Diversified food company Pilgrim's Pride Corporation PPC is scheduled to report first-quarter 2016 results on Apr 28, after the closing bell. Pilgrim’s Pride is engaged in production, distribution and sale of frozen, fresh and value-added chicken products to various foodservice operators, distributors and retailers in the market.In the trailing four quarters, the company reported average negative earnings surprise of 13.49%. Let’s see how things are shaping up prior to this announcement.Factors at PlayPilgrim’s Pride aims to boost its revenues in the to-be-reported quarter on the back of its sound marketing strategies, greater product innovation and superior customer service. The company also intends to accelerate margin growth in the quarter under review on the back of its zero-based budgeting strategy, efficient deployment of human capital, optimal resource allocation and appropriate maintenance of production facilities. Through efficient cash flow generation and tactical cost-saving plans, the company expects to save approximately $185 million by year-end 2016.Despite these positives, however, the company is subjected to risks like livestock diseases such as Avian flu and unfavorable foreign currency translation. Also, sudden inflation in input price or supply-demand imbalances might weigh on the company’s top line and bottom line in first-quarter 2016.Earnings WhispersOur proven model does not conclusively state that Pilgrim's Pride is likely to beat earnings in the quarter under review. That is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), #2 (Buy) or #3 (Hold) for an earnings beat. That is not the case here as we will see below.Zacks ESP: Pilgrim's Pride has a 0.00% Earnings ESP for the quarter as both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stand at 37 cents.Zacks Rank: Pilgrim's Pride’s Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) reduces the predictive power of ESP. This, when combined with a 0.00% ESP, makes surprise prediction difficult.Note that we caution against Sell-rated stocks (Zacks Rank #4 or 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.Stocks to ConsiderHere are some companies you may want to consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:Dish Network Corp. DISH with an Earnings ESP of +2.60% and a Zacks Rank #2.Party City Holdco Inc. PRTY with an Earnings ESP of +25.00% and a Zacks Rank #2.TEGNA Inc. TGNA with an Earnings ESP of +2.44% and a Zacks Rank #2.Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days.Click to get this free report >>Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report DISH NETWORK CP (DISH): Free Stock Analysis Report PILGRIMS PRIDE (PPC): Free Stock Analysis Report TEGNA INC (TGNA): Free Stock Analysis Report PARTY CITY HOCO (PRTY): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research