Global Payments Inc. GPN is slated to report second-quarter 2021 results on Aug 2, before market open.Q2 Earnings and Revenue EstimatesThe Zacks Consensus Estimate for the company’s earnings per share is pegged at $1.82, indicating a 2.82% increase from the year-ago quarter’s reported figure. The consensus mark for revenues stands at $1.85 billion, suggesting a 21.8% rise from the year-earlier quarter’s reported number.Factors to NoteRevenues of Global Payments’ biggest operating segment, which is Merchant solutions (accounting for 63% of the company’s top line), are likely to have grown as a result of higher spending. The company suffered a revenue decline last year as the COVID-19 pandemic suppressed card and payments activity among thousands of the company's small merchant clients. The situation improved this year and first quarter results already reflected the same with revenues of the segment surging 4.4%.The company’s Issuer Solutions business is likely to have been weighed down by weakness in commercial card business. Corporate travel, which also contributes to its top line, might have remained stressed throughout 2021. Further, the segment will be absorbing the impact of a portfolio sale by one of its customers, which will affect it for the remainder of the year. Taking these two items into account, the company is forecasting its Issuing business to deliver adjusted net revenue growth in the low single-digit range for 2021. In the first quarter, revenues for the segment declined 0.6% year over year.The company is likely to show higher profitability in its upcoming results as a result of two primary factors. These are cost-cutting efforts and the realization of expense synergies from its $21.5-BILLION mega merger with the card issuer Total System Services.Developments During the June QuarterGlobal Payments acquired Zego. It is a digital omni-channel solutions platform that provides a wide range of property management situations ranging from leasing to both one-time and recurring payments, utilities management, resident communications and renewals. The deal will lend the company an instant presence in the wide real estate with $6.5 billion of target addressable market.The company also announced that it will acquire Worldline’s PAYONE business in Austria consisting of roughly 8,000 small and medium-sized businesses merchant customers in Erste banks home market. The deal will provide the company with access to the payments market in Austria.Earnings Surprise HistoryThe company has an impressive earnings surprise history. Its bottom line beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average being 5.8%. This is depicted in the chart below:Global Payments Inc. Price and EPS Surprise Global Payments Inc. price-eps-surprise | Global Payments Inc. QuoteWhat Our Quantitative Model PredictsOur proven model predicts an earnings beat for Global Payments this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat, which is just the case here.Earnings ESP: Global Payments has an Earnings ESP of +2.31%. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Zacks Rank: Global Payments carries a Zacks Rank #2, currently. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Other Stocks to ConsiderSome other stocks worth considering with the apt combination of elements to surpass estimates this reporting cycle are as follows:Mastercard Inc. MA has an Earnings ESP of +0.22% and is presently a #3 Ranked player.Visa Inc. V has an Earnings ESP of +3.20% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.EVO Payments, Inc. EVOP has a Zacks Rank of 2 at present and an Earnings ESP of +12.71%. Time to Invest in Legal Marijuana If you’re looking for big gains, there couldn’t be a better time to get in on a young industry primed to skyrocket from $17.7 billion back in 2019 to an expected $73.6 billion by 2027. After a clean sweep of 6 election referendums in 5 states, pot is now legal in 36 states plus D.C. Federal legalization is expected soon and that could be a still greater bonanza for investors. Even before the latest wave of legalization, Zacks Investment Research has recommended pot stocks that have shot up as high as +285.9%. You’re invited to check out Zacks’ Marijuana Moneymakers: An Investor’s Guide. It features a timely Watch List of pot stocks and ETFs with exceptional growth potential.Today, Download Marijuana Moneymakers 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 Mastercard Incorporated (MA): Free Stock Analysis Report Visa Inc. (V): Free Stock Analysis Report Global Payments Inc. (GPN): Free Stock Analysis Report EVO Payments, Inc. (EVOP): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research