11 Key Earnings To Watch For Early Next Week (FSLR, HGSI, MPEL, NFLX, VECO, MMM, AMZN, BRCM, KO, F, VLO)

Next week is going to get off to a slow start because of the post-Easter blues after a three-day weekend.  We have pulled eleven earnings which we think traders will hone in on during the Monday and Tuesday trading sessions.  Not all of these are market-movers, but some are and some could see some wild swings.  The ones we are focusing on for Monday and Tuesday are as follows: First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR); Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI); MelCo Crown Entertainment Ltd. (NASDAQ: MPEL); Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX); Veeco Instruments Inc (NASDAQ: VECO); 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM); Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN); Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM); Coca Cola Company (NYSE: KO); Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F); and Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO).  We have compiled Thomson Reuters data on each and added in color if applicable.

First Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: FSLR) is due Monday after the close.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $1.17 EPS and $542.9 million in revenues; estimates next quarter are $2.01 EPS and $801.5 million in revenue.  We will be watching two issues: guidance of whether it can sustain the expected $9.53 EPS and almost $3.8 billion in revenues; and whether input costs are driving up its position in the cost per kilowatt.  The expectation in solar, and the recent executive departure, are all weighing on a sector that is now back to lower levels since the Japan-boost has ended.

Human Genome Sciences Inc. (NASDAQ: HGSI) is due Monday.  Thomson Reuters has estimates FOR 2011 of -$1.63 EPS and $164.9 million in revenues.  2012 estimates are -$0.73 EPS but revenues are expected to rise to $490+ million and some see higher than that for revenues.  This one is going to be a guidance story rather than an earnings story now that its lupus drug is coming on,  Look for what it guides to because earnings for now are immaterial.

MelCo Crown Entertainment Ltd. (NASDAQ: MPEL) is due Monday and the company has to turn in good numbers to keep its stance here. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.05 EPS and $807 million in revenues; estimates next quarter are -$0.01 EPS and $729.2 million in revenue.  With Wynn having surged and giving great Macau data, we know why this one recently hit multi-year highs.

Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) is due Monday after the close and shares have flirted with new highs again and the market cap has come close to $13 billion. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $1.07 EPS and $703.6 million in revenues; estimates next quarter are $1.18 EPS and $763 million in revenue. Everyone loves it, or they are shorting the stock.  This is not going to move markets but it could have a huge move up or down based on a high share price after a huge gain and based upon large short interest.

Veeco Instruments Inc (NASDAQ: VECO) is due Monday and it is mentioned only because of a peer implosion.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $1.21 EPS and $246.4 million in revenues; estimates next quarter are $1.37 EPS and $273.7 million in revenue.  With the blowup in Cree on inventory building in LEDs, traders are likely to have a big reaction in either direction based upon its news and its guidance.

3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) is due Tuesday morning. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $1.44 EPS and $6.95 billion in revenues; estimates next quarter are $1.61 EPS and $7.44 billion in revenue.  This is late to the party for conglomerate earnings but it is still important as shares were just recently challenging 52-week highs and all-time highs.

Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) is due Tuesday.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.61 EPS and $9.52 billion in revenues; estimates next quarter are $0.57 EPS and $8.74 billion in revenue.  We have been and continue to be concerned about margin and its shipping costs for unlimited clubs has to be addressed at some point if oil prices remain high.

Broadcom Corporation (NASDAQ: BRCM) is due Tuesday and could move the chip stocks.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.59 EPS and $1.81 billion in revenues; estimates next quarter are $0.66 EPS and $1.9 billion in revenue.  We will be watching to see if it looks more like Intel or not.

Coca Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is due Tuesday.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.87 EPS and $10.54 billion in revenues; estimates next quarter are $1.18 EPS and $12.27 billion in revenue.  Probably not a market mover, but watch Pepsico (NYSE: PEP) in a secondary reaction.  We cannot help but wonder what the DJIA component will say about its international currency cash management.

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) is due Tuesday. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.50 EPS and $30.64 billion in revenues; estimates next quarter are $0.59 EPS and $31.95 billion in revenue.  Ford may still be America’s favorite car company but it has fallen from grace after a huge disappointment in its last earnings.  The company can’t be criticized too much but it will be important to reestablish some earnings street-cred… Otherwise the stock may go lower.

Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO) is due to report earnings on Tuesday. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.38 EPS and $22.3 billion in revenues; estimates next quarter are $1.14 EPS and $27.5 billion in revenue.  Valero rose massively as a stable $80-ish oil was great for it.  Now oil prices have skyrocketed and the fear is back that being a refiner could be out of the sweet-spot all over again.  That has made the stock range-bound.  If the company forecasts stability then it can regain another leg up.  If it is cautious, then investors are going to get out and revisit at lower stock prices.

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JON C. OGG