Are company earnings and income the same?

Net income is a company's bottom-line profit after accounting for all business expenses, taxes, and other costs. "Earnings" typically refers to net income per share. For example, you might hear that a company reported $100 million in net income and $3.23 per share.

Can earnings reports predict a company's future performance?

Many companies issue predictions (known as guidance) along with their earnings reports. However, there's no guarantee that any company will be able to deliver what its management team expects.

Should you buy stock before an earnings report?

Before and after an earnings report, a stock can be rather volatile. If a company's earnings don't measure up to expectations, the stock can plunge after the report is released. On the other hand, if earnings exceed expectations, a stock can soar. If you buy a stock before an earnings report, it's important to expect volatility once the report is released.

How do investors use earnings reports?

Aside from the obvious use of seeing how a company's business performed over the past three-month period, there is plenty of valuable information in earnings reports. For example, the company's balance sheet gives an updated look at the financial condition of the business. Management's guidance gives you a look at where things might be heading in the future. And investors can use the numbers to spot trends, such as accelerating or slowing growth rates, margin trends, and more.

What time are earnings reports released?

There's no specific rule governing the timing of earnings reports, but most companies choose to release their results within a few hours before the stock market opens or after it closes. Most earnings reports are released in the 6 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. ET or 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET windows, but there certainly are exceptions.

Where can I find earnings reports?

There are a few places where you can find earnings reports. The easiest place is typically on the company's investor relations page, but you can also look at the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Alternatively, if you have a brokerage account, you can typically see all recent news (including earnings releases) in a company's news feed.

How much do earnings reports affect stock prices?

Earnings reports can certainly influence stock prices, but this isn't always the case. If a company misses expectations on earnings or revenue, reports an unexpectedly strong or weak quarter, or issues future guidance that is either worse or better than expected, its stock price could move sharply in one direction or another. On the other hand, if a company's earnings report is completely lacking in surprises, it's entirely possible for a stock to barely budge after earnings.

Earnings Reports of Top Companies: Revenue, Profits & Forecasts

Upcoming Earnings Reports in 2026

By Matthew Frankel, CFP – Updated Mar 16, 2026 at 3:44 PM EST | Fact-checked by Frank Bass

Key Points

Earnings reports give updates on a company's operations, finances, and guidance for future performance.
Investors can use these reports to assess company profitability and make informed investment choices.
Forecasting and commentary within the reports can indicate potential growth areas or risks.

Earnings reports are among the most important sources of information for stock investors. They provide important details about a business's current state, reveal key financial information, and may include forward-looking earnings and revenue projections, as well as commentary from the CEO or other company leaders.

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An infographic defining and explaining what earnings reports are and how they work. — Image source: The Motley Fool.

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Ticker Information Table
Name and ticker	Market cap	Dividend yield	Industry
Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN)	$2.3 trillion	0.00%	Multiline Retail
Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)	$1.5 trillion	0.00%	Automobiles
Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)	$3.0 trillion	0.87%	Software
Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRKB)	$1.1 trillion	0.00%	Diversified Financial Services
Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA)	$4.4 trillion	0.02%	Semiconductors and Semiconductor Equipment
Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)	$3.8 trillion	0.27%	Interactive Media and Services
Shopify (NASDAQ:SHOP)	$166.7 billion	0.00%	IT Services
Block (NYSE:XYZ)	$35.8 billion	0.00%	Diversified Financial Services
Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META)	$1.6 trillion	0.34%	Interactive Media and Services
Nike (NYSE:NKE)	$81.6 billion	2.94%	Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods

Data as of Mar 18, 2026. Showing 10 of 10 tickers.

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NASDAQ: AMZN

Amazon

Today's Change

(1.63%) $3.46

Current Price

$215.20

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$2.3T

Day's Range

$212.43 - $215.70

52wk Range

$161.38 - $258.60

Volume

72K

Avg Vol

49M

Gross Margin

50.29%

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Amazon (AMZN +1.63%) reported its fourth-quarter earnings on Feb. 5, 2026, and the results were generally strong. Revenue and earnings both exceeded analysts' expectations, and the company's cost-cutting efforts drove excellent profit margin growth.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) was an especially strong point, with revenue up 24% year over year. The company's advertising platform also experienced strong growth, with revenue rising 23%.

One thing to keep an eye on is Amazon's capital expenditures, which have accelerated recently due to artificial intelligence (AI)-related investments in data centers and related equipment. Management has stated that the company anticipates capital expenditures to rise to $200 billion in 2026, up from $131 billion in 2025.

Amazon's next earnings report is expected on or about April 29, 2026.

