Best and Worst Performing Stocks in Reaction to Earnings

The average one-day performance of US stocks that have reported Q3 results this earnings season has been +0.94%.  So far, 61% of companies have beaten analyst estimates for earnings per share, which is about average from a historical perspective. 

Below we highlight the US stocks that have had the strongest reactions to their earnings reports both positively and negatively this season.  To be included on the list, the stock had to be trading above $10 per share at the close prior to its earnings report. 

As shown, electronic exchange ICE has had the best one-day response to its earnings report, rallying 40.8% last Thursday.  MGM Mirage (MGM) ranks second with a gain of 33%, followed by MV, LHCG, SLG, and LM.  Other notables on the list of earnings season winners include Under Armour (UA), Sunpower (SPWRA), First Solar (FSLR), and Continental Airlines (CAL).

On the downside, insurer HIG has seen the biggest one-day decline on earnings, falling a whopping 51%.  HIG is followed closely by Coventry Health (CVH), which also got cut in half.

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