Investing

The Top 8 Earnings Previews for the Week Ahead

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We are nearing the end of earnings season. Most major companies have now reported earnings and have set a direction for the market to treat their shares. Still, many key companies are reporting earnings in the coming week.

24/7 Wall St. has put together a preview of some of the major companies reporting their quarterly results this week. We have included the consensus earnings estimates from Thomson Reuters and the stock price and trading history, as well as added some additional color on each.

Be advised that the earnings and revenue estimates may change ahead of the formal reports, and some companies may change reporting dates as well.

Home Depot

Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) will share its most recent quarterly results on Tuesday. The consensus estimates call for earnings per share (EPS) of $1.32 and $21.76 billion in revenue. The company operates as a home improvement retailer.

It operates The Home Depot stores that sell various building materials, home improvement products, and lawn and garden products, as well as provide installation, home maintenance, and professional service programs to do-it-yourself, do-it-for-me, and professional customers.

Home Depot’s shares were at $121.13 near the close on Friday, in a 52-week trading range of $92.17 to $126.12. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $131.48.

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is scheduled to reveal its fiscal third-quarter results on Tuesday. The consensus estimates call for $0.98 in EPS, as well as $117.79 billion in revenue. The company operates retail stores in various formats worldwide.

The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International and Sam’s Club. It operates discount stores, supermarkets, supercenters, hypermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, home improvement stores, just to name a few.

Some analysts also believe that Target is now more attractive than Wal-Mart. Shares were trading at $56.71 near Friday’s close. The consensus price target is $62.83. Wal-Mart’s stock has a 52-week trading range of $56.30 to $90.97.

Lowe’s

Lowe’s Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is set to report its fiscal third-quarter results on Wednesday. The analysts’ consensus estimates call for EPS of $0.78 and $14.31 billion in revenue. This is a home improvement company that ranks very high with consumers.

Lowe’s serves approximately 16 million customers a week in the United States, Canada and Mexico through its stores and online. With fiscal year 2014 sales of $56.2 billion, Lowe’s has more than 1,840 home improvement and hardware stores and 265,000 employees.

Shares were changing hands at $70.39 near Friday’s close. The consensus price target is $80.78, and the stock has a 52-week trading range of $57.96 to $76.25.

ALSO READ: 15 Fresh Analyst Picks for 50% to 100% Upside Calls
Salesforce.com

Salesforce.com Inc. (NYSE: CRM) is scheduled to report its fiscal third-quarter results Wednesday. The consensus analyst estimates call for $0.19 in EPS and revenue of $1.70 billion.

Salesforce.com has been the momentum stock trader’s dream over the past few years. Many on Wall Street feel that while the stock trades mostly in line with its fast organic software-as-a-service (SaaS) peer group, which many see as having the largest growth rate in 2015, the company should trade at a premium to the group. Oh, and it has nosebleed valuations.

Shares of Salesforce were at $76.25 late on Friday. The consensus price target is $82.35. The 52-week trading range is $53.44 to $79.82.

Staples

Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) is set to share its latest quarterly earnings on Wednesday. The consensus estimates call for $0.35 in EPS and $5.67 billion in revenue. This company is trying to acquire Office Depot (which includes Office Max).

Staples, which is larger in market cap by a rate of $8.3 billion to $4.2 billion, is not going to be open on Thanksgiving Day. Making workers come in for a holiday work day generally comes with higher pay per hour than an ordinary day, but it remains to be seen whether this strategy will add to the bottom line.

Shares were at $12.39 near Friday’s close, in a 52-week trading range of $11.61 to $19.40. The stock has a consensus analyst price target of $18.15.

ALSO READ: Large Insider Buying Transactions Seen in U.S. Stocks

Target

Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) is set to report its fiscal third-quarter results on Wednesday. The analysts’ consensus estimates call for EPS of $0.86 and $17.57 billion in revenue.

One analyst sees Target trading at a substantial discount to its three-year average valuations at a time when its balance sheet could easily support further share buybacks when comparable store sales start looking attractive. Target could even raise another $2 billion or so in debt while it continues to focus on traffic-driving initiatives.

Shares of Target were changing hands at $72.35 as last week came to a close. The consensus price target is $84.91, and the stock has a 52-week trading range of $66.50 to $85.81.

Best Buy

Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is set to share its latest quarterly earnings on Thursday. The consensus estimates call for $0.35 in EPS on $8.86 billion in revenue. With everything lining up and new products for the holiday selling season, this top stock makes sense now.

Best Buy continues to combat challenging conditions by reducing costs, pricing competitively, optimizing stores and enhancing distribution. The store-within-store partnerships it has with suppliers like Samsung, Apple and Google are continuing to drive more store traffic and product sales. Best Buy’s online channel growth also looks very promising, as it continues to battle Amazon.

Shares were at $31.65 near Friday’s close, in a 52-week trading range of $28.32 to $42.00. The consensus price target is $41.21.

Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) is scheduled to reveal its fiscal third-quarter results on Friday. The consensus estimates call for $0.22 in EPS, as well as $864.65 million in revenue. This company operates as a specialty retailer of apparel for men, women, and kids. The company operates through three segments: U.S. Stores, International Stores, and Direct-to-Consumer.

Abercrombie & Fitch shares were trading at $19.63 near Friday’s close. The consensus price target is $20.67. The stock has a 52-week trading range of $15.42 to $30.40.

ALSO READ: 10 Brands That Will Disappear in 2016

Again, many of these estimates may slightly change ahead of earnings. This week is effectively the last week in which many major companies are reporting quarterly results.

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