The earnings previews are for the following: Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM); Atmel Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML); Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO); Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC); Enbridge Inc. (NYSE: ENB); Groupon Inc. (NASDAQ: GRPN); Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM); IntercontinentalExchange Inc. (NYSE: ICE); Level 3 Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: LVLT); Moody’s Corporation (NYSE: MCO); News Corp. (NASDAQ: NWSA); PAA Natural Gas Storage L.P. (NYSE: PNG); Plains All American Pipeline L.P. (NYSE: PAA); Prudential Financial Inc. (NYSE: PRU); Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL); Reynolds American Inc. (NYSE: RAI); Sprint Nextel Corporation (NYSE: S); Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX); Vical Inc. (NASDAQ: VICL); Visa Inc. (NYSE: V); and Whole Foods Market Inc. (NASDAQ: WFM).

We have compiled earnings preview on each company using Thomson Reuters consensus estimates and added color on each if applicable.  Some are market moving, some are sector moving, and some are just interesting for traders to watch around the earnings reports.

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM) has estimates of $0.40 EPS and $311.26 million in revenues.

Atmel Corporation (NASDAQ: ATML) has estimates of $0.09 EPS and $401.5 million in revenues.    Growth is gone, but it still screens as value.

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) has estimates of $0.43 EPS and $11.23 billion in revenues.  Preliminary preview notes are available.

Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) has estimates of $0.58 EPS and $3.98 billion in revenues.  As a reminder, CSC has warned on earnings.  This one shows up as a value stock in all sorts of investor screens but it is a value trap.

Read: The Newest Fortune 100 Companies

In the past year, excitement in the press and on Wall Street centered on companies that are only a few years old. Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN), LinkedIn (NYSE: LNKD) and FriendFinder (NASDAQ: FFN) had little trouble raising money in the pubic capital markets. Many of those stocks have fallen since their market premiere, but analysts still expect new companies like to Zynga and Facebook to have tremendous valuations when they go public. What these companies share beyond “buzz” is that they are not only new but also small. Facebook, by most estimates, will have revenue of $4 billion this year. It is still not clear whether its social network model can be sustained as a big business, even if it does have 750 million members.

24/7 Wall St. analyzed all of the corporations on the most recent Fortune 100 list to find which of them had been founded most recently. Eight are technology companies. This is not surprising because over the past 40 years, the growth of software, PCs and portable electronic devices has been extraordinary. The other two corporations are big-box retailers — Costco (NASDAQ: COST) and Home Depot (NYSE: HD). They are part of a trend started in the 1960s by Walmart (NYSE: WMT) to build very large stores, staff them modestly and charge prices well below those available in niche stores or boutiques.

Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) and Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) seem to have been around for a long time. For Americans under 30, they have. However, major and sustained revenue success is linked to age, among other things. Facebook may make it onto the Fortune 100, but it will take years for its revenue to get to $20 billion or $30 billion. If it gets there, there is no guarantee it can maintain that level of sales for decades like the youngest Fortune 100 companies have.

24/7 Wall St. identified the 10 companies present on the 2011 edition of the Forbes Fortune 100. When companies merged, we looked at the founding date of each company and took the oldest. In addition to annual revenue of the most recent fiscal year, as well as Fortune 100 rank, 24/7 included the industry and number of employees, provided by Google Finance.

Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) Started as Hold at Deutsche Bank.
Becton Dickinson & Co. (NYSE: BDX) Reiterated Buy with $87 target at Argus.
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (NYSE: DD) Started as Neutral at UBS.
Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) named as Value stock of the day at Zacks.
Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) Raised to Outperform at RBC.
Hibbett Sporting Goods (NASDAQ: HIBB) named as Bull of the Day at Zacks.
Ingram Micro, Inc. (NYSE: IM) named as Bear of the Day at Zacks.
Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp. (NYSE: KOG) Reiterated Outperform and raised target to $11 at Credit Suisse.
Nabors Industries Ltd. (NYSE: NBR) Cut to Hold at Jefferies.
Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) maintained Sell but cut target to $57 at Canaccord Genuity.
Newpark Resources (NYSE: NR) Started as Hold at Canaccord Genuity.
QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) Started as Outperform at Scotia.
Research In Motion Limited (NASDAQ: RIMM) Raised to Market Perform at Bernstein.
Spectrum Brands Inc (NYSE: SPB) Started as Outperform at Credit Suisse.

