Don't settle for ordinary quarterly reports.

I take a look at three companies that beat market expectations every week, since I believe that it's the biggest factor in a stock beating the market. Leaving Wall Street's pros with stunned expressions can be a good thing. It usually means that the companies have more in the tank than analysts figured. Capital appreciation typically follows.

Let's take a look at a few companies that humbled the prognosticators over the past few trading days.

 We can start with SUPERVALU (NYSE: SVU). The bargain-minded grocery retailer posted a profit of $0.28 a share in its fiscal second quarter, comfortably ahead of the $0.21 a share that the pros were projecting.

It wasn't a perfect showing. Net sales dipped, same-store sales were negative, and SUPERVALU's outlook isn't exactly rosy. However, this is still the third consecutive quarter in which the thrifty retailer has blasted through Wall Street's targets.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) is also rolling nicely, like its signature burritos. The quick-service chain rode healthy expansion and double-digit comps to deliver 24% top-line growth. Earnings climbed 25% to $1.90 a share, ahead of the analysts digging into their barbacoa bowls at $1.85 a share. It was a good week for eatery darlings, as Buffalo Wild Wings (Nasdaq: BWLD) and McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) also had market-thumping results on the menu.

Finally we have Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) silencing its naysayers. Digging into banker earnings isn't for the timid, and there's a wide range of opinions as to what the beleaguered giant did in fact earn. However, Thomson Reuters is going with $0.31 a share as its adjusted figure, and that's better than the $0.19 a share that analysts were targeting. Fellow punching bag Citigroup (NYSE: C) also checked in with better-than-forecasted results.

It's important to keep watching the companies that surpass expectations. Over time, it will be a lucrative experience for investors as the market rewards the overachievers. That's the kind of surprise that we look for in the 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.

If you want to track these stocks to see if they come out ahead next quarter, add them to My Watchlist: