Tech Investors Eager For Hewlett-Packard Earnings (HPQ, DELL)

Consumer Electronics

Published: February 16, 2008 8:01 am

After the market closes on Tuesday we’ll get to see earnings out of Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ). The estimates from First Call are $0.81 EPS on $27.59 billion in revenues. Next quarter estimates are $27.42 billion in revenues. Estimates for fiscal Oct-2008 are $3.80 EPS on $117.79 billion in revenues.

Analysts have an average price target north of $57.00. With Friday being options expiration date, we aren’t using options as a predictor until only the March option comparisons can be made on Tuesday. While this one was enjoying a steady run in 2007, its chart has been hampered lately. While shares bounced off of $41.00 or so in both January and February, H-P shares are trading well under the key moving averages: $46.85 is its 50-day moving average and $47.69 is its 200-day moving average.

As Dell (NASDAQ: DELL) shares have been under pressure and are much farther off of 2007 highs, you can imagine the PC-Giant in Austin will be figuring how to react to this earnings report as well. Dell reports earnings at the end of February.

Hewlett-Packard Co.’s 52-week trading range is $38.15 to $53.48, so its stock is in a bit of a long-term no man’s land as of now. It seems that the easy times of Mark Hurd’s turnaround have been seen. Now we’ll have to see if his cost cuts and margin expansion work well in what feels like a bear market and what is definitely a cooling economy.

Jon C. Ogg
February 16, 2008

Are You Still Paying With a Debit Card?

The average American spends $17,274 on debit cards a year, and it’s a HUGE mistake. First, debit cards don’t have the same fraud protections as credit cards. Once your money is gone, it’s gone. But more importantly you can actually get something back from this spending every time you swipe.

Issuers are handing out wild bonuses right now. With some you can earn up to 5% back on every purchase. That’s like getting a 5% discount on everything you buy!

Our top pick is kind of hard to imagine. Not only does it pay up to 5% back, it also includes a $200 cash back reward in the first six months, a 0% intro APR, and…. $0 annual fee. It’s quite literally free money for any one that uses a card regularly. Click here to learn more!

Flywheel Publishing has partnered with CardRatings to provide coverage of credit card products. Flywheel Publishing and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.