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Earnings Preview

Earnings Preview for Jan 19-23

January 16, 2009 | Comments: 0
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GE | NTCT | BNI | IBM | JNJ | MSFT | UTX

NetScout Systems, Inc. (NTCT - Snapshot Report) could top expectations. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (BNI - Analyst Report) and General Electric Company (GE - Analyst Report) could miss estimates.


The U.S. equity markets will be closed on Monday, Jan 19, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The markets will be open on Tuesday, Jan 20, though volume could be light because of the inauguration.

This will be the first busy week of fourth-quarter earnings season, with 149 companies scheduled to report. Large-cap stocks will dominate the news with 53 S&P 500 members releasing results. Dow components will include General Electric Company (GE - Analyst Report), International Business Machines (IBM - Analyst Report), Johnson & Johnson (JNJ - Analyst Report), Microsoft (MSFT - Analyst Report) and United Technologies Corporation (UTX - Analyst Report).

The economic calendar is very light.

  • Wednesday: Weekly crude inventories
  • Thursday: December housing starts, December building permits, weekly initial jobless claims

No Fed officials are scheduled to give speeches. The Fed will hold a 2-day meeting starting on Jan 27.


Companies That Could Issue Positive Earnings Surprises

NetScout Systems, Inc. (NTCT - Snapshot Report) recently raised its fiscal third-quarter guidance. Citing strong demand from wireless carriers and growth in other markets, the company now anticipates having earned between 16 cents and 18 cents per share. Half of the 4 covering analysts raised their forecasts in response, pushing the consensus earnings estimate 5 cents higher to 16 cents per share. The most accurate estimate is far more bullish at 22 cents per share. NTCT has topped expectations for 4 consecutive quarters. NetScout is scheduled to report on Thursday, Jan 22, after the close of trading.

Companies That Could Issue Negative Earnings Surprises

Profit forecasts for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation (BNI - Analyst Report) have been falling lately, with 6 brokerage analysts reducing their fourth-quarter projections during the last 30 days. Though the railroad company does have a history of topping expectations, a recent warning from a competitor could end the streak. The consensus earnings estimate calls for fourth-quarter profits of $1.78 per share. The most accurate estimate is more bearish at $1.75 per share. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation is scheduled to report on Wednesday, Jan 21, before the start of trading.

General Electric Company (GE - Analyst Report) reaffirmed its fourth-quarter EPS guidance of 50 to 52 cents per share in mid-December. Since that time, 5 brokerage analysts have cut their quarterly projections. The negative revisions caused the consensus earnings estimate to fall to 44 cents per share. The most accurate estimate is more bearish at 42 cents per share. The conglomerate has missed once in the past 3 quarters. General Electric Company is scheduled to report on Friday, Jan 23, before the start of trading.

Charles Rotblut, CFA is the senior market analyst for Zacks.com. He can be reached at crotblut@zacks.com.


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Earnings Calendar

Here is a list of companies that we have confirmed will report during the week of Jan 19 - 231. Prices are as of Thursday's, Dec 18, market close.

