Global Payments Earnings Preview

Global Payments GPN unveils its next round of earnings this Monday, February 08. Get prepared with Benzinga's ultimate preview for Global Payments's Q4 earnings.

What Are Earnings, Net Income, And Earnings Per Share?

Earnings and EPS are useful metrics of profitability. Total earnings also known as net income is equal to total revenue minus total expenses. Dividing net income by the total number of shares outstanding yields EPS.

Earnings And Revenue

Analysts expect Global Payments earnings of $1.77 per share. Revenue will likely be around $1.77 billion, according to the consensus estimate. In the same quarter last year, Global Payments reported earnings per share of $1.62 on sales of $1.80 billion.

Why Analyst Estimates And Earnings Surprises Are Important

Analysts who cover this company will publish forward-looking estimates of its revenue and EPS each quarter. Averaging together every EPS and revenue prediction that each analyst makes about a company in a quarter yields the "consensus estimates." A company posting earnings or revenue above or below the consensus estimate is known as an "earnings surprise" and may move the stock by a considerable margin.

The analyst consensus estimate would represent a 9.26% increase in the company's EPS figure. Sales would be down 1.88% from the same quarter last year. Here is how the company's reported EPS has stacked up against analyst estimates in the past:

Stock Performance

Shares of Global Payments were trading at $197.84 as of February 04. Over the last 52-week period, shares are down 2.2%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are likely unhappy going into this earnings release.

Do not be surprised to see the stock move on comments made during its conference call. Global Payments is scheduled to hold the call at 08:00:00 ET and can be accessed here.