Electric utility provider, Edison International EIX is scheduled to report second-quarter 2017 earnings results on Jul 27 after the closing bell.Last quarter, the company recorded a positive earnings surprise of 23.60%. However, the company surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate in two of the trailing four quarters, with average surprise of 2.69%.Let’s see how things are shaping up at the company prior to this announcement.Factors at PlayEdison International’s chief unit, Southern California Edison (SCE), implemented certain cost saving measures which lowered expenses in the first quarter. We expect the company to derive benefit from such initiatives in the second quarter.Edison International’s operations are subject to federal, state and local legislative requirements and other extensive environmental regulations. Its earnings are significantly dependent on approvals from regulatory bodies and any adverse ruling could impact performance.Edison International Price and EPS Surprise Edison International Price and EPS Surprise | Edison International QuoteEarnings WhispersOur proven model does not conclusively show that Edison International is likely to beat estimates this quarter. 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 this to happen. But that is not the case here, as you will see below. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.Zacks ESP: Edison International has an Earnings ESP of -6.02%. This is because the Most Accurate estimate is at 78 cents while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged higher at 83 cents.Zacks Rank: Edison International currently carries a Zacks Rank #3, which increases the predictive power of ESP. However, the company’s -6.02% ESP makes surprise prediction difficult.We caution against Sell-rated stocks (#4 or 5) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions.Stocks that Warrant a LookHere are a few utility stocks which have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter:NextEra Energy, Inc. NEE has an earnings ESP of +0.58% and a Zacks Rank #2. It is expected to report second-quarter 2017 earnings on July 26.The AES Corporation AES has an earnings ESP of +20.00% and a Zacks Rank #2. It is expected to report second-quarter 2017 earnings on Aug 8.Pattern Energy Group Inc. PEGI is expected to report second-quarter 2017 earnings on Aug 4. It has an earnings ESP of +23.08% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.More Stock News: Tech Opportunity Worth $386 Billion in 2017From driverless cars to artificial intelligence, we've seen an unsurpassed growth of high-tech products in recent months. Yesterday's science-fiction is becoming today's reality. Despite all the innovation, there is a single component no tech company can survive without. Demand for this critical device will reach $387 billion this year alone, and it's likely to grow even faster in the future.Zacks has released a brand-new Special Report to help you take advantage of this exciting investment opportunity. Most importantly, it reveals 4 stocks with massive profit potential. See these stocks now>>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 NextEra Energy, Inc. (NEE): Free Stock Analysis Report Edison International (EIX): Free Stock Analysis Report The AES Corporation (AES): Free Stock Analysis Report Pattern Energy Group Inc. (PEGI): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research