These three companies could move the market when they release earnings reports this week
It’s the tail end of earnings season with only a few notable companies left to issue earnings reports. In the coming weeks, we’ll get results from a few influential and closely followed companies, including a major technology firm and homebuilder. These earnings will bring to a close what has been, by all accounts, a stellar season of corporate results.
Over the past several months, we have witnessed a parade of better-than-expected quarterly earnings from both small and large companies. The strong earnings are expected to continue through the rest of this year, with Wells Fargo(NYSE:WFC) recently forecasting that strong financial results will lift the S&P 500 index a further 8% through the end of December.
Here are four companies with earnings reports the week of September 13:
- Oracle(NYSE:ORCL)
- Lennar(NYSE:LEN)
- Birks Group(NYSEAMERICAN:BGI)
Oracle (ORCL)
The lone large cap technology company reporting earnings in the week ahead is database and enterprise software giant Oracle. On Sept. 13, the Austin, Texas-based company will report its fiscal first quarter 2022 results. Any beat to the upside should add to ORCL stock’s already considerable momentum.
Year-to-date the company’s shares are up almost 40% at a Sept. 10 opening price of just under $90. The latest rally, which has been ongoing since mid-June, could get a second wind if Oracle manages to impress Wall Street with its latest numbers.
Wall Street is looking for Oracle to report revenues of $9.77 billion and earnings per share of $0.97 for its first quarter. Analysts expect the company’s earnings to be powered by its cloud infrastructure business, which has taken off this year as a growing number of businesses accelerate their migration to cloud computing and storage. Oracle is also getting a boost from the rollout of 5G wireless networking. In its previous quarterly earnings report, Oracle was expected to announce EPS of $1.31 per share, but ended up reporting $1.54 per share instead, beating the street by an impressive 17.56%.
Lennar (LEN)
Lennar, the largest homebuilder in the U.S., reports its latest earnings on Sept. 20. And, as always, investors, analysts and economists will be watching closely for signs of health in the American housing market.
LEN stock has done well this year, rising 33% since January to now trade at just over $100 a share. However, the stock has moved in fits and starts in recent months. In the last 30 days, Lennar’s share price has pulled back 4% from its 52-week high of $110.61. With a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of just 9.79, Lennar’s stock looks undervalued.
Lennar has been benefitting this year from the booming housing market that has been fueled by low interest rates and a desire for people to upgrade their home during the pandemic. Wall Street certainly has high expectations for the company’s upcoming earnings.
Analysts are looking for Lennar to report revenues of $6.86 billion, which would be a 17% increase from a year earlier. Earnings per share are forecast to come in at $3.28. With interest rates expected to remain at rock bottom lows until at least the middle of next year, Lennar and its shareholders should continue to reap rewards.
Birks Group (BGI)
Now for a penny stock that has shown real moxie this year. Montreal, Quebec-based jeweler Birks Group is currently estimated to report its earnings on Sept. 16, and the results could extend what has already been an incredible year for BGI stock.
Since January, Birks Group share price has grown 187%, rising from $0.84 to its current level of $2.50. In March of this year, the stock was as high as $5.43 before retreating by 54% to its current price. The growth (and volatility) in the stock price can be attributed to gradually improving sales as it reopened most of its 29 retail outlets in its native Canada and the U.S.
Birks should perform well in the final months of the year and during the holidays, which is traditionally the strongest sales period for its jewelry and gift items. Owing to its penny stock status, there are no real analyst forecasts for the company’s upcoming earnings. However, in its previous quarter, the company announced net sales of $143.1 million, a decrease of 15.5% from the year earlier period. Any improvement on the earnings front could help BGI stock rise further and, perhaps, remain above the $5 per share penny stock threshold.