Professional stock analysts use mathematical models that weigh companies' financial data to predict their future earnings per share on a quarterly, annual, and long-term basis. Investment research companies, such as Thomson Financial and Zacks, publish averages of analysts' estimates for stock market professionals follow closely. Th [..]

Definition The expected quarterly or annual earnings of a given company, as estimated by an analyst or other market individual or company. Earnings estimates are watched closely by investors because t [..]

is an estimate of a company's future quarterly or annual profits by a market analyst.

Company reported earnings per share are estimated for an upcoming quarter, fiscal year or for long term.

The estimated earnings projected for a company for a fiscal year.