The 5 Top Earnings Reports for the Week Ahead

August 3, 2014 by Jon C. Ogg

Earnings season has hit its apex, yet we have another full week of second quarter earnings reports — hundreds of them. 24/7 Wall St. has decided to pick five of what it feels are the remaining most important earnings of the week for the economy. We have included earnings estimates and consensus analyst price targets from Thomson Reuters. Also included is information on its trading ranges and valuations, and some additional color has been added on each stock as well.

American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) will lead the week off for earnings on Monday. The insurance giant has recovered, paid taxpayers back with a generous profit from the bailout, and it is still back in growth mode. AIG’s estimates are $1.05 EPS and $8.13 billion in revenues. Estimates for the following quarter are $1.06 EPS and $8.19 billion in revenues. At $52.05, its 52-week range is $45.94 to $56.00 and its consensus price target from analysts is $60.15. AIG trades at close to 10.5 times expected 2015 earnings per share, and it is now operating under a new CEO.

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The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS) will report earnings on Tuesday after the close. The Mouse House’s estimates are $1.16 EPS and $12.16 billion in revenues. Estimates for the following quarter are $0.88 EPS and $12.34 billion in revenues. At $85.38, its 52-week range is $60.41 to $87.63 and its consensus price target from analysts is $90.11. We recently highlighted the call for Disney to go to $100 with or without Star Wars, although we would point out that Disney has a market premium trading at over 18 times expected 2014 earnings.

Chesapeake Energy Corporation (NYSE: CHK) is set to report earnings on Wednesday. The natural gas giant has remained of interest to investors, even if the stock has largely been range bound in the post-Aubrey time. Chesapeake’s estimates are $0.44 EPS and $4.9 billion in revenues. Estimates for the following quarter are $0.45 EPS and $4.86 billion in revenues. At $26.07, its 52-week range is $22.63 to 29.92 and its consensus price target from analysts is $32.21. Chesapeake trades at just under 11 times expected 2015 earnings, and its last earnings report was flaring the stock to 52-week highs.

Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX) is set to report earnings on Wednesday. Time Warner might not be your typical most important earnings out there. You can thank the Rupert Murdoch interest in acquiring it for that exception this time around, a move which sent this stock north of $80 and then some. The company also recently spun Time out as well. Its consensus analyst estimates are $0.84 EPS and $6.87 billion in revenues, with next quarter estimates of $1.03 EPS and $6.29 billion in revenues. At $83.80, its 52-week range is $57.59 to $88.13 and its consensus price target from analysts is $83.79. The ‘Rupert buyout premium’ now has Time Warner valued at close to 18.5 times expected 2015 earnings expectations. The merger hopes here have also stoked interest in other deals.

Duke Energy Corp. (NYSE: DUK) reports its second quarter earnings this coming Thursday morning. With Duke being the largest utility out there with a $51 billion market cap it has to be watched by default. Duke also yields 4.3%. Its estimates are $0.98 EPS and $6.12 billion in revenues. Estimates for the following quarter are $1.59 EPS and $7.35 billion in revenues. At $72.94, its 52-week range is $64.16 to $75.13 and its consensus price target from analysts is $76.59. Duke is currently valued at over 15 times expected 2015 earnings estimates.

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As a reminder of all earnings on the calendar, corporations sometimes change the dates of their earnings and the consensus estimates can change literally up to the same day of the report.

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