Shares of Deluxe Corp (DLX) plummeted 5.19% in pre-market trading on Wednesday, as investors appeared to be positioning themselves cautiously ahead of the company's first-quarter earnings report scheduled for release after the market close. The sharp decline suggests growing apprehension among market participants regarding the upcoming financial results.

Deluxe Corp, a provider of business services and products, is expected to report earnings per share (EPS) of $0.71 for the quarter, according to analyst estimates. The significant pre-market drop may indicate that some investors are concerned about the company's ability to meet or exceed these expectations, or are anticipating potential headwinds in the report.

The pre-earnings sell-off highlights the importance of this upcoming financial release for Deluxe Corp. Investors will be closely watching not only the bottom-line results but also key metrics such as revenue growth, operating margins, and forward guidance. The company's performance and outlook could have a substantial impact on the stock's trajectory in the near term, potentially either reversing the current downward trend or exacerbating it depending on the nature of the report.