Where to Find Earnings Per Share for a Company

Earnings Per Share (EPS) represents a company’s profitability on a per-share basis, indicating how much profit a company generates for each outstanding share of its common stock. It serves as an important financial metric for various stakeholders, including investors and analysts, offering a quick snapshot of a company’s financial performance. A higher EPS generally suggests greater profitability.

Primary Sources for Earnings Per Share

Locating a company’s Earnings Per Share (EPS) involves navigating various reliable financial data sources. Public companies often provide this information directly through their investor relations websites. On these sites, look for sections dedicated to “Investor Relations” or “Financials,” where you can access official documents such as annual reports (Form 10-K) and quarterly reports (Form 10-Q), along with earnings press releases. These are direct filings from the company and are considered primary sources.

Numerous financial news websites and data providers also compile and present EPS data in an accessible format. Popular platforms like Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, Bloomberg, Reuters, and the Wall Street Journal typically feature company profiles where you can find EPS. Searching for a company by its stock ticker symbol usually leads to a dedicated page that includes “Key Statistics,” “Financials,” or “Income Statement” sections, where the EPS figure is prominently displayed.

For U.S. public companies, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) EDGAR database serves as the official repository for all required regulatory filings. You can search this database for a specific company and locate its 10-K and 10-Q reports. The income statement within these filings details EPS figures. Additionally, many brokerage platforms and financial websites offer stock screening tools, allowing users to filter or display EPS as a data point for a broad range of companies.

Understanding Reported Earnings Per Share

When examining EPS figures, it is important to distinguish between the different forms companies typically report. Basic EPS is calculated by dividing a company’s net income, after subtracting preferred dividends, by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during a period. Diluted EPS, on the other hand, provides a more conservative measure by accounting for the potential conversion of all convertible securities, such as stock options, warrants, and convertible bonds, into common shares, offering a broader view of potential earnings per share.

EPS is reported for different timeframes, providing distinct insights into a company’s performance. Quarterly EPS, found in 10-Q reports or interim earnings releases, offers a recent snapshot of profitability. Annual EPS, typically found in 10-K reports or annual financial statements, provides a broader perspective on the company’s performance over a full fiscal year.

Important Nuances of Earnings Per Share

Companies often present Earnings Per Share (EPS) in various forms, including those prepared according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and non-GAAP, or adjusted, measures. GAAP EPS adheres to a standardized set of accounting rules, ensuring consistency and comparability across companies. However, many companies also report non-GAAP EPS, which excludes certain items that management considers non-recurring or not indicative of core business operations, such as one-time expenses or gains from asset sales. Non-GAAP figures are not standardized and can vary significantly.

Another distinction lies between historical and forecasted EPS. Historical EPS reflects a company’s past performance, derived directly from official financial reports and available through financial databases. In contrast, forecasted EPS represents projections of a company’s future earnings, typically made by financial analysts. These estimates are found in analyst reports and on various financial news websites.

Changes in a company’s outstanding shares can also influence EPS. Share buybacks reduce the number of outstanding shares, which can increase EPS. Conversely, the issuance of new shares can dilute EPS by increasing the denominator in the calculation.

Occasionally, a company’s previously reported historical financial statements, including EPS figures, may undergo restatement. Restatements occur when accounting errors are corrected or when there are changes in accounting principles. This means that numbers reported in prior periods might be revised, altering the historical data available for analysis.