EPS Surprise
Returns the earnings surprise amount, calculated as the difference between actual reported EPS and the consensus estimate. A positive value means the company beat expectations.
Return Value
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 0.12 | Beat estimates by $0.12 per share |
| -0.05 | Missed estimates by $0.05 per share |
| 0.00 | Met estimates exactly |
Notes
- Positive = earnings beat
- Negative = earnings miss
- Updates after earnings release
Syntax
=EPSSurprise(Symbol, [ReturnType])Returns
number
EPS surprise amount (actual - estimate) in USD
Examples
=EPSSurprise("AAPL")=EPSSurprise("MSFT")=EPSSurprise(A1)When to Use
- Post-earnings analysis
- Identifying beats vs misses
- Historical earnings quality assessment
- Screening for companies that consistently beat/miss
When NOT to Use
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
| Need percentage surprise | EPSSurprisePercent() |
| Need actual EPS | EPSActual() |
| Need estimate | EPSEstimate() |
Common Issues & FAQ
Why is the surprise small even for a "big beat"?
The surprise is in absolute dollar terms. Use EPSSurprisePercent() for percentage terms which may be more meaningful.
Related Formulas
More MarketXLS Estimates formulas you can use in the same worksheet:
- EPSEstimate Current Quarter
- EPSEstimate Current Year
- EPSEstimate Next Quarter
- EPSEstimate Next Year
- High Target Price
- Low Target Price
- Mean Target Price
- One Year Target Price (Analysts)
See EPSSurprise used in a complete workbook: Earnings Surprise Screener Excel: Track Q1 2026 Earnings Beats and Misses in Real Time
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