Every week, I take a look at a few companies that lapped their profit targets. Leaving Wall Street's pros with quizzical looks on their faces can be a good thing. It usually means that the companies have more in the tank than analysts figured, and capital appreciation often follows.
Let's take a look at a few companies that humbled the prognosticators this past week.
We'll start with Dow Jones
Dow Jones is blessed, of course. Circulation may be slipping at most conventional newspaper companies, but a buoyant market has helped create interest for Dow Jones' offline -- and online -- Wall Street-driven publications. Earlier this month, Dow Jones shrunk the size of both its Barron's and Wall Street Journal flagship reads, so the current quarter is going to be even more critical than the December period. Still, it's good to know that all print media giants aren't languishing.
Microsoft
I wasn't entirely thrilled by the company's report. The company lost money in its online services. I know that MSN is in the process of retooling its cyberspace offerings, but it's hard to justify red ink when your rivals, like Google
Then we have Netflix
So, keep watching the companies that lap expectations. Over time, it will be a rewarding experience for investors as the market rewards the overachievers. That's the kind of surprise we look for in the Motley Fool Rule Breakers newsletter service. Want in? Check out a 30-day trial subscription.
Either way, come back next Monday to learn about more stocks that blew the market away.
Microsoft is an Inside Value recommendation. Yahoo! and Netflix are active Motley Fool Stock Advisor picks.
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz is a fan of toppers. He does own shares in Netflix. He is also part of the Rule Breakers newsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early. The Fool has a disclosure policy.