Continuing our earnings previews, the following five companies will report on Wednesday after the market has closed. While none may immediately jump out at you following a week of anticipated reports, these five may represent hidden value if they meet or exceed expectations.
Murphy Oil Corporation (NYSE:MUR):
Murphy Oil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas properties worldwide. It is also involved in oil and gas refining and marketing activities. Following Occidental Oil’s earnings beat, investors are waiting on Murphy to see if they can continue to surprise in this sector.
Analysts have become more bullish as the consensus has improved over the past month from $2.03 per share to the current estimate of $2.14 per share. This represents a 25.9% increase from the year-ago quarter, when Marathon Petroleum reported earnings of $1.70 per share.
Over the past three months, the consensus estimate has come a long ways from $1.68. For the fiscal year, analysts are expecting earnings of $10.56 per share. The consensus expects revenue to decrease 2.3% year-over-year to $19.8 billion for the quarter, after coming in at $20.27 billion a year ago. For the year, revenue is projected to roll in at $92.34 billion.
For the last two quarters, the company has seen a rise in revenue. In fourth quarter of the last fiscal year, revenue increased 6.6% to $20.71 billion from the year earlier quarter.
Prudential Financial Inc (NYSE:PRU):
Prudential is trading near its 52-week high and expectations have come in line with the stock’s price. Expectations have improved over the past month from $1.84 per share to the current forcast of earnings of $1.89 per share. Analysts’ estimates are up 21.2% from the year-ago quarter, when Prudential reported earnings of $1.56 per share.
Over the past three months, the consensus estimate has increased from $1.86. For the fiscal year, analysts are expecting earnings of $7.88 per share. Revenue is projected to be $12.42 billion for the quarter, 29.1% above the year-earlier total of $9.62 billion. For the year, revenue is projected to roll in at $53.84 billion.
Over the last four quarters, the company’s revenue rose by an average of 76.7% year-over-year, no more so than in the last quarter when Prudential blew away revenue expectations. Analysts overwhelming rate Prudential as a buy as opposed to its competition that does nor even harbor a majority.
Seagate Technology PLC (NASDAQ:STX):
Seagate is at the heart of the “Is the PC dead?” question and this is the first comparable quarter since Seagate bought over Samsung’s hard disk drive business in December 2011.
Analysts have become increasingly pessimistic as expectations have fallen over the past month to earnings of $1.19 per share from earnings of $1.22 per share. The current estimate reflects a 54.9% decrease from the year-ago quarter, when Seagate Technology reported earnings of $2.64 per share.
The consensus estimate has dropped over the past three months from $1.26. Analysts are expecting earnings of $5.19 per share for the fiscal year. After being $4.45 billion a year ago, analysts expect revenue to drop 24% year-over-year to $3.38 billion for the quarter. For the year, revenue is projected to arrive at $14.12 billion.
The company has reported growing revenue for three consecutive quarters. The 14.8% revenue increase saw that figure rise to $3.67 billion in the most recent quarter. Going further back, revenue increased 32.8% in the first quarter from the year earlier and 56.8% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.
Yelp Inc (NYSE:YELP):
Unlike its users who would rate Yelp with stars, Yelp is forced to disclose its earnings like every other company the old-fashioned way.
Yelp is expected to post a narrower loss than a year ago when it reports first quarter earnings. Analysts expecting a loss of $0.5 per share, up from a loss of $0.31 per share a year ago.
The consensus estimate has come up from a loss of $0.06 over the past month. Analysts are expecting a loss of $0.04 per share for the fiscal year. Revenue is anticipated at $44.6 million for the quarter, 62.8% higher than the year-earlier total of $27.4 million. For the year, revenue is projected to come in at $211.8 million.
International growth and mobile ad revenue remain the key to Yelp’s future and potential success.
Strayer Education Inc (NASDAQ:STRA):
Strayer Education, Inc, through its subsidiary, Strayer University, provides post-secondary education services for working adults. It offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in various fields of business administration, accounting, information technology, education, health services administration, public administration, and criminal justice. Following Devry’s recent numbers investors are seemingly sending for-profit education stocks to detention.
The consensus estimate sees Strayer coming with a per share earnings of $1.46 down considerably from 90 days ago when analysts were calling for Strayer to come in at $1.71. Earnings per share year-over-year are down considerably from $2.06.
Analysts are expecting revenue to come in at $139.77 million down 6.5% from year-over-year revenue of $149.53 million.
