EL7.AI
StocksUpdated×2•Originally published 16 April 2026•Updated 17 April 2026•
1 min read

Q1 Earnings Outlook: IBM and Lam Research Positioned for Potential Beats

Key Facts

1IBM, Lam Research, Meritage Homes, Wex, and Civista Bancshares are identified as having the right combination of factors to likely beat earnings estimates.
2Stifel Financial, United Rentals, CSX, and First American Financial are expected to show growth, but lack the specific indicators for a likely earnings beat.
3Analysts raised forecasts for major firms including Johnson & Johnson, BlackRock, and Citigroup following strong Q1 earnings surprises.

The list of companies poised to exceed Q1 2026 earnings estimates is expanding, with Honeywell (HON), Hasbro (HAS), and FirstService (FSV) joining IBM and Lam Research as top candidates for potential beats according to Zacks metrics. Regional lenders such as 1st Source (SRCE) and S&T Bancorp (STBA) have also been identified as likely outperformers, while Truist Financial (TFC) remains in focus ahead of its report tomorrow. Conversely, analysts have flagged several firms that may lack the necessary momentum to surprise to the upside, including Ameriprise (AMP), PENN Entertainment (PENN), and Gentherm (THRM). Similar cautious outlooks have been issued for Primis Financial (FRST) and Customers Bancorp (CUBI). This divergence comes amid a broader wave of upward revisions for major players like BlackRock and Citigroup following strong initial performance. Investors continue to monitor individual corporate health to gauge earnings resilience across the banking and industrial sectors.