Triple Play

Triple play is a slang term for when a stock simultaneously beats analyst expectations for revenue and earnings, then also raises earnings guidance for future quarters. The term triple play was first popularized by Bespoke Investment Group in the mid-2000's and is seen as a highly positive sign for the stock. Some investors like to look at triple-play stocks as a preliminary filter for finding good stocks to research for investment.

A triple play is seen as a highly positive sign because it indicates that not only is a company growing its business and earnings, but also doing it in a way that is expected to last over the longer term. Often when a stock beats revenue and earnings estimates, analysts wonder if the higher numbers can be expected to continue. If the company does not raise guidance, it may indicate that management expects a drop in the next period.