Every week, I take a look at three companies that beat market expectations, since I believe that's the biggest factor in a stock beating the market. 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 over the past few trading days.
We can start with Google
If Google besting the pros feels like a common occurrence, you haven't kept abreast of recent history. Before Thursday's win, Google had missed its bottom-line targets in two of the past three -- and three of the last five -- quarters.
You should also hand it to Intuitive Surgical
Like Google, Intuitive is a popular Motley Fool Rule Breakers recommendation. Unlike Google, Intuitive investors are used to the quarterly victory laps. You have to go all the way back to the third quarter of 2002 to find the last time that the company didn't obliterate expectations. It may have been a good week for drug stocks -- with both Johnson & Johnson
Finally, we can bank on Wells Fargo
Keep watching the companies that beat 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 Rule Breakers newsletter service. Want in? Check out all our analyst team has to offer with a 30-day free trial subscription.
Either way, come back next Monday to learn about more stocks that blew the market away.