HP Inc. HPQ is set to report third-quarter fiscal 2018 results on Aug 23.In the last reported quarter, HP’s revenues surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate, while earnings matched the same. Moreover, the company’s revenues increased for the seventh consecutive quarter, out of which the last six recorded double-digit growth after a prolonged period of decline. Also, the Personal Systems and Print segments’ performance improved for the fifth straight quarter, after 2010.In the trailing four quarters, the company’s results surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate twice and came in line on two other occasions, delivering an average positive surprise of 4.17%.HP projects non-GAAP earnings per share in the range of 49 to 52 cents for the fiscal third-quarter.So, let’s see how things are shaping up prior to this announcement.Factors at PlayHP’s PC segment is delivering impressive performance, wherein the year-over-year increase in the last reported quarter can be attributed to growth in Commercial and Consumer revenues. The company’s focus on product innovation, differentiation and enhancement of the capabilities of its printing business to stabilize the top line is a tailwind.Notably, International Data Corporation, in its latest report on second-quarter 2018 PC shipments, stated that HP was the clear winner with 23.9% market share while per Gartner, HP shared the leading position with Lenovo, with 21.9% market share each.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for PC segment revenues stands at $9.08 billion for fiscal third quarter, implying 8% year-over-year growth.The company’s efforts to revamp its printing business have also been impressive. With the commencement of the shipping of A3 multifunction printers to more than 80 countries, which covers all its key markets, HP is likely to revive the company’s printing business and grab a bigger share in the inkjet printer market.It should be noted that the buyout of S-Print has helped HP in the $55-billion high-end copy-machine market where Xerox Corporation XRX is currently the leader. Additionally, the company’s focus on fortifying its 3D printing business capabilities also makes us optimistic.The consensus estimate for Print segment revenues is approximately $5.13 billion for the quarter to be reported, indicating 9.2% year-over-year improvement.However, increasing overall component and logistic costs for Personal Systems coupled with rising material costs in the Printing segment is an overhang on margins. Moreover, competition from the likes of Lenovo, Dell and Apple is another key concern.HP Inc. Price and EPS Surprise HP Inc. Price and EPS Surprise | HP Inc. QuoteWhat Our Model SaysAccording to the Zacks model, a company with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) has a good chance of beating estimates if it also has a positive Earnings ESP. Zacks Rank #4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell) stocks are best avoided. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.HP has an Earnings ESP of +1.19% and carries a Zacks Rank #3, which indicates a likely positive surprise.Other Key PicksHere are a couple of stocks, which you may also consider as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat in their upcoming releases:Splunk Inc. SPLK with an Earnings ESP of +57.41% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company HPE with an Earnings ESP of +3.65% and a Zacks Rank #3.The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of AllLast year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce ""the world's first trillionaires,"" but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early.See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >>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 HP Inc. (HPQ): Free Stock Analysis Report Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (HPE): Free Stock Analysis Report Splunk Inc. (SPLK): Free Stock Analysis Report Xerox Corporation (XRX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research