Leaving Estimates in the Dust: 28 Firms Beating Earnings Expectations
Morgan Stanley research cited by the article says the median S&P 500 EPS surprise was 6% in Q1 2026, above the long-run ~5.5% average. FactSet research cited says firms with positive EPS surprises tend to keep outperforming after results. The article lists 28 companies that beat Wall Street EPS expectations, including Ford (EPS $0.66 vs $0.31), Bloom Energy (EPS $0.78 vs $0.37; revenue >$1B, +164% YoY), and Incyte (EPS $3.09 vs $0.94).
How this was made

The 30-second read
Why it matters
It suggests that companies with positive EPS surprises tend to outperform after reporting, and then enumerates 28 stocks that beat Wall Street expectations on or around the current earnings season.
Market read
Traders can use the list as a starting point for screening post-earnings drift, but the article itself does not provide new guidance or deeper fundamentals for most names.
What to watch
The article omits revenue, margins, cash flow, and forward guidance for most names, so traders may need to verify whether beats were sustainable or due to temporary factors.
Background
The piece frames earnings outperformance using Morgan Stanley and FactSet research on median EPS surprises and post-earnings announcement drift.
Ticker impact
Provident Financial Holdings reported Q2 EPS of $0.35, beating estimates by $0.07, making it one of the 28 named “beat” stocks.
Mild positive bias over the next several weeks versus peers that missed, absent other new disclosures.
The article provides a specific EPS beat magnitude but no guidance, revisions, or qualitative drivers.
Rocky Brands posted EPS of $1.90, topping expectations by $1.55, placing it in the article’s list of earnings beatters.
Potential short-to-medium-term upside drift relative to the market on the beat alone.
No revenue, margin, or forward guidance details are provided, limiting conviction.
Quad/Graphics reported EPS of $0.24, beating analyst targets by $0.04, per the article’s “28 firms” list.
Slight positive drift possible, but likely limited magnitude.
Beat size is small and the article lacks additional fundamental specifics.
XPLR Infrastructure surprised with EPS of $0.40, beating expectations by $0.90, according to the article.
Higher probability of near-term positive reaction and drift versus smaller-beat names.
No context on revenue quality or guidance is included.
NeoGenomics reported Q2 EPS of $0.05, topping estimates by $0.02, as one of the 28 beat stocks.
Neutral-to-mild positive drift possible.
The article provides only EPS beat figures, not drivers or outlook.
CTS Corporation posted $0.74 EPS in the second quarter, beating estimates by $0.13, per the list.
Mild positive bias over subsequent trading sessions.
No additional disclosures beyond the EPS beat are provided.
Polaris reported EPS of $1.97, topping expectations by $1.26, included among the 28 earnings beatters.
Potential for stronger drift than average beat names.
The article omits revenue, margins, and guidance details.
Mirion Technologies posted EPS of $0.12, beating expectations by $0.02, according to the article.
Limited upside drift likely, given small beat magnitude.
No forward-looking or qualitative drivers are disclosed.
Market effects
Broad-based earnings beats across many industries may support a constructive earnings-season risk tone, but the article provides no sector-specific drivers.
Primarily US-listed equities; no cross-region policy or macro shock is disclosed.
No direct global macro or international deal/regulatory catalyst is provided beyond general earnings-season framing.
Counterpoint
A list of EPS beats without guidance or qualitative drivers can overstate tradability; post-earnings drift may fade if beats are driven by one-offs.
Key entities
- index_metricS&P 500 companies (median EPS surprise)
Morgan Stanley research cited median EPS surprise reaching 6% in Q1 2026, strongest in four years.
- research_findingFactSet post-earnings drift
FactSet research cited average share-price gains after positive EPS surprises.
- equities_list28 listed companies
The article enumerates 28 US-listed firms with reported EPS beats and specific beat amounts.