Company Ticker Zacks Consensus Estimate Year Ago Actual Last Qtr Surprise Report Date Report Time Price
First Defiance FDEF - Snapshot Report $0.30 $0.50 (34.8%) 1/19/2009 AMC $8.00
Fuller(Hb) Co FUL - Snapshot Report $0.24 $0.53 0.0% 1/19/2009 N/A $14.19
Logitech Intl LOGI - Analyst Report $0.44 $0.71 (15.8%) 1/19/2009 AMC $13.75
Macatawa Bank MCBC - Snapshot Report ($0.15) ($0.16) 37.5% 1/19/2009 AMC $2.50
S&T Bancorp Inc STBA - Snapshot Report $0.57 $0.54 (9.5%) 1/19/2009 BTO $30.51
Candela Corp CLZR - Snapshot Report ($0.17) ($0.13) (350.0%) 1/20/2009 AMC $0.48
Capital Bank CBKN - Snapshot Report $0.14 $0.13 (10.0%) 1/20/2009 N/A $6.50
Commerce Bancsh CBSH - Analyst Report $0.62 $0.74 (8.5%) 1/20/2009 BTO $37.82
Cree Inc CREE - Analyst Report $0.10 $0.08 0.0% 1/20/2009 AMC $16.98
Csx Corp CSX - Snapshot Report $0.90 $0.85 (2.2%) 1/20/2009 AMC $30.18
Fastenal FAST - Snapshot Report $0.41 $0.38 4.0% 1/20/2009 BTO $33.20
Forest Labs A FRX - Analyst Report $0.76 $0.96 15.9% 1/20/2009 BTO $26.00
Fulton Finl FULT - Snapshot Report ($0.55) $0.22 (8.7%) 1/20/2009 AMC $8.05
Hancock Hldg Co HBHC - Snapshot Report $0.57 $0.60 (24.2%) 1/20/2009 AMC $35.85
Iberiabank Corp IBKC - Snapshot Report $0.72 $0.81 (2.5%) 1/20/2009 AMC $41.22
Intl Bus Mach IBM - Analyst Report $3.03 $2.80 0.5% 1/20/2009 AMC $84.12
Jefferies Gp-Nw JEF - Snapshot Report ($2.38) ($0.17) (216.7%) 1/20/2009 BTO $12.67
Johnson & Johns JNJ - Analyst Report $0.92 $0.88 5.4% 1/20/2009 BTO $57.62
New Oriental Ed EDU - Snapshot Report $0.07 $0.10 7.3% 1/20/2009 BTO $54.47
Omnova Solution OMN - Snapshot Report $0.09 $0.09 33.3% 1/20/2009 BTO $0.66
Pacific Contl PCBK - Snapshot Report $0.27 $0.28 (7.4%) 1/20/2009 AMC $12.32
Packaging Corp PKG - Snapshot Report $0.26 $0.46 (7.3%) 1/20/2009 AMC $13.37
Parker Hannifin PH - Snapshot Report $0.85 $1.23 7.1% 1/20/2009 BTO $39.77
Petmed Express PETS - Analyst Report $0.20 $0.18 25.0% 1/20/2009 BTO $16.43
Raymond Jas Fin RJF - Snapshot Report $0.35 $0.47 5.4% 1/20/2009 AMC $16.26
Regions Finl Cp RF - Analyst Report ($0.02) $0.24 (46.4%) 1/20/2009 BTO $6.10
State St Corp STT - Snapshot Report $1.16 $1.38 3.3% 1/20/2009 BTO $38.00
Suncor Energy SU - Snapshot Report $0.39 $0.66 0.0% 1/20/2009 BTO $21.11
Supertex Inc SUPX - Snapshot Report $0.20 $0.26 6.1% 1/20/2009 AMC $21.65
Td Ameritrade AMTD - Snapshot Report $0.31 $0.40 (3.3%) 1/20/2009 BTO $12.63
Tessco Tech Inc TESS - Snapshot Report $0.33 $0.29 N/A 1/20/2009 AMC $10.35
West Cst Bcp/Or WCBO - Snapshot Report ($0.09) ($0.49) 140.0% 1/20/2009 N/A $4.39
Westell Tech-A WSTL - Analyst Report ($0.05) ($0.04) 22.2% 1/20/2009 AMC $0.28
Woodward Govnr WGOV - Snapshot Report $0.38 $0.36 0.0% 1/20/2009 AMC $21.06
Abbott Labs ABT - Analyst Report $1.06 $0.93 2.6% 1/21/2009 BTO $49.22
Actions Semicon ACTS - Analyst Report $0.05 $0.23 (10.0%) 1/21/2009 AMC $1.40
