions worsened last week.

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis Highlights: Arkansas Best, Komag, Seagate, and Swift Transportation

That's why we created the free special report; "Zacks Rank Guide: Harnessing the Power of Earnings Estimate Revisions.

Zacks Buy List Highlights: Actuant Corporation, Noble Energy, Harris Corporation, and Standard Pacific

NYSE:TOL) has seen this year's earnings estimates drop 31 cents per share over the past two months.

Zacks Sell List Highlights: Toll Brothers, Team, Caribou Coffee and Biolase Technology

NASDAQ:ENMC) has seen this year's earnings estimates drop 40% over the past two months.

Zacks Sell List Highlights: Encore Medical, Foot Locker, Spectrum Brands and Louisiana Pacific

The company has failed to exceed earnings estimates in each of the past three quarters.

Zacks Sell List Highlights: Lone Star Tech, Omnicare, Connetics and Progress Energy

NYSE:F) has seen its earnings estimates drop for this year.

Zacks Sell List Highlights: Getty Images, Ford Motor, Revlon and Cosi

AU-Optronics ADR (NYSE:AUO) has seen its earnings estimates drop for this year.

Zacks Sell List Highlights: Take-Two, AU-Optronics, Urban Outfitters and Fastenal

NYSE:CD) has seen its earnings estimates drop for this year.

Zacks Sell List Highlights: Cendant, Sigmatel, Affymetrix and Applebees

To see the Zacks Industry Rank and the trend in earnings estimates revisions for all 208 industry groups, visit http://at.

Zacks Industry Rank Analysis Highlights: Alcan, Alcoa, Caterpillar, Pepsi Bottling Group and Southern Copper