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Tech Data posted third-quarter EPS of $1.26 on revenue of $6.59 billion, compared with consensus estimates for EPS of $1.27 on revenue $6.74 billion. The company also noted that it was “realigning” its resources in Europe and that it expects that to cost it $15 million in the fourth quarter. The company expects “flat to low single-digit sales growth” in both its Americas and Europe segments. No word on profit expectations.

Both Synnex and Arrow have provided brighter outlooks, with Arrow raising its EPS guidance to $1.25-$1.37 for the fourth quarter, solidly above the previous consensus of $1.25. Synnex raised its fourth-quarter EPS guidance above the consensus estimate $1.06 to $1.11-$1.15.

Avnet and Arrow, like Tech Data, missed third-quarter EPS estimates by a penny or two. And with the rather bleak global economics forecasts, especially for Europe, any optimism for better earnings and revenues in wholesale sales seems misplaced. Short-term help could come as a result of recent flooding in Thailand, which will lower the supply of everything from disk drives to chips and raise the prices for these items until full production returns.

Just to offer a glimpse at potential value among the wholesalers, here’s a quick look at potential upside for these five stocks based on share prices collected at mid-morning today.

Tech Data has a median target price of $53.50, and its current share price is $46.13, for a potential gain of about 15.6%. Ingram Micro’s target price is $21.00, and its current price is $17.91, for a potential gain of 17%. Synnex has a median target price of $32.00, and a current price of $28.70, for a potential gain of about 11.5%. Arrow’s median target price is $43.00 and its current price is $34.78, for a potential gain of 23.6%. Avnet’s median target price is $37.00 and its current price is $28.14, for a potential gain of 31.5%.

Every one of these upside numbers is pretty rich, and even if the optimistic earnings forecasts from Synnex and Arrow materialize this quarter, there doesn’t seem to be any reason now to expect that optimism to carry over into 2012. The European economy is about to become a shambles, and the super committee of the US Congress is about to declare failure in reaching an agreement on budget cuts which will trigger $1.2 trillion in automatic cuts to the 2013 budget. Spending contraction is not what these companies need.

Tech Data’s shares are off more than -3.7% this morning, at $46.12, in a 52-week range of $38.21-$54.25. The company’s earnings and Avnet’s announced $1 billion credit facility — coupled with an overall 300-point drop in the DJIA this morning — are dragging all these wholesalers down today, by -2.5% to nearly -4%.

Paul Ausick

Boyd Gaming Corp. (NYSE: BYD) Reiterated Outperform at Credit Suisse.
The Buckle Inc. (NYSE: BKE) Raised to Hold at S&P Equity Research (late-Thursday call).
Canadian Solar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) Maintained Buy with $20 target at Auriga.
Clean Energy Fuels Corp. (NASDAQ: CLNE) Maintained Neutral, lowered estimates, but Raised target to $15 at BofA/ML.
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER) maintained Neutral but target cut to $2.50 at Credit Suisse.
Evergreen Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: ESLR) Cut to Underweight at JPMorgan.
Hansen Natural Corporation (NASDAQ: HANS) Cut to Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) Raised to Buy at S&P Equity Research (late-Thursday call).
J.C. Penney Co., Inc. (NYSE: JCP) named Bull of the Day at Zacks Investment Research.
Mobile Telesystems (NYSE: MBT) Raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
Protective Life Corp. (NYSE: PL) Raised to Neutral at BofA/ML.
Unisys Corporation (NYSE: UIS) Raised to Hold at S&P Equity Research (late-Thursday call).
Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO) Reiterated Outperform and target raised to $41 at Credit Suisse.

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JON C. OGG

ASML Holding N.V. (NASDAQ: ASML) saw its ADRs hit a low of $24.75 versus a prior 52-week low of $25.15 on the ADRs.  A Deutsche Bank downgrade to Hold probably isn’t helping matters.

CA Inc. (NYSE: CA) hit a low of $17.70 this morning and shares have recovered to back above the prior low despite being down on the day by 0.4% at $17.92.  The prior 52-week low was $17.80.

Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) might want to think twice about not returning money to shareholders.  Shares are back at $20.15, but that is still down 0.8%, and the low this morning was $20.01 versus the prior 52-week low of $20.29.  Maybe it should announce a large dividend rather than consider throwing its huge capital the direction of Skype.

Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) has since recovered to above $40.00 but shares hit a new low of $39.61 versus a 52-week low of $39.76.  The 52-week lows here have been seen for days now.

