Exceeding even the figures predicted by the most optimistic financial

Opening modifier "Exceeding even the figures predicted by the most optimistic financial analysts" modifes earnings and not company.

How to find this?.

One way-Company exceeds the figures predicted by analysts-Illogical comparison.

Other way- See the word "figures" ...so for logical comparison, we need other thing which can be expressed in figures...and that’s " earnings" and not company for sure

So eliminate A, B, and C.


Between D and E, the only difference is "those of" at the end of E (absent from D). So you ask yourself "what is being compared here?" The earnings in one quarter to the earnings in another quarter. The earnings to the earnings. So I have to mention both sets of earnings, even if I use some sort of pronoun or other referent the second time (which is what the test usually does).

D says the "earnings were more than double the quarter" - that's not the right comparison.
E says the "earnings were more than double the (other) earnings" - that's the right comparison.

Hence E.