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The 9 Top Earnings Reports for the Week Ahead

We are now entering into mid-August and earnings season has seen its peak. While we are getting into the stragglers who report later than peers, there are also many key companies reporting earnings that have off-calendar quarters. The latter case is particularly true of retail companies.

24/7 Wall St. has decided to offer earnings previews for what it feels are the top nine earnings reports this coming week. We have included earnings per share (EPS) estimates and consensus analyst price targets from Thomson Reuters. Also included is information on shares trading ranges and valuations, and we have offered up some additional color on each stock as well.

The Priceline Group Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) is set to report earnings on Monday morning. The travel discounting website’s estimates are $12.04 EPS and $2.15 billion in revenues. Estimates for the following quarter are $21.28 EPS and $2.8 billion in revenues. At $1,281.56, its 52-week range is $928.80 to $1,378.96. Priceline has a consensus price target of $1,441 on last look. We always ask and remind the company here — please split your stock!

Rackspace Hosting, Inc. (NYSE: RAX) is due to report on Monday after the close. The web hosting and cloud company has estimates of $0.16 EPS and $436.9 million in revenues. Estimates for the following quarter are $0.17 EPS and $454.2 million in revenues. At $30.37, its 52-week range is $26.18 to $54.20 and its consensus price target from analysts is $41.30. Rackspace is not a systemically important company, but as a leader in hosting and cloud operations it can spill over into many companies. Another consideration — or the main consideration — is just what on earth is happening with its exploration of alternatives.

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Cisco Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CSCO) is on deck with earnings after the close of trading on Wednesday. The networking and communications equipment giant will actually be reporting its year-end results. Cisco’s estimates are $0.53 EPS and $12.14 billion in revenues. Estimates for the following quarter are $0.53 EPS and $12.08 billion in revenues. At $25.03, its 52-week range is $20.22 to $26.48 and its consensus price target from analysts is $25.96. Cisco has been in recovery and the question is whether it remains on track or not. The company is valued at almost 17 times trailing earnings, but its valuation for the year ahead (July 2015 year-end) is only about 11.5 times expected earnings. Also keep in mind that Cisco has that high 3.1% dividend yield.

Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE) is set to deliver its earnings Wednesday morning. The heavy equipment maker is expected to post earnings of $2.21 EPS and $8.8 billion in revenues. Estimates for the following quarter are $1.77 EPS and $8.2 billion in revenues. At $86.98, its 52-week range is $80.50 to $94.89 and its consensus price target from analysts is $89.43. Deere barely trades at 10 times expected current year earnings estimates, but it trades at about 11.5 times next year estimates due to an expected decline in sales and earnings.

Macy’s Inc. (NYSE: M) is set to report earnings on Wednesday morning. This last quarter and the coming quarter are more or less the throwaway quarters for the mall-based department store operator. It has consensus estimates of $0.86 EPS and $6.3 billion in revenues. Estimates for the following quarter are $0.53 EPS and $6.44 billion in revenues. At $60.21, its 52-week range is $42.18 to $61.26 and its consensus price target from analysts is $63.38. Macy’s is valued at only about 12 times expected earnings for its next fiscal year (February 2016 year-end).

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Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT) reports after the close of trading on Thursday. The largest semiconductor capital equipment player is expected to report that earnings were $0.27 EPS and $2.29 billion in revenues for the last quarter, and its estimates for the next report are $0.27 EPS and $2.29 billion in revenues. At $20.83, its 52-week range is $14.85 to $23.46 and the analyst consensus price target for Applied Materials is up at $24.10.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) is set to report earnings after the close of Thursday. The troubled department store operator is expected to report earnings (or losses) of -$0.94 EPS on $2.78 billion in revenue. Next quarter estimates are -$0.83 EPS and $2.89 billion in revenue. At $9.37, its 52-week range is $4.90 to $14.65 and the consensus analyst target is $9.36. As a reminder, J.C. Penney is expected to lose money for at least the next two years.

Nordstrom Inc. (NYSE: JWN) is set to report after the close of trading on Thursday. The mall-based upscale retailer is expected to turn in earnings of $0.94 EPS and $3.39 billion in revenues. Its estimates for the coming quarter are $0.73 EPS and $3.11 billion in revenue.  At $69.94, its 52-week range is $54.90 to $70.71 and its consensus price target from analysts is $71.04. Nordstrom is valued at almost 19 times trailing earnings, but the valuation for next year (February year-end 2016) is still over 16 times expected earnings per share.

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Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) is on deck for Thursday morning. The largest retailer in the world is expected to report earnings of $0.94 EPS and $3.39 billion in revenues. Its estimates for the coming quarter are $0.73 EPS and $3.11 billion in revenue.  At $74.67, Walmart’s 52-week range is $71.51 to $81.37 and its consensus price target from analysts is $80.39. Walmart trades at just over 15 times trailing earnings and it is valued at less than 13.5 times next year’s (February 2016 year-end) expected earnings per share.

As a reminder, earnings/revenue estimates and consensus price targets can change up until hours before each company reports.

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