Definition
A beat is when a company's results come in above what analysts expected; a miss is when they come in below.
The story
AMD's adjusted earnings of $2.09 a share topped the $1.95 analysts expected: a beat, per Reuters. Shopify sank on Nov 3, 2026 after its quarterly revenue missed expectations for the first time in four years, per Bloomberg. A beat doesn't guarantee a stock rises; guidance and margins can matter too.
Why markets watch it
Beats and misses against estimates are how earnings coverage frames a company's results.
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