Adtran Inc ADTN - Snapshot Report $0.28 $0.27 0.0% 1/21/2009 BTO $14.84
Air Prods & Che APD - Snapshot Report $0.98 $1.16 0.8% 1/21/2009 BTO $56.07
Allegheny Tech ATI - Snapshot Report $0.89 $1.45 5.1% 1/21/2009 BTO $25.55
Amdocs Ltd DOX - Analyst Report $0.50 $0.50 (14.3%) 1/21/2009 AMC $19.42
Amr Corp AMR - Snapshot Report ($0.65) ($0.74) 4.8% 1/21/2009 BTO $10.98
Blackrock Inc BLK - Snapshot Report $1.13 $2.52 (16.6%) 1/21/2009 BTO $116.67
Burlngtn Nsf Cp BNI - Analyst Report $1.78 $1.46 12.4% 1/21/2009 BTO $63.37
Celadon Group CLDN $0.07 $0.08 8.3% 1/21/2009 AMC $8.10
Charlotte Russe CHIC $0.11 $0.56 (93.3%) 1/21/2009 AMC $4.74
Cnh Global Nv CNH - Snapshot Report $0.69 $0.50 36.3% 1/21/2009 AMC $14.86
Coach Inc COH - Snapshot Report $0.67 $0.69 0.0% 1/21/2009 BTO $16.81
F5 Networks Inc FFIV - Snapshot Report $0.26 $0.21 28.6% 1/21/2009 AMC $23.20
Hudson City Bcp HCBK - Analyst Report $0.27 $0.16 0.0% 1/21/2009 BTO $13.16
Igate Corp IGTE - Snapshot Report $0.14 $0.09 15.4% 1/21/2009 BTO $6.50
Kinder Morg Eng KMP - Analyst Report $0.54 $0.53 (18.6%) 1/21/2009 AMC $47.57
Labranche & Co LAB - Snapshot Report $0.17 $0.04 0.0% 1/21/2009 BTO $5.68
Mcmoran Explor MMR - Snapshot Report ($0.32) $0.31 21.5% 1/21/2009 BTO $8.79
Mts Systems MTSC - Snapshot Report $0.49 $0.47 26.9% 1/21/2009 AMC $25.96
Noble Corp NE - Snapshot Report $1.50 $1.35 5.1% 1/21/2009 AMC $21.44
Northern Trust NTRS - Analyst Report $0.96 $0.97 (31.8%) 1/21/2009 BTO $48.28
Nve Corp NVEC - Snapshot Report $0.40 $0.36 17.1% 1/21/2009 AMC $23.66
Polycom Inc PLCM - Analyst Report $0.32 $0.28 0.0% 1/21/2009 AMC $14.02
Popular Inc BPOP - Snapshot Report ($0.37) ($0.23) 39.7% 1/21/2009 BTO $4.89
Precision Castp PCP - Snapshot Report $1.70 $1.73 (1.6%) 1/21/2009 BTO $54.68
Progressive Cor PGR - Analyst Report $0.35 $0.34 (412.1%) 1/21/2009 N/A $13.99
Sanmina-Sci Cp SANM - Analyst Report $0.01 $0.02 0.0% 1/21/2009 AMC $0.38
Seagate Tech STX - Snapshot Report ($0.03) $0.76 13.0% 1/21/2009 AMC $4.33
Somanetics Corp SMTS - Snapshot Report $0.23 $0.19 15.0% 1/21/2009 BTO $16.31
Ual Corp UAUA - Analyst Report ($4.03) ($0.47) 17.8% 1/21/2009 BTO $11.14
Us Bancorp USB - Analyst Report $0.27 $0.66 (37.3%) 1/21/2009 BTO $19.02
Utd Techs Corp UTX - Analyst Report $1.23 $1.08 3.0% 1/21/2009 BTO $49.69
Wipro Ltd-Adr WIT - Analyst Report $0.14 $0.14 0.0% 1/21/2009 N/A $7.19
Adv Micro Dev AMD - Analyst Report ($0.53) ($0.17) 132.5% 1/22/2009 AMC $2.26
Amcore Finl Inc AMFI - Snapshot Report ($0.30) $0.33 (777.8%) 1/22/2009 BTO $3.35
Amer River Bsh AMRB - Snapshot Report $0.33 $0.36 2.9% 1/22/2009 BTO $9.90
Amerisourcebrgn ABC - Analyst Report $0.69 $0.62 4.3% 1/22/2009 BTO $36.85
Assoc Banc Corp ASBC - Snapshot Report $0.32 $0.55 2.8% 1/22/2009 N/A $16.12
Au Optroncs-Adr AUO - Snapshot Report ($0.53) $1.24 47.4% 1/22/2009 BTO $7.20
Avnet AVT - Analyst Report $0.66 $0.89 (5.6%) 1/22/2009 BTO $17.91
