As the quarterly reports continue to roll out and the market continues to rally, optimism seem to be rising. Analysts certainly have high hopes for some companies reporting earnings this week.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) to report first-quarter earnings of $1.51 per share, which is 62.3% higher than a year ago. Revenue for the quarter is expected to be 105.6% higher, or $404.9 million. First Solar earnings have topped expectations in the past five quarters, by as much as 47.3%. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 40.6% and the forward PE ratio estimate is 23.0. In the previous quarter, Tempe, Ariz.-based First Solar reported having more cash on hand than debt. The First Call consensus recommendation is to buy FSLR; CNBC recently included it as a stock pick. First Solar has announced that it will build new solar power plants in Nevada and Germany. Its share price has risen 6.9% since the beginning of the year to $147.46.
For a first quarter that saw Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) appoint a new chief strategy officer, analysts expect the Louisville, Ky.-based health care plan provider to report a profit of $1.17 per share, which is 59.8% higher than a year ago. Revenue is expected to be 10.0% higher to $7.7 billion. Humana has beat earnings expectations in the past five quarters. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 13.1%, which is better than rivals Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) and Cigna Corp. (NYSE: CI). The consensus recommendation is to buy HUM; the Motley Fool recently called it a stock approaching greatness. The share price has fallen 26.6% since the beginning of the year to $27.36.
Sohu.com Inc. (NASDAQ: SOHU), operator of one of China's leading Web portals, is expected to post first-quarter earnings of $0.99 per share, 44.4% higher than a year ago, on revenue of $113.4, which is up 33.6%. Sohu earnings have beat expectations in the past five quarters, by as much as 32 cents per share. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 37.2%, which is better than that of rival Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU). In the previous quarter, Sohu reported being debt free, one the reasons why Zacks featured Sohu as a growth stock. TheStreet.com called it a Chinese rocket stock, or one benefiting from Chinese economic stimulus efforts. The share price has risen 10.8% since the beginning of the year to $52.43, but is still 15.4% lower than a year ago.
DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NASDAQ: DWA), the company behind such box office hits as Shrek and Kung Fu Panda, is expected to report first-quarter earnings of $0.45 per share (+37.8%) on revenue of $209.1 million (+33.5%), for the quarter that saw the release of Monsters vs. Aliens. DreamWorks earnings have topped expectations in four of the past five quarters, but missed by two cents per share in the fourth quarter. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 7.7% and the forward PE ratio estimate is 13.0. In the previous quarter, the Glendale, Calif.-based company reported having more cash on hand than debt. The consensus recommendation remains to buy DWA; a UBS analyst was impressed by the receipts for Monsters vs. Aliens, and the Motley Fool recently identified DWA as a stock on the upswing. The share price isn't far off the 52-week low of $17.32 and is 29.5% lower than a year ago.
Minneapolis-based Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. (NASDAQ: BWLD) operates a chain of more than 500 eateries that feature, not surprisingly, Buffalo-style chicken wings. For the first quarter, the company's profit is expected to have risen 21.7% to $0.46 per share, while sales are expected to be 32.8% higher to $129.1 million. In the third quarter of last year, Buffalo Wild Wings missed earnings estimates by six cents per share, but otherwise hasn't missed in the past five quarters. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 22.7% and the forward PE ratio estimate is 25.0, both of which are higher than those of rival YUM! Brands (NYSE: YUM), which includes KFC among its fast-food chains. Analysts on average recommend buying BWLD; last week, Zacks identified the stock as a top performer and iStockAnalyst called it ready to rock. Shares are 63.1% higher since the beginning of the year and creeping up on the 52-week high of $44.98.
Analysts are looking for earnings gains from plenty of other companies reported this week, including Alfac Inc. (NYSE: AFL), Astrazeneca (NYSE: AZN), Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU), Boston Properties Inc. (NYSE: BXP), Bristol-Myers-Squibb Co. (NYSE: BMY), Burger King Holdings Inc. (NYSE: BKC), Clorox Co. (NYSE: CLX), Colgate-Palmolive Co. (NYSE: CL), Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA), Dean Foods Co. (NYSE: DF), General Dynamics Corp. (NYSE: GD), MasterCard Inc. (NYSE: MA), McAfee Inc. (NYSE: MFE), Panera Bread Co. (NASDAQ: PNRA), and Visa Inc. (NYSE: V). Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB) is expected to report swinging to a profit.
Elsewhere on next week's economic calendar: the Fed's FOMC begins meeting on interest rates late Monday, and announces its decision on short-term interest rates Wednesday afternoon.
Employment is the focus first thing Thursday morning, with initial jobless claims from last week, the Employment Cost Index for the first quarter, and personal income for March all due.
The Chicago PMI for April is scheduled for Thursday morning, followed by factory orders for March and the ISM Manufacturing Index for April on Friday morning.
The week ends with new motor vehicle sales for April on Friday afternoon.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-30-2009 @ 3:49AM
General Dynamics Share Price said...
General Dynamics Corporation provides business aviation, combat vehicles, weapons systems, shipbuilding design, construction, information systems, technologies, and services. The company operates through four segments: Aerospace, Combat Systems, Marine Systems, and Information Systems and Technology. Their share price is $53.34 till date and it is a good sign in this recession period.