Earnings Preview: AAPL, Abbott, Netflix, McDonald’s, Amgen

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Wednesday will host some of the most widely anticipated earnings announcements of the season. Apart from Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) earnings, which we’ll get out of the way first, firms from several sectors will release their data, and each will demand the attention of investors.

Earnings Preview: AAPL, Abbott, Netflix, McDonald's, Amgen

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL): Clearly this is one of the most widely anticipated earnings report of the season; investors are waiting to see if Apple will manage to shake its stock price out of its current fugue when it reveals its earnings on Wednesday. You can see our full preview of the firm’s earnings here.

Analysts are expecting the firm to announce earnings of $13.55 per share for the last three months of 2012. Revenues for the period are expected to come in at $53.9 billion. In the same three months of last year, the company reported an exceptional $13.87 per share on revenues of $46.3 billion.

Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) results are hotly anticipated, and more will be written about them than any other company this season. However, for investors the most important moments will come during the conference call. Tim Cook’s response to the recent movements in the firm’s stock will be important. News about any changes in  the dividend, or stock buybacks, will also be important.

Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT): Earnings for the pharmaceuticals company are expected to come in at $1.50 for the last three months of 2012 on a revenue of $10.6 billion. In the same quarter of 2011, the company recorded earnings of $1.45 per share on revenues of $10.4 billion.

If the firm hits Wall Street’s expectations, it will post total earnings of $5.05 per share for 2012, on revenues of $39.7 billion. Abbott Laboratories is heading into a difficult 2013, when it will lose key revenue streams, and may struggle to achieve profitability at its current level. Revenues are expected to plunge in the 2013 to around $23 billion, with earnings in the coming year expected to amount to just $1.95 per share.

In the last twelve months Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT) shares have risen by more than 17%, in line with the growth of share prices across the pharmaceuticals sector. So far in 2013, the company’s stock price has been unstable, but is flat overall from the start of the year.

Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX): One of the most important new media companies, specializing in providing television and films on an internet based model. Netflix will report its earnings ahead of Wednesday’s open. Analysts expect the company to record a loss of 13 cents per share on revenues of $935 million.

In the fourth quarter of 2011 Netflix, Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) announced earnings of $0.73 per share on revenues of $876 million. The company’s share price declined by more than 3% in the last twelve months, but has gained almost 5% in the first few weeks of 2013.

Those numbers would bring the company’s full 2012 earnings to 4 cents per share, and revenues to $3.6 billion. 2012 was a tough year for Netflix, and 2013 will continue that trend. Competition in the space and costs are both increasing.

McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE:MCD): The world’s most famous fast food company is expected to reveal earnings per share of $1.33 on revenues of $6.9 billion. In  the last three quarters of 2011, the company released earnings of $1.33 per share on revenues of $6.8 billion.

If the company hits those numbers, it will post full 2012 earnings of  $5.31 per share, on revenues of around $2.5 billion. The company has been growing steadily in recent years, and despite sluggish movement in 2012, 2013 is expected to be an exceptional year for the company.

In the last twelve months, the company’s shares have tumbled by almost 9%. However, the opening weeks of 2013 have been improving. The company’s share price has increased by 5% since New Year’s day, in anticipation of Wednesday’s earnings report.

The firm’s recent earnings data have either just met analysts expectation or have, in many cases, failed to meet those numbers. In the report, investors will be looking for evidence of any change in the firm’s performance in China, and its performance in a struggling European economy.

Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN): One of the most well known firms in the biotech space, Amgen is expected to report an exceptional 2012. Earnings for the full year are expected to come in at $6.57 per share, up from 2011’s $5.33 per share.

The firm’s fourth quarter earnings are expected to come in at $1.46 per share. Revenues are expected to be recorded at $4.4 billion. In the same quarter of 2011, the company’s earnings came in at $1.21 per share; revenues for those three months totaled $4 billion. Revenue for the full year of 2011 were $15.6 billion, analysts expect total revenues to amount to $17.2 billion for 2012.

While Amgen, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) share prices have remained level for the last twelve months, the opening weeks of 2013 have been rough for investors. Since the open of the year, the company’s stock has fallen by almost 5%.

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