Thursday’s earnings report will include many companies that provide good indicators of the performance of the consumer sector.
Among the companies reporting are United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE:UPS), Time Warner Cable Inc (NYSE:TWC), Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIA), British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (ADR) (PINK:BSYBY), and Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL).
United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS): Before U.S. markets open on Thursday, UPS will report its earnings for the last three months of 2012. Analysts are looking for the company to show earnings of $1.38 per share on revenues of $14.4 billion. In the same period of 2011, the company earned $1.28 per share on revenue of $14.2 billion.
If the company hits those earnings estimates for the fourth quarter, it will record earnings of $4.58 for the full twelve months of 2012. Revenues for the entire year are expected to come in at $54 billion. In the full year 2011, United Parcel Service, Inc. (NYSE:UPS) earned a total of $4.35 per share on revenues of $53.1 billion.
The company’s good progress on earnings has not been fully reflected in the last twelve months on the stock market. The company’s shares have increased by a little less than 7 percent in the last year of trading. Since 2013 began, the company’s stock price is up by a fraction over 10 percent, in anticipation of the earnings report on Thursday. The firm was recently involved in a near takeover of TNT Express NV (AMS:TNTE), but the deal has since fallen through.
Time Warner Cable Inc (NYSE:TWC): Shares in the media company are up more than 33 percent in trading in the last twelve months as Time Warner Cable Inc (NYSE:TWC) cut costs and continued to increase earnings. Thursday’s report is expected to show earnings of $1.10 per share for the last three months of 2012.
Revenues during the same three months are expected to come in at $8.3 billion. The last three months of 2011 saw the company earn 94 cents per share on revenues of $8.2 billion. If the firm hits analyst targets for the last three months of 2011, the company will post full year 2012 earnings of £3.21 per share, on revenues of $28.9 billion.
2011 earnings per share came in at $28.9, and revenues for that twelve months came in at $29 billion. The company’s stock price rose by more than 11 percent in the opening weeks of 2013, in anticipation of the earnings report due tomorrow. Time Warner Cable Inc (NYSE:TWC) is currently expanding its offerings in cable data, in order to stay ahead of competitors.
Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIA): A second huge media company due to report earnings tomorrow, Viacom is expected to report earnings of 91 cents per share on revenues of $3.5 billion. The last three months of 2012 are the first quarter of the 2013 fiscal year for Viacom.
In the first quarter of their fiscal 2012, the firm earned $1.06 per share. Revenues for that quarter came in at $4 billion. Despite the expected year-over-year, the company is expected to increase earnings for the full fiscal year 2012, and again in the fiscal year 2013.
Shares in Viacom, Inc. (NASDAQ:VIA) have risen by more than 15 percent in the last twelve months, narrowly beating the returns from the S&P 500. In the first few weeks of 2013, the company has seen its shares increase in value by more than 14 percent. The company has spent much of the last year solving disputes with cable companies, and renegotiating contracts.
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (ADR) (PINK:BSYBY): The British equivalent of Time Warner, British Sky Broadcasting is expected to report earnings of 14 pence per share on revenues of £$1.8 billion. In the same period of 2011, the company recorded earnings per share of 12 pence per share, and revenues of £1.7 billion.
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc (ADR) (PINK:BSYBY) shares have increased by almost 20 percent in the last twelve months as the company managed to increase its earnings substantially. Earnings for 2011 came in at 41 pence per share, 2012 earnings were 51 pence per share, and 2013 earnings are expected to come in at 56 pence per share.
In the lead up to this earnings announcement, since the start of the new year, shares in British Sky Broadcasting are up by about 5.5 percent. The company’s investors are hoping for ti to continue its good run in the year ahead.
Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL): One of the world’s largest consumer products companies, Colgate-Palmolive will release its earnings for the last three months of 2012 before the market opens tomorrow morning. The company is expected to show earnings of $1.40 per share for the period.
Revenues in the fourth quarter are expected to be reported at $4.3 billion. In the last three months of 2011, the company earned $1.30 per share on revenues of $4.2 billion. If the company hits analysts’ targets on Thursday, earnings for the entire year will come in at $5.35 per share. Full year revenue is expected to total $17.1 billion.
Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) shares have risen by more than 23 percent in the last twelve months as stock markets rallied and international demand appeared to improve. In the opening weeks of 2013, the company’s stock has increased by more than 6 percent, indicating optimism about the report, and the year ahead.
