Computer equipment maker Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) and the number three office products retailer OfficeMax Inc. (NYSE: OMX) are scheduled to report earnings later today. Here's a quick peek at them ahead of results.
HP hasn't missed quarterly earnings expectations since 2004. When the company reported fourth-quarter results back in November, earnings came to 86 cents per share, beating the consensus forecast of analysts polled by Thomson Financial by four cents. Full-year EPS of $2.93 beat analyst estimates of $2.88. For the current quarter, analysts expect 81 cents per share, compared to 65 cents in the year-ago quarter.
HP's 15.4% earnings per share growth forecast for the next year is less than the industry average of 33.7%. The analysts' consensus recommendation is to buy HP, with 11 of 27 analysts rating its a strong buy. Shares have fallen from the 52-week high of $53.48 in November, and closed Friday at $43.87.
For news on HP and its rivals that could influence the earnings results, see BloggingStocks' Hewlett-Packard coverage.
OfficeMax has missed earnings expectations in only one of the past seven quarters. When it reported third-quarter results back in November, its 64 cents per share earnings matched the consensus forecast of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial, and was up from 56 cents in the same period of last year. For the current quarter, analysts expect 52 cents per share, up from 48 cents in the year-ago quarter.
OfficeMax's earnings per share growth forecast for the next three to five years is 36.5%, which is better than the industry average and the S&P 500. The consensus analysts' recommendation is to buy OfficeMax, and has been for at least six months. Shares closed Friday at $22.14, up from the 52-week low of $17.12 in January.
For news about OfficeMax and its rivals that could influence the earnings results, see BloggingStocks' OfficeMax coverage.
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