← Glossary · Financial ratios
Earnings surprise
How far reported profit differs from analysts' expectations.
The surprise compares actual earnings per share with the consensus estimate, usually in percent. +10 % means the company earned 10 % more than expected.
Positive surprises often support the price, negative ones push it down, sometimes sharply. If a share falls right after a negative surprise, the reason for the drop is clear. DipCatcher shows the last surprise for each share and uses it in "Why is the price falling?".