The summer earnings theater is about to reach a feverish climax next week as a slate of 8 major companies step into the spotlight for their make-or-break quarterly showcases. From industrial titans and consumer staples juggernauts to cutting-edge tech plays and obscure small caps, there's something for every investor's appetite in this high-stakes earnings thunderdome.
For the battle-hardened traders looking to capitalize on the coming market-moving numbers, doing your homework has never been more crucial. Let's take a sneak peek at the must-watch headliners set to delivershock-and-awe moments for better or worse:
Delta Air Lines (DAL) - With the travel sector facing turbulence from economic crosswinds, all eyes are on DAL to deliver a smooth landing or rocky ride. Analysts see EPS of $0.37, but labor shortages and fuel costs could easily overshoot those estimates. Buckle up for turbulence on this one!
PepsiCo (PEP) - Few consumer stocks stir up more debate than the snack and beverage behemoth. Will inflation pressures leave a sour taste, or is Pepsi poised to continue its liquid refreshment dominance? At $1.52 EPS expected, even slight misses could spark a selloff in this crowded defensive name.
Cintas (CTAS) - Not sold on the industrial rebound story? Then take a hard look at this uniform rental and facility services leader. Analysts see $3.58 EPS, making CTAS a prime "show me" gauge regarding corporate confidence and hiring demand. Whiff on those numbers and its bearish game over.
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Conagra (CAG) - Packaged food stocks like CAG are the ultimate credit crisis safe-havens, yet this battered company has plenty to prove. Will shrinking grocery bills and fierce competition sack expected 65 cent EPS? For value hounds, beating that forecast could be the seal of approval for a CAG bottom.
Progressive (PGR) - With auto insurance at the intersection of economic growth, employment trends, and interest rates, PGR's results will go well beyond sector navel-gazing. Delivering its anticipated $3.21 score would be a major vindication for rosy economic projections. Auto stock or economic bellwether, the market will decide!
Methode Electronics (MEI) - Sometimes it's the unheralded small-caps propelling market-moving surprises. For this auto component play, a mere 7 cent EPS beat would likely trigger breakout euphoria from the analyst blind spot. A miss, however, would pour cold water on the global manufacturing recovery narrative.
Northern Technologies (NTIC) - Just when you thought earnings couldn't get more obscure, here comes a $155 million emerging play on cutting-edge corrosion prevention solutions. Expected EPS is just 17 cents, making NTIC the ultimate under-the-radar surprise stock for over-caffeinated risk-takers next week.
Unity Bancorp (UNTY) - Last but not least, all eyes turn to this small regional bank to provide a candid snapshot of the interest rate environment and loan demand. With forecast EPS of 90 cents, UNTY holds outsized sway in telegraphing Fed policy impacts and consumer health.
From industrial bellwethers and economic barometers to speculative small caps flexing their pricing power, this diverse basket of stocks represents a true earnings thunderdome. Only the strong will emerge victorious, while the weak get mercilessly culled by unforgiving market forces.
Which companies will get taken to the proverbial woodshed, and which upstarts will pull off shocking upsets? There's only one way to find out - dive into the financials and analyst tea leaves, then brace for impact! The coming week is sure to deliver volatility and opportunity in equal measure.