More than a dozen S & P 500 companies are riding strong momentum as they prepare to report their earnings next week — a bullish omen for their share prices. The third-quarter earnings season has been on a strong run since it began in early October. Companies in the S & P 500 are poised to report cumulative earnings gains north of 13% for the three months ended September 30, notching its fourth consecutive quarter of growth, according to FactSet. CNBC identified 15 stocks with strong earnings momentum that are due to report profit and revenue next week, using the following criteria: At least 20% growth in earnings-per-share estimates by Wall Street analysts over the past three- and six months Upside of 15% or more to reach the consensus 12-month price target among analysts These are a few of stocks that hit those marks: Alphabet Alphabet is expected to earn $2.28 per share in the third quarter. The consensus 12-month price target among Wall Street analysts of $252 implies 18% upside, according to LSEG data. The latest estimate is nearly 71% higher than Alphabet’s projected earnings of $1.33 per share three months ago and 112% more than the earnings estimate of $1.08 per share six months ago. Stock in the owner of Google and YouTube has jumped 33% in the past three months, and 63% in the past six months. Visa The global payments processor is seen on Wall Street to have earned $2.97 per share in the third quarter. The consensus 12-month price target of $393 on the stock would translate into 16% upside from current levels, according to LSEG data. The Street’s EPS forecast for Visa is nearly 41% higher than the $2.11 per share estimate from three months ago and almost 50% above the $1.98 forecast six months ago. Except for the past month, the financial technology stock has lagged the market by most metrics this year, dropping almost 3% in the past three months and rising less than 10% so far in 2025. Cigna Group The health insurer is now estimated to earn $7.64 per share in the third quarter, and the Street’s consensus price target of $361 would mean a 32% advance for the stock in the coming year, LSEG data shows. Cigna’s third-quarter EPS forecast is almost 27% higher than the estimated earnings of $6.04 expected just three months ago, and 45% above expected earnings of $5.27 per share the Street was anticipating in April. Cigna has lagged the S & P 500 over the past three- and six months, and year-to-date. But in a sign of improved momentum, Cigna has outperformed over the past month, climbing 5.2% against the S & P 500’s 1.2% gain.