Avx Corp AVX - Snapshot Report $0.09 $0.22 0.0% 1/22/2009 BTO $7.71
Bancorpsouth BXS - Snapshot Report $0.31 $0.39 (20.9%) 1/22/2009 AMC $18.81
Bank Of Ny Mell BK - Snapshot Report $0.68 $0.67 43.6% 1/22/2009 BTO $23.27
Baxter Intl BAX - Analyst Report $0.89 $0.76 7.3% 1/22/2009 BTO $53.56
Bb&T Corp BBT - Analyst Report $0.53 $0.75 (3.0%) 1/22/2009 BTO $20.99
Brinker Intl EAT - Snapshot Report $0.19 $0.31 0.0% 1/22/2009 BTO $9.42
Cabot Microelec CCMP - Snapshot Report $0.06 $0.51 (21.7%) 1/22/2009 BTO $22.33
Capital One Fin COF - Analyst Report $0.39 $0.90 6.2% 1/22/2009 AMC $25.47
Cdn Natl Ry Co CNI - Analyst Report $0.85 $0.91 6.2% 1/22/2009 AMC $34.45
Cit Group Inc CIT ($0.39) ($0.69) (11.8%) 1/22/2009 BTO $3.24
City National CYN - Snapshot Report $0.62 $0.96 (11.0%) 1/22/2009 AMC $37.08
Cobiz Finl Inc COBZ - Snapshot Report $0.16 $0.23 0.0% 1/22/2009 AMC $7.89
Columbus Mckinn CMCO - Snapshot Report $0.41 $0.53 (11.3%) 1/22/2009 BTO $13.04
Comerica Inc CMA - Analyst Report $0.26 $0.77 57.1% 1/22/2009 BTO $14.60
Commnty Bk Sys CBU - Snapshot Report $0.37 $0.39 0.0% 1/22/2009 AMC $21.37
Cubist Pharm CBST - Snapshot Report $0.51 $0.16 29.4% 1/22/2009 AMC $22.66
Cypress Semicon CY - Analyst Report ($0.31) $0.10 (312.5%) 1/22/2009 BTO $4.75
Deluxe Corp DLX - Snapshot Report $0.68 $0.77 (6.9%) 1/22/2009 BTO $13.12
Digi Intl Inc DGII - Snapshot Report $0.03 $0.14 55.6% 1/22/2009 AMC $7.47
Exelon Corp EXC - Snapshot Report $1.06 $1.02 (6.1%) 1/22/2009 BTO $53.04
Ezcorp Inc Cl A EZPW - Snapshot Report $0.35 $0.29 0.0% 1/22/2009 AMC $14.19
Federated Invst FII - Snapshot Report $0.51 $0.52 1.8% 1/22/2009 AMC $18.26
Fifth Third Bk FITB - Analyst Report $0.03 $0.07 (119.1%) 1/22/2009 BTO $5.38
First Comw Finl FCF - Snapshot Report $0.16 $0.16 (22.2%) 1/22/2009 BTO $10.17
First Finl Hldg FFCH - Snapshot Report $0.42 $0.36 8.0% 1/22/2009 BTO $18.70
Franklin Resour BEN - Snapshot Report $0.86 $2.12 (12.2%) 1/22/2009 BTO $52.97
Google Inc-Cl A GOOG - Analyst Report $4.23 $3.79 3.9% 1/22/2009 AMC $298.99
Huntington Banc HBAN - Analyst Report $0.20 ($0.65) 27.3% 1/22/2009 BTO $4.29
Imation Corp IMN - Snapshot Report $0.13 $0.64 0.0% 1/22/2009 BTO $12.96
Interactive Brk IBKR - Analyst Report $0.54 $0.46 6.6% 1/22/2009 AMC $18.08
Intl Game Tech IGT - Snapshot Report $0.27 $0.36 (9.7%) 1/22/2009 BTO $12.45
Intuitive Surg ISRG - Analyst Report $1.31 $1.24 13.4% 1/22/2009 AMC $100.68
Itt Educational ESI - Analyst Report $1.44 $1.20 11.3% 1/22/2009 BTO $111.81
Janus Cap Grp JNS - Snapshot Report $0.05 $0.33 (7.7%) 1/22/2009 BTO $6.74
Kelly Svcs A KELYA - Snapshot Report $0.12 $0.54 (74.1%) 1/22/2009 BTO $11.92
Keycorp New KEY - Analyst Report ($0.02) $0.06 (162.5%) 1/22/2009 BTO $6.22
Knight Cap Gp NITE - Snapshot Report $0.37 $0.50 66.7% 1/22/2009 BTO $15.85
Lockheed Martin LMT - Analyst Report $1.89 $1.89 1.0% 1/22/2009 BTO $79.48
