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Why Investors Need to Take Advantage of These 2 Retail-Wholesale Stocks Now

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 Earnings ESP is more formally known as the Expected Surprise Prediction, and it aims to grab the inside track on the latest analyst estimate revisions ahead of a company's report. The idea is relatively intuitive as a newer projection might be based on more complete information. The ESP is calculated by comparing the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate, with the percentage difference between the two giving us the Zacks ESP figure.

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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. American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) holds a Zacks Rank #3 at the moment and its Most Accurate Estimate comes in at $0.29 a share six days away from its upcoming earnings release on May 29, 2024.

AEO has an Earnings ESP figure of 6.84%, which, as explained above, is calculated by taking the percentage difference between the $0.29 Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.27.

AEO is just one of a large group of Retail-Wholesale stocks with a positive ESP figure. Target (TGT) is another qualifying stock you may want to consider.

Target, which is readying to report earnings on August 21, 2024, sits at a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) right now. It's Most Accurate Estimate is currently $2.20 a share, and TGT is 90 days out from its next earnings report.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Target is $2.18, and when you take the percentage difference between that number and its Most Accurate Estimate, you get the Earnings ESP figure of 0.82%.

AEO and TGT's positive ESP figures tell us that both stocks have a good chance at beating analyst expectations in their next earnings report.

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 >>

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

American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO) : Free Stock Analysis Report

Target Corporation (TGT) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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Zacks Investment Research