Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss. That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported. California Resources Corporation appears a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release. An Industry Player's Expected Results Among the stocks in the Zacks Oil and Gas - Exploration and Production - United States industry, Gulfport Energy (GPOR) is soon expected to post earnings of $2.42 per share for the quarter ended September 2023. This estimate indicates a year-over-year change of -34.4%.