Yahoo Finance

Looking for a stock that might be in a good position to beat earnings at its next report? Consider National Fuel Gas Company (NFG), a firm in the Utility Gas Distribution 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, NFG has beaten estimates by at least 10% in both cases, suggesting it has a nice short-term history of crushing expectations.

Earnings in Focus

Two quarters ago, NFG expected to earn 57 cents per share, while it actually produced earnings of 63 cents per share, a beat of 10.5%. Meanwhile, for the most recent quarter, the company looked to deliver earnings of 87 cents per share, when it actually saw earnings of 97 cents per share instead, representing an 11.5% positive surprise.

Thanks in part to this history, recent estimates have been moving higher for National Fuel Gas. In fact, the Earnings ESP for NFG 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 NFG, as the firm currently has a Zacks Earnings ESP of 0.91%, so another beat could be around the corner.

This is particularly true when you consider that NFG has a great Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) which can be a harbinger of outperformance and a signal for a strong earnings profile. And 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 NFG could see another beat at its next report, especially if recent trends are any guide.

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 >>



NATIONAL FUEL GAS CO (NFG): Free Stock Analysis Report


Zacks Investment Research