Flextronics International Ltd. (NASDAQ: FLEX) is down over 2% and down around $4.93 this morning.  The low today was $4.90 and the prior 52-week low was $4.97.  So much for EMS and outsourced manufacturing being the best business.

Ingram Micro Inc. (NYS: IM) did not hang at the new 52-week lows for too long, and the stock has actually recovered quite well in comparison to other chip names flirting with 52-week lows.  Shares are up 2% at $15.17 but the low of $14.72 compares to the prior 52-week low of $14.74.  When the tech distribution model is weak, there is not much happening at the technology customers sending the consumer electronics products out the factory doors.

Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) can’t thank McAfee nor the Infineon wireless chipset unit yet.  Shares are down 0.84% at $17.81 this morning.  The low print was $17.71 versus the prior 52-week low of $17.81.

Research In Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) is down 4.6% at $43.46 and shares hit a low of $43.37 this morning versus the prior 52-week low of $45.05.

Yahoo! Inc. (NASDAQ: YHOO) is still feeling no love for Carol Bartz’ turnaround nor from the Bing search pact with Mr. Softie.  This former internet search leader is down 1.2% at $13.02 but shares went as low as $12.97 today versus the prior 52-week low of $13.03.

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JON C. OGG

But there are a number of huge companies, many with revenue in the tens of billions of dollars, many with revenue greater than firms with famous brands, that are almost completely unknown to the public. Investors often do not know the names of these firms and very few know what businesses they are in.

A small number of large companies do not care if the consumer knows their name or what they do. Some make or distribute brand-name products and make massive sums of money doing it. Others supply parts and services to companies that do have major brands. Obscurity does not directly relate to sales, as the companies on this list show.

Among the companies on this list are Altria, which manufactures and distributes Marlboro cigarettes, one of the best know brands in the world. Also on the list is TJX which owns the Marshals department store chain, and Aramark which supplies over one million meals to people in the nation’s prisons.

And now, the list:

Yum! Brands, Inc.

-founded in 1997

-located in Louisville, KY

-49,000 employees

-$11 billion

Yum! Brands, Inc. is the world’s largest restaurant company by chain brands, operating over 37,000 restaurants in over 110 countries and territories.  Anyone who has dined at a Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, or Long John Silver’s knows exactly what they do.  PepsiCo once owned these operations, but they were spun off in the 1990s under the name Tricon Global Restaurants.  They have since changed the name.  Yum! Brands sounds better.

Johnson Controls

-founded in 1885

-located in Milwaukee, WI

-130,000 employees

-$28 billion

Johnson Controls Inc. is a leading manufacturer of automotive interiors for cars and light-trucks. The company designs the components and systems that manage car systems, including seating, door and overhead controls for companies like Toyota, GM, Volkswagen, and Ford. Johnson Controls is also the world’s leading battery manufacturer, making Diehard for Sears, Duralast for AutoZone, Kirkland for Costco, and Motorcraft for Ford. In 2009, they received the largest grant awarded by the United States Department of Energy under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the building of batteries for electric vehicles, totaling $299.2 million.

Ingram Micro

-founded in 1979

-located in Santa Ana, CA

-13,750 employees

-$30 billion

Ingram Micro Inc. is the world’s largest wholesale technology distributor, including desktops, notebook PCs, storage devices, printers, and software.  Representing over 1,300 vendors, including IBM, Nokia, Microsoft and Intel, the company delivers thousands of products to more than 180,000 resellers across the world. Customers include resellers such as Wal-Mart.com, Staples, and Office Depot. Ingram Micro generates about 60% of its sales outside of North America. Because the company acts as a middle man between manufacturer and distributor, it has no interest in being known to the public.

TJX

– founded in 1956

- located in Framingham, MA

- 154,000 employees

- $20 billion

TJX retail stores performed well during the recession.  That’s because its store brands, which include Marshalls, T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, A.J. Wright, are leading discount retailers.  However, few people recognize the name of the stores’ parent company, TJX.  This is surprising considering that TJX employs over 150,000 workers in the US and abroad.  In addition, the company maintains over 2,175 stores in the US alone, with even more throughout Canada and Europe.

TIAA-CREF

– Founded in 1918

- Located in New York, NY

- 7,000 employees

- $26 billion

TIAA-CREF is the number one retirement system for employees in the academic, research, medical, and cultural fields.  It is also one of the largest financial services companies in the U.S with over $426 billion in combined assets under management.  In fulfilling this role, the company provides services to about 3.7 million people in the U.S. Bottom line: if you’re a teacher, you will have heard of them.  Otherwise, they’ll be a complete mystery.

