In this article, we will look at the 10 Best European Stocks That Beat Earnings Estimates to Buy.
European stocks that beat earnings estimates are getting more attention as investors look outside the U.S. for companies that can still surprise on the upside. J.P. Morgan Asset Management points to “European equities: Earnings improvement,” noting that “Europe’s 2026 EPS estimate is now being revised up” and that “European valuations remain attractive relative to US equities.” Europe does not need to look like the fastest-growing market in the world to become interesting. It just needs improving expectations, reasonable valuations, and companies that can clear a still-muted bar.
That is where earnings surprises become important. AllianceBernstein says “companies outside of the US continued to enjoy positive payoffs for exceeding earnings forecasts,” which makes the beat-and-revision angle especially relevant for a European stock list. The point is not just that a company grew its earnings. It is that the market underestimated how much it could earn, and that gap can force analysts and investors to rethink the stock.
Against this backdrop, European companies that beat estimates deserve a closer look, especially when the surprise is supported by better margins, stronger demand, or room for further earnings revisions. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 10 Best European Stocks That Beat Earnings Estimates to Buy.
Our Methodology
We used the Finviz screener to identify European stocks that beat earnings estimates. We then limited our final selection to companies that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
10. AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER)
On April 30, 2026, TD Cowen analyst Moshe Orenbuch raised the price target on AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) to $175 from $170 and maintained a Buy rating, citing a broad-based Q1 beat driven by higher gains on sale. The firm also noted that 2026 EPS guidance was raised to $14.50.
Susquehanna analyst Christopher Stathoulopoulos lifted the price target to $170 from $165 with a Positive rating, saying a higher-for-longer fuel environment could pressure airline margins but pointing to AerCap’s portfolio management, aircraft supply constraints, and SLB opportunities as supportive of future lease revenue, with secondary market volatility continuing to support gains on sale.
Truist also raised its price target to $161 from $159 and kept a Buy rating following the earnings beat, noting strong sales gains reflect supply-demand imbalance and highlight the resilience of aircraft leasing despite pressures such as higher oil prices.
AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) reported Q1 adjusted EPS of $5.39 versus $3.71 consensus and book value per share of $116.67 as of March 31, up about 20% year over year. CEO Aengus Kelly said the company delivered a “record quarter,” with strong demand for aviation assets, 286 transactions completed, and an 87% lease extension rate, while raising 2026 adjusted EPS guidance to $14.50 and announcing a $1.0B share repurchase program.
AerCap Holdings N.V. (NYSE:AER) leases, finances, and manages commercial aircraft globally.
9. UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS)
On April 29, 2026, UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) reported Q1 EPS of 94c compared to 51c last year, with revenue of $14.2B versus $12.6B and net profit of $3.04B compared to $1.7B. The company reported a CET1 capital ratio of 14.7% and tangible book value per share of $27.50. CEO Sergio Ermotti said the bank delivered “excellent financial results” while helping clients navigate a volatile environment, and highlighted progress on the Credit Suisse integration, including the transfer of all Swiss-booked client accounts.
The company said it completed client account migrations in Switzerland, positioning it to substantially complete the integration by year-end, while delivering an additional $0.8B in cost reductions for total cumulative savings of $11.5B. UBS also cited strong capital generation, with a 14.7% CET1 ratio, a 4.4% CET1 leverage ratio, mid-teens dividend growth accrual, and $0.9B in share repurchases, with plans to buy back $3B in shares by Q2 results.
UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) also outlined regulatory updates from the Swiss Federal Council, including changes to capitalized software treatment, revised prudential valuation adjustments, and proposals affecting foreign subsidiary investments. The company said these measures could require around $22B of additional CET1 capital at the UBS AG standalone level, with total incremental capital requirements of about $37B when including prior requirements tied to the Credit Suisse acquisition.
UBS Group AG (NYSE:UBS) operates a global wealth management and banking business across multiple segments.
