24/7 Wall St. has compiled earnings previews for some of the top companies reporting in the week ahead.  Estimates have been taken from Thomson Reuters for consensus earnings and targets and we have added in color on some companies if applicable.

These are some of the focus companies reporting earnings in the coming week: Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ: TECD); Urban Outfitters Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN); Autozone Inc. (NYSE: AZO); Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY); Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL); PetSmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM); Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL); Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG); Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ); NetApp Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP); Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P); Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL); Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST); Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF); and VeriFone Systems Inc. (NYSE: PAY).

MONDAY, MAY 21

Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ: TECD) is set to report and show how the outlook is for the companies which actually distribute all of the technology components and finished smartphones and consumer electronics devices around the world.  Shares were recently under $48 and the 52-week range is $38.21 to $59.29.  The consensus estimate is $1.16 EPS and $6.18 billion in revenue.

Urban Outfitters Inc. (NASDAQ: URBN) is going to show if its turnaround is closer or just still chugging along.  Estimates are $0.20 EPS and $579.2 million in revenue.  Shares were recently around $25.50 and the 52-week range is $21.47 to $33.90; the consensus target price is about $29.70.

TUESDAY, MAY 22

Autozone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) took it hard on the chin recently when rival Advance Auto warned of a difficult second quarter.  This is one of the high-priced stocks and shares are around $366 against a 52-week range of $266.25 to $399.10.  The consensus analyst target price is $419.80; estimates are $6.25 EPS and $2.13 billion in revenue; next quarter estimates are $8.47 EPS and $2.84 billion in revenue.

Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) is in such disarray that we won’t even bother with the warnings and the caveats here.  Estimates are $0.60 EPS.

Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) is now trading at only about 7.5-times forward earnings.  Estimates are $0.46 EPS and $14.89 billion in sales.  Earnings have been choppy on guidance but the PC makers and components makers are all talking up the release of Windows 8 as a new catalyst.  With shares trading just under $15.00, the 52-week range is $13.29 to $18.36 and the consensus price target is almost $19.50.

PetSmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM) has been a steady “beat earnings and raise guidance” outfit as Americans will pay endless and countless dollars on Fido and Fifi.  Estimates are $0.73 EPS and $1.6 billion in revenue. With shares around $56.00, the 52-week high is $59.36.

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) has sold off nearly $40 from its highs since March.  The question is how its business has been holding up in slowing markets even if the U.S. sales have been strong.  Estimates are $0.83 EPS and $1.6 billion in sales.  With shares around $143 the 52-week range is $105.00 to $182.48 and the consensus price target from analysts is just over $190.00.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 23

Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) should be called “Warning Lots” because it has lowered guidance and been hard on two different waves.  With shares under $35 and against a high of $47.22, the premium values of the dollar stores may and discounters may be hurting here.  On the flip side, the bar has been set extremely low.  Estimates are $0.69 EPS and $1.3 billion in revenue.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) is now around the $22 handle and the news of another 25,000 or more in layoffs (versus 350K as of October 31, 2011) is not helping the growth hopes.  Estimates are $0.91 EPS and $29.92 billion in sales.  The stock now trades at about 6-times earnings, but the consensus price target is down to just over $29.00 as no one wants to pay up for the valuation of this DJIA component.

NetApp Inc. (NASDAQ: NTAP) has been pounded and the last 45 days has looked like a downward staircase on its chart.  At about $34.00, the 52-week range is $33.00 to $56.49 and the consensus price target objective is just over $47.00.

Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P) is no longer market-influencing, but it is a cult stock and the earnings could create a large gain or a large drop.  With shares under $10.50, the post IPO range is $7.83 to $26.00.  Estimates are -$0.17 EPS and $74.3 million in revenue.  Can the company make it to profitability by the end of next year?

Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) is expected to be profitable.  A profitable homebuilder!  At $25.50, the 52-week range is $13.16 to $27.80.  A lot of good news already has to be priced in, so we would want to expect upside to remain positive here.  Estimates are $0.04 EPS and $381.9 million in revenue.

THURSDAY, MAY 24

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) almost always beats its earnings estimates.  At $83.75 the 52-week range is $70.22 to $92.10; analysts have a target price of $86.80 or so.   Estimates are $0.87 EPS and $22.1 billion in revenue.

Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) has come off of its highs significantly and this is the king of jewelry stores for investors.  There will have been two smaller reports ahead of Tiffany in the week with Fred’s and Zale.  Estimates for Tiffany are $0.69 EPS and $816.8 million.  With shares under $61.00, the 52-week range is $56.21 to $84.49 and the consensus price target is $75.63.

VeriFone Systems Inc. (NYSE: PAY) has pulled back by about 20% from its highs, but the woes of the company seem to be behind it.  At $44.80, the 52-week range is $30.25 to $55.89 and the consensus analyst price target is $54.10.  Estimates are $0.61 EPS and $471.5 million in revenue.

As a reminder, dates and estimates can change ahead of earnings and some may have already changed.

JON C. OGG

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