United Services Automobile Association

– Founded in 1922

- Located in San Antonio, TX

- 21,500 employees

- $18 billion

United Services Automobile Association is a financial services company providing insurance, banking, and investment services to 7.4 million people – making it a significant insurance provider.  However, unless you are a member of the United States armed forces you won’t know anything about the company.  That’s because the USAA has worked solely to provide for past and present members of the Armed Forces and their families since its founding in 1922.

Altria Group

– Founded in 1902

- Located in Richmond, VA

- 10,000 employees

- $17 billion

Formerly Philip Morris Companies Inc., Altria Group, Inc. is one of the largest tobacco companies in the world.  The parent company of Philip Morris USA, John Middleton, Inc., U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, and others, Altria is the name behind popular products such as Marlboros, Virginia Slims, and Parliaments.  Regardless of their prominent role, however, Altria has managed to avoid the notoriety which surrounded the Philip Morris name.

Aramark Corporation

– Founded in 1936

- Located in Philadelphia, PA

- 250,000 employees

- $12 billion

Aramark Limited provides facility management, food services, and more to various institutions, including businesses, hospitals, universities, sports and entertainment facilities, and convention centers.  The company’s Correctional Services department alone services over 600 correctional facilities, preparing over 1,000,000 meals a day for prisoners and guards.  Perhaps for that reason, it’s no wonder that most people don’t know that they have sampled their food.

-Charles B. Stockdale, Douglas A. McIntyre

Adtran Inc. (NASDAQ: ADTN) Started as Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
athenahealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATHN) Reiterated Hold but price target cut to $32 at Auriga.
Clean Harbors, Inc. (NYSE: CLH) Raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) Raised to Buy at Stifel Nicolaus.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) Cut to Market Perform and $165 target at KBW.
Ingram Micro Inc. (NYSE: IM) Raised to Buy at Goldman Sachs.
Realty Income Corp. (NYSE: O) Cut to Underperform at Credit Suisse.
ResMed Inc. (NYSE: RMD) Raised to Overweight at Morgan Stanley.
SunPower Corp. (NASDAQ: SPWRA) Reiterated SELL with $15 Target at Auriga.
Tellabs Inc. (NASDAQ: TLAB) Started as Neutral at Goldman Sachs.

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JON C. OGG

Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) Maintained Buy and $14 target at Broadpoint AmTech.
Apollo Group (NASDAQ: APOL) Raised to Sector Perform at RBC Capital.
Bell Microproducts (NASDAQ: BELM) Cut to Hold at Needham.
BWAY Holding (NYSE: BWY) Cut to Neutral at JPMorgan.
Enbridge Inc. (NYSE: ENB) Cut To Neutral From Buy By UBS.
Generac Holdings (NASDAQ: GNRC) Started as Neutral at Goldman Sachs.
Ingram Micro (NYSE: IM) Started as Equal-weight at Barclays.
Lions Gate Entertainment (NYSE: LGF) Started as Buy at Soleil.
Neutral Trandem (NASDAQ: TNDM) Cut to Perform at Oppenheimer.
Tech Data (NASDAQ: TECD) Started as Equal-weight at Barclays.

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JON C. OGG

Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) Started as Buy at Auriga.
DryShips (NASDAQ: DRYS) Raised to Buy at Cantor Fitzgerald.
Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) Raised to Buy at Deutsche Bank.
Imgram Micro (NYSE: IM) Raised to Overweight at Thomas Weisel.
Nordic American Tanker (NYSE: NAT) Raised to Hold at Cantor Fitzgerald.
O’Reilly Auto (NASDAQ: ORLY) Raised to Outperform at FBR Capital.
Rackspace Hosting (NYSE: RAX) Started as Buy at Merriman Curhan Ford.
Prosperity Bancshares (NASDAQ: PRSP) Cut to Market Perform at BMO Capital Markets.
Regions Financial (NYSE: RF) Cut to Market Perform at FBR Capital.
SunTrust Banks (NYSE: STI) Cut to Sell at Stifel Nicolaus; Raised to Outperform at FBR Capital.
Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB) Raised to Outperform at FBR Capital.
Team Health Holdings (NYSE: TMH) Started as Buy at Citigroup; Started as Overweight at Barclays; Started as Outperform at Morgan Keegan; Started as Neutral at Goldman Sachs; Started as Hold at Deutsche Bank.
Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) Raised to Overweight at HSBC.

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JON C. OGG