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Tue, November 2, 2010

Coventry Health Care, Expeditors International, Amerisource Bergen, Principal Financial and Kellogga?s


Published on 2010-11-02 05:10:50 - Market Wire
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CHICAGO--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Zacks.com releases the list of companies likely to issue earnings surprises. This weeka™s list includes Coventry Health Care (NYSE: [ CVH ]), Expeditors International (Nasdaq: [ EXPD ]), Amerisource Bergen (NYSE: [ ABC ]), Principal Financial (NYSE: [ PFG ]) and Kellogga™s (NYSE:[ K ]). To see more earnings analysis, visit [ http://at.zacks.com/?id=3207 ].

"Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices."

Every day, Zacks.com makes 4 stock picks available, free of charge. To see them, go to [ http://at.zacks.com/?id=3567 ].

Historically, the best indicators of firms likely to report positive surprises are a recent history of positive surprises and rising estimates going into the report. The Zacks Rank is also a good indicator of potential surprises. While normally firms that report better-than-expected earnings rise in reaction, that has not been the case so far this quarter.

Potential Positive Surprises

Coventry Health Care (NYSE: [ CVH ]) is expected to report EPS of $0.66 unchanged vs. $0.66 a year ago. Last time out CVH had a positive surprise of 80.36%, and over the last month analysts have raised their expectations for the about to be reported quarter by 0.62%. CVH is a Zacks #2 Rank stock.

Expeditors International (Nasdaq: [ EXPD ]) is expected to report EPS of $0.47 vs. $0.27 a year ago. Last time out EXPD had a positive surprise of 7.36%, and over the last month analysts have raised their expectations for the about to be reported quarter by 0.49%. EXPD is a Zacks #2 Rank stock.

Amerisource Bergen (NYSE: [ ABC ]) is expected to report EPS of $0.48 vs. $0.44 a year ago. Last time out ABC had a positive surprise of 6.12%, and over the last month analysts have raised their expectations for the about to be reported quarter by 0.70%. ABC is a Zacks #2 Rank stock.

Potential Negative Surprises

Principal Financial (NYSE: [ PFG ]) is expected to report EPS of $0.63 vs. $0.74 a year ago. Last time out PFG had a negative surprise of 4.55%, and over the last month analysts have cut their expectations for the about to be reported quarter by 3.75%. PFG is a Zacks #5 Rank stock.

Kellogga™s (NYSE:[ K ]) is expected to report EPS of $0.90 vs. $0.94 a year ago. Last time out K had a negative surprise of 5.32%, and over the last month analysts have cut their expectations for the about to be reported quarter by 2.34%. K is a Zacks #5 Rank stock.

Dirk Van Dijk, CFA, is the Chief Equity Strategist for Zacks.com.

About the Zacks Rank

Since 1988, the Zacks Rank has proven that "Earnings estimate revisions are the most powerful force impacting stock prices." Since inception in 1988, #1 Rank Stocks have generated an average annual return of +28%. During the 2000-2002 bear market, Zacks #1 Rank stocks gained +43.8%, while the S&P 500 tumbled -37.6%. Also note that the Zacks Rank system has just as many Strong Sell recommendations (Rank #5) as Strong Buy recommendations (Rank #1). Since 1988, Zacks Rank #5 stocks have significantly underperformed the S&P 500 (+2% versus +9%). Thus, the Zacks Rank system allows investors to truly manage portfolio trading effectively.

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