Lsi Industries LYTS - Snapshot Report $0.02 $0.22 200.0% 1/22/2009 BTO $6.89
M&T Bank Corp MTB - Snapshot Report $1.14 $1.52 (4.7%) 1/22/2009 BTO $42.59
Matthews Intl-A MATW - Snapshot Report $0.48 $0.50 1.5% 1/22/2009 AMC $34.55
Memc Elec Matrl WFR - Analyst Report $0.62 $1.05 (9.8%) 1/22/2009 AMC $14.11
Meredith Corp MDP - Analyst Report $0.43 $0.73 2.5% 1/22/2009 BTO $17.76
Microsoft Corp MSFT - Analyst Report $0.49 $0.50 2.1% 1/22/2009 AMC $19.24
Monro Muffler MNRO - Snapshot Report $0.28 $0.27 5.6% 1/22/2009 BTO $24.14
Netscout Systms NTCT - Snapshot Report $0.16 $0.04 23.5% 1/22/2009 AMC $13.77
Nokia Cp-Adr A NOK - Snapshot Report $0.39 $0.69 (15.4%) 1/22/2009 BTO $14.05
Oceanfirst Finl OCFC - Snapshot Report $0.32 $0.26 (11.1%) 1/22/2009 AMC $14.97
Old Rep Intl ORI - Snapshot Report ($0.25) ($0.05) (25.0%) 1/22/2009 BTO $11.55
Peoples Utd Fin PBCT - Snapshot Report $0.13 $0.16 0.0% 1/22/2009 AMC $16.65
Potash Sask POT - Analyst Report $2.37 $1.16 10.7% 1/22/2009 BTO $69.86
Sherwin William SHW - Snapshot Report $0.53 $0.88 18.1% 1/22/2009 BTO $56.34
Smith (Ao) Corp AOS - Snapshot Report $0.24 $0.81 25.0% 1/22/2009 BTO $31.61
Southwest Air LUV - Snapshot Report $0.07 $0.12 50.0% 1/22/2009 BTO $8.28
Suntrust Bks STI - Snapshot Report $0.18 $0.02 (22.2%) 1/22/2009 BTO $20.89
Synaptics Inc SYNA - Snapshot Report $0.50 $0.33 34.5% 1/22/2009 AMC $20.60
Synovus Finl Cp SNV - Snapshot Report ($0.44) $0.28 (162.5%) 1/22/2009 AMC $5.66
Taiwan Semi-Adr TSM - Analyst Report $0.09 $0.20 0.0% 1/22/2009 BTO $7.37
Tcf Finl Corp TCB - Snapshot Report $0.24 $0.50 (20.0%) 1/22/2009 BTO $10.61
Technitrol Inc TNL - Snapshot Report $0.09 $0.52 (14.3%) 1/22/2009 AMC $3.21
Twin Disc TWIN - Snapshot Report $0.25 $0.37 (52.2%) 1/22/2009 N/A $6.70
Ucbh Hldgs Inc UCBH - Snapshot Report ($0.08) $0.19 (200.0%) 1/22/2009 AMC $3.83
Union Pac Corp UNP - Analyst Report $1.28 $0.93 6.2% 1/22/2009 BTO $41.23
Unitedhealth Gp UNH - Snapshot Report $0.78 $0.92 0.0% 1/22/2009 BTO $24.89
Valley Natl Bcp VLY - Snapshot Report $0.28 $0.22 (25.0%) 1/22/2009 BTO $15.87
China Bak Batry CBAK $0.01 ($0.02) 42.9% 1/23/2009 N/A $1.68
Dime Comm Bncsh DCOM - Snapshot Report $0.25 $0.17 0.0% 1/23/2009 BTO $12.45
Gatx Corp GMT - Analyst Report $0.59 $0.62 35.7% 1/23/2009 BTO $28.59
Genl Electric GE - Analyst Report $0.44 $0.68 0.0% 1/23/2009 BTO $13.77
Harley-Davidson HOG - Snapshot Report $0.58 $0.78 (10.1%) 1/23/2009 BTO $13.95
Mb Financl Inc MBFI - Snapshot Report $0.27 $0.44 (11.6%) 1/23/2009 BTO $21.34
Schlumberger Lt SLB - Analyst Report $1.10 $1.11 2.4% 1/23/2009 BTO $40.18
Webster Finl Cp WBS - Snapshot Report $0.18 $0.10 (37.0%) 1/23/2009 BTO $9.80
Xerox Corp XRX - Snapshot Report $0.34 $0.41 0.00% 1/23/2009 BTO $7.82

BMO = Before The Market Open, AMC = After Market Close

1Some of the companies listed in the earnings calendar may not be in the Zacks Rank universe.