2. Tesla

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NASDAQ: TSLA

Tesla

Today's Change

(0.78%) $3.07

Current Price

$398.63

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.5T

Day's Range

$392.99 - $400.11

52wk Range

$214.25 - $498.83

Volume

5.3K

Avg Vol

62M

Gross Margin

18.03%

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In 2025, Tesla (TSLA +0.78%) reported a 3% year-over-year decline in revenue, the first full-year decline in the company's history. The expiration of federal tax credits and increased competition in the EV space were largely to blame, as vehicle deliveries fell 9% year over year. Looking ahead, the company is focusing on robotics, automation, and other futuristic products, with Model S production ending and its factory being converted for robotics production.

Tesla's next earnings report is expected on or about April 20, 2026.

3. Microsoft

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NASDAQ: MSFT

Microsoft

Today's Change

(-0.13%) $-0.51

Current Price

$399.44

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$3.0T

Day's Range

$397.77 - $404.40

52wk Range

$344.79 - $555.45

Volume

1.8K

Avg Vol

34M

Gross Margin

68.59%

Dividend Yield

0.87%

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In its fiscal second quarter of 2026 (its fiscal year ends June 30), Microsoft (MSFT -0.13%) reported $81.3 billion in total revenue, which handily topped expectations. Additionally, the company's forward guidance slightly beat analysts' expectations for the next fiscal quarter.

On the bottom line, Microsoft's earnings came in better than expected, with net profit of $4.14 per share. Azure revenue grew 39% year-over-year, strong but down from 40% in the prior quarter. The company's guidance calls for it to slow further in the next quarter, which caused the stock to decline after the results were announced.

Microsoft's next earnings report is expected on or about April 28, 2026.

4. Berkshire Hathaway

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NYSE: BRKB

Berkshire Hathaway

Today's Change

(0.01%) $0.07

Current Price

$492.28

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.1T

Day's Range

$491.46 - $496.85

52wk Range

$455.19 - $542.07

Volume

Avg Vol

4.9M

Gross Margin

23.63%

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Berkshire Hathaway is one of the few companies that always reports earnings on Saturdays since management wants the market to have time to digest it before trading opens on Monday. In the fourth quarter of 2025, Berkshire NYSE:BRK.A (BRK.B +0.07%) reported a 30% year-over-year earnings decline in its operating businesses, although this was mainly due to weaker underwriting profits from insurance.

Warren Buffett and his team were net sellers of stocks in the third quarter, mainly due to reductions in the company's large stakes in Apple (AAPL +0.54%) and Bank of America (BAC +0.39%). Berkshire reported cash and short-term investments balance totaling $373 billion, which gives the company unparalleled financial flexibility going forward.

Berkshire Hathaway's next earnings report is expected on May 2, 2026, coinciding with Berkshire's annual shareholders meeting.

5. Nvidia

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NASDAQ: NVDA

Nvidia

Today's Change

(-0.74%) $-1.36

Current Price

$181.86

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$4.4T

Day's Range

$181.69 - $185.40

52wk Range

$86.62 - $212.19

Volume

29K

Avg Vol

176M

Gross Margin

71.07%

Dividend Yield

0.02%

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For the fourth quarter of its 2026 fiscal year (ending Jan. 2206), graphics chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA -0.74%) reported both revenue and earnings that handily surpassed expectations. It generated $68 billion in revenue and expects this to swell to $78 billion in the first fiscal quarter of 2026. Nvidia's revenue continued to grow rapidly, rising 73% year over year in the second quarter, driven by a surge in demand for AI chips.

Nvidia has been a major beneficiary of the surge in AI investment, which has fueled rapid growth in recent quarters. However, there are some concerns about the company's ability to sustain its growth. On the other hand, the industries it serves are expected to expand significantly over the next decade, potentially leading to substantial profit growth in the years ahead.

Nvidia's next earnings report is expected on or about May 20, 2026.

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6. Alphabet

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NASDAQ: GOOG

Alphabet

Today's Change

(1.61%) $4.91

Current Price

$309.33

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$3.8T

Day's Range

$304.35 - $310.04

52wk Range

$142.66 - $350.15

Volume

Avg Vol

21M

Gross Margin

59.68%

Dividend Yield

0.27%

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In the fourth quarter of 2025, Alphabet (GOOG +1.61%) (GOOGL +1.75%) (better known for its main subsidiary, Google) reported both revenue and earnings that exceeded analysts' expectations. The company reported nearly $114 billion in revenue, up 18% year-over-year, an impressive growth rate for such a massive business.

Looking a little deeper, revenue from the fast-growing Google Cloud business handily beat expectations, growing 48% year-over-year, although YouTube advertising revenue fell a bit short. It's also important to note that Alphabet anticipates between $175 billion and $185 billion in capital expenditures for 2026, more than double its spending for 2025, primarily due to its AI growth strategy. It will be crucial to monitor and assess whether the company can achieve a strong return on its investment.

