Fast on the heels of the New Year, Monsanto Co. (NYSE: MON) and Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY) report earnings next week. Here is a quick look at each of them.
Monsanto hasn't missed quarterly earnings expectations since the fourth quarter of 2005. When it reported fourth quarter 2007 results back in October, the seasonal loss was 18 cents per share, squeaking past the consensus estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial of 17 cents, as well as the actual 21 cents per share loss in the same period of 2006. For the full year, earnings were $1.98 per share, two cents short of expectations. For the current quarter, analysts expect earnings of 35 cents per share, up from 16 cents in the same quarter of 2007.
Monsanto's 30.8 percent earnings per share growth forecast for the next year is better than the S&P 500. The analysts' consensus recommendation has been to buy Monsanto for at least six months. The share price reached an all-time high of $116.25 just after Christmas, well up from the 52-week low of $49.10 this past January.
For news about Monsanto that could influence the earnings results, check out BloggingStocks' Monsanto coverage.
Bed Bath & Beyond has beat earnings expectations for the past three quarters. When it reported second quarter results in September, earnings were 55 cents per share, which beat estimates by three cents, and was up from 51 cents in the same period of 2007. For the current quarter, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expect 52 cents per share, compared to 50 cents actual in the same quarter last year.
Bed Bath & Beyond's forecast earnings per share growth over the next year is only 3.2 percent, and the consensus recommendation from the analysts is to hold BBBY. The share price sank to a 52-week low of $27.96 a few days before Christmas, down from its 52-week high of $43.32 in February.
For more on news that may influence earnings results, see BloggingStocks' Bed Bath & Beyond coverage.
Monsanto and Bed Bath & Beyond are scheduled to report earnings on Thursday.
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