Thursday is another big day on the earnings calendar. Companies from across the spectrum are set to report their performance in the last three months of 2012. Here’s our run down of what to expect from five of the biggest firms set to release earnings.
3M Co (NYSE:MMM): This technology company is set to report its earnings for the final quarter of 2012 before the market opens on Thursday. The company is expected to announce earnings of $1.41 per share. The firm is expected to have taken in $7.2 billion in revenues in the period.
In the same three months of 2011, the company earned $1.35 per share on revenues of $7.1 billion. If the company meets analysts’ expectations, it could report earnings of $6.32 per share for the full the entire and revenues totaling $29.7 billion. In 2011, the company recorded total earnings of $5.96 per share on revenues of $29.6.
3M Co (NYSE:MMM) stock increased in price by more than 15% in the last twelve months but has performed exceptionally well in the opening weeks of 2013. However, investors are worried that innovation at the firm has slowed in recent years, and that its ability to grow organically is slowing.
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T): The mobile carrier will release its earnings before the market opens on Thursday. Analysts are looking for earnings per share of 46 cents and revenues for the period are expected to be $32.2 billion for the fourth quarter. In the closing months of 2011, the company recorded earnings of 42 cents per share on revenues of $32.5 billion.
If the company manages to meet the analysts’ estimates, it will record earnings of $2.36 per share for 2012. revenues for the full year are expected to come in at $127 billion. Last year the company earned $2.20 per share on revenues of $127 billion.
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) stock lagged the S&P 500 last year, increasing its price by just over 10% in the last twelve months. In the first few weeks of 2013, the company has seen its stock price fall by a fraction. The key metric in the report will be the ARPU from data charges. That figure could represent the future of telecommunications and is extremely important for growth. The firm’s 2013 outlook, particularly its capital expenditure plans, will also be worth a look.
Xerox Corporation (NYSE:XRX): The iconic technology company saw its stock tumble by more than 14% in the last twelve months, but Xerox is hoping to see a turnaround in 2013. The company is expected to report fourth quarter earnings of 29 cents per share before the market opens on Thursday.
Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2012 are expected to come in at $5.9 billion, down slightly from last year’s $6 billion. Earnings per share in the last three months of 2011 was reported at 33 cents. The release of this report will cap off a poor 2012, with earnings for the full year expected to total $1.04 per share and revenues expected to amount to $22.3 billion for the full year.
In 2011, the company earned $2.08 per share on revenues of $22.6 billion. It’s been a difficult year for Xerox as the space it operates in becomes increasingly competitive, and its document technology business undergoes serious readjustments. Investors are somewhat optimistic; however, shares have jumped slightly in the opening weeks of 2013.
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP): Before the market opens on Thursday Union Pacific Corporation will release its earnings report for the last three months of 2012. the company is expected to report earnings per share of $2.16 per share on revenues totaling $5.3 billion. In the same quarter in 2011, the company earned $1.99 per share on revenues of $5.1 billion.
the company is expected to show earnings of $8.25 per share for 2012, which is up compared with 2011 earnings of $6.72 per share. Revenues for the full year are expected to come in at around $21 billion, beating the 2011 total of $19.6 billion. The firm’s stock price has had a good year, rising by more than 18%.
Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE:UNP) is looking like a valuable company right now, and investors are responding to that. The firm’s stock has risen by more than 6% since New Year’s Day.
Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT): The defense and aerospace firm is set to announce earnings before the open of the market on Thursday. Analysts are looking for the company to post earnings of $1.80 per share for the fourth quarter of 2012. Full year earnings are expected to come in at $8.41 per share.
Revenues for 2012 are expected to come in at $46.2 billion, after the expected fourth quarter revenue of $11.2 billion is added. In the fourth quarter of 2011, Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) announced earnings of $2.14 on revenue of $12.2 billion. Full year earnings in 2011 came to $7.84 and full year revenues totaled $46.4 billion.
The firm’s shares rose by just over 15% in the last twelve months, and in the opening weeks of 2013, the company saw its shares increase by just slightly more than 3%. Investors are clearly hoping for another strong showing from Lockheed Martin Corporation in the year to come.
