Why settle for ordinary quarterly reports?

Each week, I examine three companies that beat market expectations, since I believe that's the biggest factor determining whether a stock will beat the market. Leaving Wall Street's pros with puzzled looks on their faces 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 Ebix (Nasdaq: EBIX). The cloud-computing platform for insurance companies saw fourth-quarter profits soar 53% to $12.1 million -- or $0.92 on a pre-split per-share basis. Those earnings were well ahead of both the $0.66 a share it recorded a year ago, and the per-share target at which Wall Street took aim.

Preppy retailer J. Crew Group (NYSE: JCG) dressed the part, reversing a year-ago loss with net income of $0.61 a share in its latest quarter. Analysts were lost in the mall, projecting a profit of only $0.46 a share.

J. Crew's win wasn't typical. Apparel retailers Hot Topic (Nasdaq: HOTT), The Children's Place (Nasdaq: PLCE), and American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) simply met expectations.

Finally, GeoEye (Nasdaq: GEOY) caught Mr. Market's eye. The satellite-imagery specialist's latest quarterly profit of $0.55 a share is roughly twice the $0.27 a share that analysts were banking on. Landing a few meaty contracts hasn't hurt the company, either.

It's important to keep watching the companies that surpass expectations. Over time, it will be a profitable 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 a 30-day trial subscription.

Either way, come back next Monday to learn about more stocks that blew the market away.