These stocks are big movers on earnings

With earnings season officially underway, traders might want to look out for stocks that are historically big movers on the day of their earnings.

Twenty-seven stocks in the have increased 3 percent or more on average over the past eight quarters on the day of their earnings. (For companies that reported after the bell, their performance is reflected in the trading day following their earnings.)

Many of these big upside movers are found within the tech and consumer discretionary sectors, and S&P Capital IQ's Mike Thompson says a close-up look at these sectors can give clues to the broader market's performance.

Read MoreWhy earnings could save markets this week

"If you look at the way the S&P 500 is constructed, it's financials, info tech and consumer discretionary," Thompson said on CNBC. "Every one of those is expected to have very powerful double-digit earnings growth in the next quarter, which will be kind of a perfect situation for a broad-based strong market."

One of the big winners on earnings day is Facebook, which reports earnings on Oct. 28 and has risen an average of 9 percent in the trading session immediately following its earnings release. The stock has had stellar performance so far this year, outperforming the broader tech sector by more than 20 percent. Analysts expect Facebook's bull run to continue, predicting an average 21 percent upside according to price target estimates in FactSet.

Read MoreKing dollar question market for earnings and stocks

Chipotle Mexican Grill, which reports earnings on Oct. 20, is another outperformer gaining nearly 6 percent on average following its earnings. The fast-casual-restaurant chain has consistently exceeded analysts' earnings expectations, even after raising prices on its menu. Many analysts expect consumer demand for Chipotle to remain robust in the company's earnings next week.

The best performer following earnings over the past eight quarters is Keurig Green Mountain. The coffeemaker's stock has surged 12 percent on average. The stock got a huge lift after its first quarter earnings release, when it also announced that beverage giant Coca Cola had taken a 10 percent stake in the company. Shares rose 26 percent following the announcement. Its earnings report is Nov. 12.

On the downside, 14 stocks in the S&P have dropped an average of 3 percent or more following earnings over the past eight quarters.

Read MoreStock market bulls look to earnings for salvation

The biggest loser is Staples, down 6 percent on average. The office-supply chain, which reports earnings on Nov. 19, has announced hundreds of store closures over the next few years, citing particular weakness in its North American retail business. Staples stock has rebounded since its lackluster report in August, but continues to lag behind competitor Office Depot this year.

Whole Foods Market is another underperformer, with shares dropping around 6 percent following earnings. The high-end grocer, which reports on Nov. 5, has attributed its earnings misses to increasing competition in the natural and organic food sector. Despite Whole Foods' weakness this year—shares have fallen more than 30 percent, analysts are cautiously positive with 61 percent maintaining hold ratings on the stock according to FactSet.

Read MoreLook out below: stocks that are down 40% this year