Earnings Preview: Alcoa EPS, Revenue Expected to Rise from Previous Quarter

Get ready for Alcoa AA earnings! Don't be the last to know: The company announces its next round of earnings this Monday, July 11, 2011.

Want to skip the homework and get all the facts in one place? We thought so. Here is your everything-that-matters guide for this Monday's second quarter earnings announcement.

Let's Do the Numbers: Wall Street expects a positive EPS reading of 35 cents per share and revenues of $6.32 billion. Whether the reported numbers beat or miss analysts' estimates, they will also be compared against last year's numbers for the same period, which were a profit of 10 cents per share on revenues of $5.19 billion. We'll have to wait for Monday to see if Alcoa has accomplished the estimated 270% increase in EPS and a 121.8% rise in revenues on a year-over-year basis. Here's how the company's reported EPS has stacked up against analyst estimates in the past:

June 2010: Est $0.12, Actual $0.13. September 2010: Est $0.05, Actual $0.09. December 2010: Est $0.19, Actual $0.21. March 2011: Est $0.27, Actual $0.28.

Stock Performance: Shares of Alcoa were trading at $16.23 as of July 8, 2011. Since January 1st, shares of Alcoa have given investors a return of about 6.8%. Long-term shareholders are already enjoying 12-month gains prior to the announcement.

Average Stock Rating: The average rating by analysts for Alcoa is a Hold. The strength of this rating has crept upwards over the past three months.

Average Analyst Rating: Hold

Competitors: Looking for a sympathy stock to trade or interested in the performance of other companies in the same sector? Take a look at some of Alcoa's peers:

Century Aluminum Company CENX: Hold with a previous quarter EPS of $0.27.

Kaiser Aluminum KALU: Hold with a previous quarter EPS of $0.47.

Finally, a description of the main business areas of the company, in case you need a little refresher: Alcoa Inc. is a global producer of aluminum. It is mainly engaged in the production and management of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum, and alumina combined. It is actively involved in a range of industries, including technology, mining, smelting and recycling.

Take Action: Now that you're fully prepared, get ready to take quick action if the company reports any numbers significantly different from those listed above. Also, check back in with us after the announcement for a full recap and what-to-do-next guide.

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