Previewing Retail and Restaurant Earnings For The Week (WEN, MCD, THI, JACK, M, JWN, VRA, KSS)

A number of retail store and restaurant stocks report earnings this week, including Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. (NYSE: WEN), Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M), Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN), Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), Tim Hortons Inc. (NYSE: THI), Vera Bradley Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRA), and Kohl’s Corp. (NYSE: KSS). We’ve also tossed in a quick look at same-stores sales for McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD)

Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc. (NYSE: WEN) already reported EPS of $0.01 on revenue of $848 million. Thomson Reuters had estimates of $0.02 EPS and $845.59 million in revenues. For next quarter estimates are $0.06 EPS and $895.06 million in revenues. The company said it is making progress at selling its Arby’s brand and that there are several interested bidders. Wendy’s announced preliminary same-store sales for April  up 0.5%, while Arby’s same-store sales rose 4.5%. At about noon today the stock traded at $5.04, within its 52-week range of $3.83 to $5.27.

McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) posted April same-store sales data yesterday showing a rise of 6% over 2010. The company raised sales prices 1% in the US in March and plans to raise prices again in the US. European prices also rose and the company also expects to raise prices in China. In its first quarter, McDonald’s posted EPS of $1.15, and is expected to post EPS of $1.26 in the second quarter on sales of $6.56 billion. Shares are up about 0.5% today, at $79.63, near the top of the 52-week range of $65.31-$80.94.

Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK) is scheduled to report earnings on Thursday. Analysts are expecting EPS of $0.21 on revenue of $482.83 million. Next quarter’s EPS estimate is $0.40 on $483.87 million in revenue. Shares are trading up nearly 2% today, at $20.35, within a 52-week range of $18.42-$24.51.

Tim Hortons Inc. (NYSE: THI) reports earnings on Thursday, and analysts expect EPS of $0.52 on revenue of $619.93 million. The EPS estimate for next quarter is set at $0.62 on revenue of $689.35 million. Shares are up about 1.5% today at $50.51, after posting a new 52-week high of $50.64.

Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) reports results after the close on Wednesday.  Analysts estimate EPS of $0.17 on $5.81 billion in revenues. For next quarter estimates are $0.42 EPS and $5.73 billion in revenues. Shares closed at $26.18 on Monday, within a 52-week range of $16.93 to $26.88.

Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN) reports earnings on Thursday after the close.  Analysts estimate EPS of $0.66 on $2.2 billion in revenues. For next quarter estimates are $0.75 EPS and $2.62 billion in revenues. Shares closed at $47.31 on Monday, within a 52-week range of $28.44 to $48.70. The stock came within $0.37 of posting a new high this morning.

Vera Bradley Designs, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRA) reports earnings on Thursday, and analysts are expecting EPS of $0.27 on revenue of $100 million. For next quarter, analysts are forecasting EPS of $0.26 on revenue of $94.72 million. There is a lot of short interest in the company, and a short squeeze might be what’s keeping the stock at annual highs. Shares closed at $49.84 on Monday, within a 52-week range of $22.00-$50.68. The stock hit an intra-day today of $50.50 before pulling back.

Kohl’s Corp. (NYSE: KSS) reports earnings on Thursday, and analysts expect EPS of $0.72 on revenue of $4.25 billion. For next quarter, analysts are looking for EPS of $0.99 on revenue of $4.3 billion. Shares are up more than 1% today, at $52.88, within a 52-week range of $44.07-$58.00.

Paul Ausick