Steve Madden, Ltd. SHOO is slated to release third-quarter 2020 results on Oct 27, before the opening bell. Although the Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter earnings has been stable for the past 30 days at 24 cents, the same indicates a decline of about 64.2% from 67 cents earned in the same quarter a year ago.Markedly, the fashion-forward footwear, apparel and accessories dealer delivered an earnings surprise of 6.7% in the last four quarters, on average.Key Factors to NotePersistence of softness across the wholesale business is likely to have affected Steven Madden’s top line. We note that decline in the wholesale footwear and wholesale accessories/apparel revenues have been dampening the unit’s performance. Again, the impact of any order cancellations due to COVID-19 on the segment’s performance cannot be ruled out.Management on its last earnings call projected decline of roughly 35% and 40% year over year in wholesale-footwear revenues and wholesale-accessories/apparel revenues, respectively, for the third quarter. Clearly, softness across both categories is likely to marred the wholesale segment’s performance in the quarter under review. The company had guided revenue decline of 25% in retail business in the quarter under review.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter revenues stands at $327.6 million, which suggests a decrease of 34.1% from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure.Nonetheless, Steven Madden’s focus on enhancing marketing activities, improving e-commerce capabilities and optimizing cost structure are likely to have favorably impacted quarterly performance. In fact, the company’s e-commerce business has been in a bright spot amid the pandemic, and the same is likely to have contributed to retail segment sales in the third quarter. Increased digital-marketing investments are generating impressive returns, with initiatives like try before you buy likely to have aided its performance. Additionally, performance of Steven Madden’s flagship brand is expected to have been solid.What the Zacks Model UnveilsOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Steven Madden this reporting cycle. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.Steven Madden, Ltd. Price and EPS Surprise Steven Madden, Ltd. price-eps-surprise | Steven Madden, Ltd. QuoteSteven Madden carries a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of +5.42%.More Stocks With the Favorable CombinationHere are a few more companies you may want to consider, as our model shows that these too have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat:Crocs CROX has an Earnings ESP of +2.56% and a Zacks Rank #1. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Wolverine World Wide WWW has an Earnings ESP of +17.86% and a Zacks Rank #2.Deckers DECK has an Earnings ESP of +0.95% and a Zacks Rank #2.5 Stocks Set to DoubleEach was hand-picked by a Zacks expert as the #1 favorite stock to gain +100% or more in 2020. Each comes from a different sector and has unique qualities and catalysts that could fuel exceptional growth.Most of the stocks in this report are flying under Wall Street radar, which provides a great opportunity to get in on the ground floor.Today, See These 5 Potential Home Runs >>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 Deckers Outdoor Corporation (DECK): Free Stock Analysis Report Steven Madden, Ltd. (SHOO): Free Stock Analysis Report Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (WWW): Free Stock Analysis Report Crocs, Inc. (CROX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research