4 Stocks That Beat Earnings Expectations by Over 125%

 | Aug 17, 2023 08:29

  • Earnings season is about to wrap up and has fared a little better than expected
  • But some companies have beaten market forecasts by wide margins
  • Let's take a look at the top 4 stocks to do so this season
  • Q2 earnings season ended up yielding better-than-anticipated results, albeit not by a hefty margin. On average, S&P 500 companies posted a modest +7% growth in earnings per share and a +2% in revenue quarter-on-quarter.

    Still, the number of companies surpassing market projections has exceeded the 10-year average.

    But despite the relatively positive picture, a year-over-year decline of over -8% remains, marking the third consecutive quarter of decline in comparison to the previous year. Nevertheless, a glimmer of hope shines through in the forecasts, suggesting a potential uptick in the next quarter.

    Against this backdrop, what truly captures our attention is a distinctive group of stocks that share a common characteristic: they've beaten market forecasts by over 125%.

    Without further delay, let's delve deep and analyze whether these stocks are a buy right now.

    1. Paramount Global/h2

    Paramount Global (NASDAQ:PARA), formerly known as ViacomCBS, is a New York-based media conglomerate.

    On October 2, it will distribute a dividend of $0.050 per share, requiring shareholders to possess shares by September 14 to qualify for the dividend.

    The remarkable earnings from August 7 underscore its performance. It achieved an EPS of 10 cents per share, a remarkable +671% improvement compared to market expectations.

    This stands out as the most significant earnings beat among all stocks listed in the S&P 500.

    Looking ahead, Paramount Global is scheduled to reveal its upcoming results on November 2. The market's outlook is less optimistic, anticipating a -68% decrease in earnings per share.