Murphy Oil MUR will release second-quarter 2017 financial results on Aug 2, after market close. Last quarter, this power management company witnessed a negative earnings surprise of 20%.Let’s see how things are shaping up prior to this announcement.Factors to ConsiderAs a global oil and gas exploration and production company, Murphy Oil is vulnerable to fluctuating commodity prices. During the second quarter of 2017, the price of crude oil took a nosedive. This is expected to affect the company’s top line in the quarter under review.Additionally, the company has operations in the U.K. and Canada. Therefore, changes in foreign currency translation conversion rates also pose risks to the company.However, with active cost control measure, the company has successfully brought down its expenses over the last few quarters. The reduced costs are expected to widen the margin of Murphy Oil, in the to-be-reported quarter.Murphy Oil Corporation Price and EPS Surprise Murphy Oil Corporation Price and EPS Surprise | Murphy Oil Corporation QuoteEarnings WhispersOur proven model does not conclusively show that Murphy Oil 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.Zacks ESP: The company’s Most Accurate estimate stands at a loss of 16 cents while the Zacks Consensus Estimate is pegged at a loss of 15 cents, resulting in an Earnings ESP of -6.67%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.Zacks Rank: Murphy Oil carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). We caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell rated) 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 from the Zacks categorized Oils-Energy sector as our proven model shows that they have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this quarter.Goodrich Petroleum Corporation GDP has an Earnings ESP of +19.36% and carries a Zacks Rank #3. It is slated to report second-quarter 2017 earnings on Aug 4. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Cheniere Energy, Inc. LNG has an Earnings ESP of +2,200.00% and holds a Zacks Rank #3. It is slated to report second-quarter 2017 earnings on Aug 8.Rice Energy Inc. RICE has an Earnings ESP of +9.09% and carries a Zacks Rank #3. It is slated to report second-quarter 2017 earnings on Aug 2.Will You Make a Fortune on the Shift to Electric Cars?Here's another stock idea to consider. Much like petroleum 150 years ago, lithium power may soon shake the world, creating millionaires and reshaping geo-politics. Soon electric vehicles (EVs) may be cheaper than gas guzzlers. Some are already reaching 265 miles on a single charge.With battery prices plummeting and charging stations set to multiply, one company stands out as the #1 stock to buy according to Zacks research.It's not the one you think.See This Ticker Free >>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 Rice Energy Inc. (RICE): Free Stock Analysis Report Cheniere Energy, Inc. (LNG): Free Stock Analysis Report Goodrich Petroleum Corporation (GDP): Free Stock Analysis Report Murphy Oil Corporation (MUR): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research