Consensus Estimate

Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Consensus Estimate'

A figure based on the combined estimates of the analysts covering a public company. Generally, analysts give a consensus for a company's earnings per share and revenue; these figures are most often made for the quarter, fiscal year and next fiscal year. The size of the company and the number of analysts covering it will dictate the size of the pool from which the estimate is derived.
Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Consensus Estimate'

When you hear that a company has "missed estimates" or "beaten estimates", these are references to consensus estimates. Based on projections, models, sentiments and research, analysts strive to come up with an estimate of what the company will do in the future.

Obviously, consensus estimates are not an exact science. This leads some market pundits to believe that the market is not as efficient as often purported, and that the efficiency is driven by estimates about a multitude of future events that may not be accurate. This might help to explain why a company's stock quickly adjusts to the new information provided by quarterly earnings and revenue numbers when these figures diverge from the consensus estimate.

Sign Up For Term of the Day!

Try Our Stock Simulator!

Test your trading skills!

Related Definitions

  1. Earnings Estimate

    An analyst's ...
  2. Analyst

    A financial ...
  3. Delphi Method

    A forecasting ...
  4. Earnings Per Share - EPS

    The portion of a ...
  5. Earnings Surprise

    Occurs when a ...
  6. Institutional Brokers' Estimate ...

    A system that ...
  7. Revenue

    The amount of ...
  8. Earnings Recast

    The act of ...
  9. Earnings Momentum

    When corporate ...
  10. Annual Premium Equivalent - APE

    A common sales ...

Articles Of Interest

  1. Earnings Forecasts: A Primer

    Learn how this key metric is calculated and how it is used to judge market performance.
  2. Listen To The Market, Not Its Pundits

    Tuning in to pundits is fine, but investors should rely on their own research when making important decisions.
  3. Surprising Earnings Results

    Consensus estimates can send stocks spiraling - but are they representing reality?
  4. Strategies For Quarterly Earnings Season

    Breeze through consensus estimates like the biggest Wall Street forecasters.
  5. The 5 Types Of Earnings Per Share

    A look at the five varieties of EPS and what each represents can help an investor determine whether a company is a good value, or not.
  6. Can Earnings Guidance Accurately Predict The Future?

    Explore the controversies surrounding companies commenting on their forward-looking expectations.
  7. The Impact Of Sell-Side Research

    Sell-side analysts are not stock buyers or sellers - rather, they provide unbiased guidance to traders.
  8. Can Good News Be A Signal To Sell?

    Sometimes positive announcements can mean bad news for a stock. Find out why.
  9. What is earnings management?

  10. Carl Icahn's Investing Strategy

    Buying up failing investments and turning them around helped to create the "Icahn lift" phenomenon.

comments powered by Disqus
Recommended
Loading, please wait...
Trading Center