1.   Although Intel did not specifically say that earnings would exceed the consensus estimate, Wall Street analysts said they would be raising their numbers.

2.   Although this decline was about triple the consensus estimate, analysts cautioned that the seasonal adjustment process was especially unreliable during the winter months.

3.   Among companies that met or exceeded consensus estimates, half showed an increase in their stock price and half showed a decrease.

4.   Analysts said that while earnings for both companies fell below the consensus estimate, they were within a reasonable range, with no negative surprises.

5.   Analysts said that while earnings for both companies fell below the consensus estimate, they were within a reasonable range with no negative surprises.

6.   And the free reports do a relatively good job of encapsulating the consensus estimates in a wide range of areas.

7.   Academic studies have found that actual earnings do not fall randomly around the consensus estimate, as one might expect.

8.   After the close, the biggest maker of Internet equipment reported earnings that were better than consensus estimates.

9.   After the market closed, the software giant reported earnings for its fiscal first quarter that were well above consensus estimates.

10.   Companies such as Halliburton Co., Baker Hughes Inc. and Dresser Industries Inc. could also post first-quarter earnings above consensus estimates, he said.