Top Earnings Previews For The Week Ahead (URBN, BBY, DELL, HPQ, MDT, CRM)

August 20, 2012 by Jon C. Ogg

While most earnings have already been announced, we have a significant number of sector leaders reporting earnings this week.  We have taken the Thomson Reuters consensus earnings per share and revenue estimates as well as provided some color on each situation.

Urban Outfitters Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN) is the only major retail earnings report we are tracking after the close on Monday.  Estimates are $0.33 EPS on sales of $671.6 million. Keep in mind that Urban Outfitters just saw its stock hit a 52-week high of $31.81 today before the report.

Here is a calendar of the key stocks we are tracking to watch earnings reports with previews for the rest of the week:

Tuesday

Analog Devices Inc. (NASDAQ: ADI) has estimates of $0.56 EPS and $692.2 million in sales. At $40.60, this is less than 1% under a 52-week high and that is impressive for a chip stock.

Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) was surging at one point for its turnaround, activist push, the Nook, and the Microsoft deal.  That was then and shares are now down by more than half from the post-Microsoft deal.  There are only a few estimates but the consensus is for a big loss at -$0.98 EPS on a 4% sales growth to $1.48 billion.

Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is doing all it can to remain relevant and to fend off an immediate LBO/MBO from its founder.  Estimates are $0.31 EPS and $10.6 billion in sales.

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) remains out of favor even though its new technology dividend strategy was more impressive than when its peers launched.  It will also act as a preview for Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) earnings the next day.  At $12.40, the 52-week range is $11.39 to $18.36; estimates for Dell are $0.45 EPS and $14.66 billion in sales.

Medtronic Inc. (NYSE: MDT) just hit a new 52-week high of $41.29 on Monday ahead of Tuesday morning’s report.  Estimates are $0.85 EPS and $4.0 billion in sales.

Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ: TECD) was up 2% at $51.90 late on Monday with a 52-week range of $39.00 to $59.29.  This company offers insight into the distribution of consumer electronics around the globe.  Estimates are $1.17 EPS and $5.83 billion in sales.  With all the currency woes, we would keep an eye out there.

Wednesday

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO) has recovered handily and its shares are up about 100% from its lows a year ago and now effectively at multi-year highs.  Estimates are $0.21 EPS and $721.7 million in revenue.

Hain Celestial Group Inc. (NASDAQ: HAIN) is within striking distance of 52-week highs and it will be interesting to see if it is riding the same healthy-food trends as seen elsewhere.  Estimates are $0.45 EPS and $365.6 million in sales.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) has already raised its guidance recently, so the report may be a bit anti-climactic.  Either way, the real focus has to be on this ongoing turnaround by Meg Whitman.

Kayak Software Corp. (NASDAQ: KYAK) is going to show its first public earnings report and we would remind you that there are less than a handful of estimates.  We have a ‘consensus’ of $0.24 EPS on $75.2 million in revenues for the newly public online travel price comparison website.

Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) is one more look at the US housing market. Estimates are $0.18 EPS and almost $509 million in revenues.  Imagine, a homebuilder making profits again. Just keep in mind that a lot of good news is already factored in here as the 2% drop on Monday to $31.75 compares to a 52-week range of $13.16 to $32.49.

Thursday

Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) was down 3% to $33.90 late in Monday trading and the 52-week range is $22.99 to $42.69.  Estimates are $0.49 EPS and $593.4 million in revenue. While its chart is a long-term no-man’s land, the price is still close to 17-times this year’s expected earnings.

Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) has suffered from warnings and it might be safe to assume that anything remotely decent would be considered somewhat favorably.  Estimates are $0.41 EPS and $1.24 billion in revenue.

Gold Fields Ltd. (NYSE: GFI) is grossly under-followed by analysts with an active volume and with a market cap of almost $10 billion.  We have only one estimate of $0.36 EPS, but keep in mind that this South Africa-based gold mining giant is all international (South Africa, Peru, Ghana, and Australia).

salesforce.com Inc. (NYSE: CRM) is due on Thursday and the shares remain high-priced at 100-times expected fiscal earnings this year.  That is even with shares down at $146.00 from a high of $164.75.  This remains priced for perfection at that valuation.  Estimates are $0.39 EPS and $728.25 million in revenue.

JON C. OGG

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