Alphabet's next earnings report is expected on or about April 22, 2026.

7. Shopify

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NASDAQ: SHOP

Shopify

Today's Change

(0.96%) $1.21

Current Price

$127.79

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$167B

Day's Range

$127.12 - $132.94

52wk Range

$69.84 - $182.19

Volume

207

Avg Vol

11M

Gross Margin

47.88%

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E-commerce service platform Shopify (SHOP +0.96%) issued excellent fourth-quarter results that handily beat expectations, fueled by a 29% surge in gross merchandise volume (GMV). The company also gave strong guidance. for the first quarter and announced a new $2 billion buyback authorization.

There are still some ongoing concerns about discretionary spending, but Shopify is doing a great job of setting itself up for long-term success regardless of short-term headwinds. Revenue climbed by 31% year over year in the fourth quarter, the second consecutive time it has reported that same growth rate.

Shopify's next earnings report is expected on or about May 6, 2026.

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8. Block

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NYSE: XYZ

Block

Today's Change

(-0.10%) $-0.06

Current Price

$59.79

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$36B

Day's Range

$59.73 - $61.35

52wk Range

$44.27 - $82.50

Volume

45K

Avg Vol

8.3M

Gross Margin

42.26%

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Despite fears of lower consumer spending, fintech giant Block (XYZ -0.17%) (formerly Square) reported solid fourth-quarter 2025 results across its business. Gross profit increased by 24% year over year, revenue slightly beat expectations, and the company is much more profitable than it was a year ago.

Additionally, Block reported a significant workforce reduction, laying off 40% of its employees, and gave upbeat full-year 2026 earnings guidance. The combination of these two factors drove the stock higher after the earnings release. Block's Cash App Card is a particularly interesting point to watch. It is growing its active user base rapidly and creating many opportunities to cross-sell new products.

Block's next earnings report is expected on or about April 29, 2026.

9. Meta Platforms

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NASDAQ: META

Meta Platforms

Today's Change

(-0.80%) $-5.02

Current Price

$622.43

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$1.6T

Day's Range

$621.71 - $636.50

52wk Range

$479.80 - $796.25

Volume

888

Avg Vol

15M

Gross Margin

82.00%

Dividend Yield

0.34%

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Meta Platforms (META -0.80%), formerly known as Facebook, reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings that handily beat expectations on both the top and bottom lines. Revenue in the quarter increased by 24% year over year, and despite higher capex related to its AI strategy, Meta reported solid earnings-per-share growth.

Meta gave guidance for its (mostly) AI-related capital expenditures, projecting they will be in the range of $115 billion to $135 billion for the full year 2026, nearly double the $72 billion it spent in 2025.

Meta's next earnings report is expected on or about April 28, 2026.

10. Nike

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NYSE: NKE

Nike

Today's Change

(0.51%) $0.28

Current Price

$55.07

Key Data Points

Market Cap

$82B

Day's Range

$55.01 - $55.67

52wk Range

$52.28 - $80.17

Volume

1.4K

Avg Vol

19M

Gross Margin

40.72%

Dividend Yield

2.94%

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Nike (NKE +0.60%) is an iconic American brand whose business is currently in the early stages of a turnaround. But the recent results look quite promising.

In its fiscal first quarter (ending Nov. 30, 2025), Nike reported revenue and earnings that exceeded expectations, with revenue rising 1% year over year and net income falling 32%. However, the company had previously warned that mid-2025 would be the "low point" of its turnaround, so it will be interesting to see whether an inflection point starts to materialize.

Nike's next earnings report is expected on April 2, 2026.

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Earnings Call

A conference call where a company's financial results and performance are discussed with analysts, investors, and the public.

With most U.S. companies, earnings reports are the most up-to-date look investors will get at a company's business and financials. Reading the most recent earnings report is an important part of doing ongoing due diligence as a buy-and-hold investor and can help you find new investment opportunities.

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Earnings reports FAQ

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About the Author

Matt Frankel, CFP, is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst specializing in the real estate and financial sectors. Prior to The Motley Fool, Matt taught high school and college mathematics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree in mathematics from Nova Southeastern University, and a graduate certificate in financial planning from Florida State University. He won a SABEW award for coverage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He is also regularly interviewed by Cheddar, Globe St, The National Desk, and other TV networks and publications for his real estate, financial, stock market, and investing expertise.

TMFMattFrankel

@MattFrankelCFP

Bank of America is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Matt Frankel, CFP has positions in Amazon, Bank of America, Berkshire Hathaway, Block, and Shopify and has the following options: short January 2027 $170 calls on Shopify. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Berkshire Hathaway, Block, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nike, Nvidia, Shopify, and Tesla. The Motley Fool recommends the following options: long January 2026 $395 calls on Microsoft and short January 2026 $405 calls on Microsoft. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.