Earnings season is heating up, and the early results have leaned decisively in favor of the bulls. With roughly one-fifth of S&P 500 companies already reported, about 73% have topped Wall Street expectations, according to FactSet. That backdrop makes next week’s earnings calendar especially interesting.
Using historical data from Bespoke Investment Group, we looked at companies reporting in the coming days that share two important traits:
- they beat earnings expectations at least 75% of the time, and
- their stocks tend to move higher on earnings day when they do.
This doesn’t guarantee upside, but it does highlight where expectations have historically been set too low.
Below are a few names that stand out heading into next week.
Ralph Lauren (RL)
Consistent execution meets a favorable earnings setup
Ralph Lauren reports fiscal third-quarter results next Thursday, and its history around earnings is hard to ignore. According to Bespoke data, the company has beaten analyst estimates 86% of the time, with shares averaging a 1.28% gain on earnings day.
That consistency has translated into strong longer-term performance as well. Over the past 12 months, Ralph Lauren shares are up nearly 40%, comfortably ahead of the broader market.
Analyst sentiment has also skewed positive. Jefferies recently reiterated a Buy rating and set a $425 price target, pointing to potential upside if a solid holiday quarter leads to higher earnings revisions. The firm cited balanced regional growth, improving demand trends, and steady execution as key supports heading into 2026.
While expectations are no longer low, Ralph Lauren’s track record suggests the market still tends to underestimate its ability to deliver.
Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG)
A battered stock with a history of upside surprises
Chipotle heads into its upcoming earnings report from a very different position. Shares are down more than 30% over the past year, weighed down by softer same-store sales guidance and post-earnings resets.
Even so, Bespoke data shows that Chipotle has beaten earnings estimates 76% of the time, and when it does, the stock has historically gained about 1.13% on earnings day.
Looking ahead to the fourth-quarter report due next Tuesday, Deutsche Bank recently reiterated a Buy rating with a $49 price target, suggesting meaningful upside if fundamentals stabilize. While same-store sales are expected to decline in the near term, analysts anticipate gradual improvement through 2026 as traffic trends normalize and pricing actions roll out.
For investors willing to tolerate volatility, this is a name where expectations may already reflect much of the bad news.
Other Earnings Names with Strong Beat Rates
Bespoke’s screen also highlights several additional companies reporting next week that have historically paired high earnings beat rates with positive stock reactions, including:
- CyberArk (CYBR) – 98% earnings beat rate
- Mettler-Toledo (MTD) – 94% beat rate
- Snap-on (SNA) – 90% beat rate
- IDEXX Laboratories (IDXX) – 90% beat rate
These names don’t all share the same macro exposure or valuation profile, but they do share a common pattern: analysts have frequently underestimated their results.
Bottom Line
Earnings season is rarely about perfection. It’s about expectations. Stocks with a long history of topping estimates and rewarding shareholders on earnings day are worth keeping on the radar, especially in a market where surprises still matter.
We’ll be watching these reports closely next week, not just for the headline numbers, but for what they signal about momentum heading into the rest of 2026.
