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7 DIJA Earnings Previews This Week: Verizon, Boeing, Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Caterpillar, 3M, P&G
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Corporate earnings season is underway and 24/7 Wall St. has put together a preview of some of the Dow Jones Industrial Average components reporting their financial results in the week ahead. We have already given a separate set of previews for key technology earnings previews in the week ahead. Consensus earnings estimates have been taken from Thomson Reuters, and recent trading history, price targets and news around each company has been added for color.
Verizon Communications
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) is scheduled to report its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday. The consensus estimates call for earnings per share (EPS) of $0.95 and $32.27 billion in revenue. Verizon is rolling out a new, lighter weight bundle of TV channels as a means of competing with other cable providers. Verizon is touting the plan as giving customers the flexibility to choose just what they want to watch. In reality, Verizon is trying to come up with a plan that will entice consumers who have never paid for a cable or satellite subscription to sign up.
Verizon shares closed trading at $48.90 on Friday. The consensus price target is $51.54, and the stock has a 52-week trading range of $45.09 to $53.66.
Boeing
Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) is set to report its first-quarter results on Wednesday. The consensus estimates call for $1.83 in EPS and $22.59 billion in revenue. Boeing has had a much better 2015 than last year, when the stock badly lagged the overall market. The company is forging ahead with the new 737 Max and 767 models, and with the 787 Dreamliner. Sales for jumbo jets always seem sporadic, but Boeing has a massive backlog that will last for years. Over the same period, production of large twin-engined jets like the Boeing 777 has risen seven-fold. Last year, Boeing booked 283 new orders for the 777 and now has a backlog of 547 orders.
Boeing shares ended Friday’s trading at $149.60. The consensus price target is $162.05, and the stock has a 52-week trading range of $116.32 to $158.83.
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Coca-Cola
Look for Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) to release its most recent quarterly results on Tuesday. The consensus estimates are $0.43 in EPS on $10.65 in revenue. Coke is one of the most recognizable brands in the world, and its biggest shareholder is Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. While sales growth has been sluggish over the past year, many on Wall Street believe the company is taking the right strategic actions to reinvigorate revenue growth. The strong U.S. dollar could continue to be a headwind to the international business, but the company has expanded the product line, and it posted fourth-quarter earnings that encouraged Merrill Lynch analysts.
Shares were at $40.30 at the end of Friday’s trading. The consensus price target is $44.63. The 52-week trading range is $39.06 to $45.00.
McDonald’s
On Wednesday, McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) is scheduled to post its first-quarter results. Consensus estimates call for EPS of $1.06 on revenue of $5.98 billion. McDonald’s finally has delivered on higher wages, but the move came with instant criticism as not enough and not covering enough workers, from those who are seeking a $15 per hour minimum wage. 24/7 Wall St. has seen multiple analyst reports on the McDonald’s wage effort. Credit Suisse and Merrill Lynch both discussed how this will lower McDonald’s earnings. Also, Standard & Poor’s put McDonald’s corporate credit ratings on negative watch after the move.
McDonald’s shares closed trading Friday at $94.88. The consensus price target is $100.09, and the stock has a 52-week trading range of $87.62 to $103.78.
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Caterpillar
Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) is scheduled to report its first-quarter results on Thursday. The consensus estimates call for $1.35 in EPS and $12.46 billion in revenue. The equipment giant has had to suffer through currency headwinds and also because growth markets in Asia and South America are now by and large on pause. In a bright spot in its previous earnings report, the company noted that sales decreases in its construction industries and resource industries segments were “about offset” by sales increases in its energy and transportation business.
Caterpillar shares ended the week at $83.28. The consensus price target is $82.70, and the stock has a 52-week trading range of $78.19 to $111.46.
3M
3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) will release its most recent quarterly results Thursday. The consensus estimates have EPS at $1.93 on $7.85 billion in revenue. In the previous quarter, 3M delivered strong results, which culminated a solid 2014 performance. The company had positive organic growth across all its business groups and geographic areas, and operating margins rose by nearly a full point. 3M will look to continue this trend in the face of currency headwinds for its first quarter.
3M’s shares closed at $161.71 on Friday, in a 52-week trading range of $130.60 to $170.50. The consensus price target is $168.00.
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Procter & Gamble
Look for Procter & Gamble Co.’s (NYSE: PG) earnings report on Thursday. The consensus estimates are for EPS of $0.92 and revenue of $18.43 billion. This stock is down almost 10% this year, and the company has a very large 65% of sales directed to foreign customers.
Yet it is a solid consumer products stock, especially for conservative investors to consider. It sells lots of run-of-the-mill household products that are essential for everyday life, and it is not content to stand pat on its laurels in the current restructuring and review of brands to sell off. P&G then wants to focus on future growth and cash flow. This should provide investors years of steady growth and dividends. While currency headwinds have weighed on recent earnings and projections, the dollar may be topping out this summer or fall, and that would bode well for the future.
P&G shares closed trading at $82.53 on Friday. The consensus price target is $91.44, and the stock has a 52-week trading range of $77.29 to $93.89.
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