Earnings Report
An earnings report is a public company's periodic release of its financial results, including revenue, profit and earnings per share.
Public companies in the US must report their financial results every quarter. The earnings report, usually issued as a press release, summarizes key figures such as revenue, net income, earnings per share and often cash flow, along with comments from management. Many companies also provide guidance on what they expect for the coming quarter or year.
Around the same time, companies file formal reports with the SEC: the 10-Q for each of the first three quarters and the more detailed, audited 10-K for the full year. Most companies also host a conference call where executives discuss the results and answer analysts' questions.
Investors compare the reported numbers with analysts' consensus estimates. Beating or missing those estimates, and especially changes in guidance, can move a stock sharply. Reports are often released before the market opens or after it closes, so the biggest price moves frequently happen in pre-market or after-hours trading.
When reading a report, it helps to look beyond the headline EPS: revenue growth, margins, cash flow, one-time items, and the difference between reported results under accounting rules and adjusted figures.