Earnings Preview for Estee Lauder (EL)

Estee Lauder (NYSE: EL) is scheduled to report fiscal third-quarter 2011 results before the opening bell tomorrow, May 5. Analysts are looking for the cosmetics purveyor to announce that earnings came in at $0.57 per share. That compares to a consensus estimate of $0.47 some 90 days ago, as well as per-share earnings of $0.34 a year ago. The company has not fallen short of consensus earnings estimates in the past five quarters.New York-based Estee Lauder manufacturers, markets and sells skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products in more than 150 countries. Its brands include Aramis, Clinique, Origins and Bumble and Bumble. The company's products are sold in department stores, company stores, pharmacies, salons, duty-free shops and other specialty retailers, as well as online.During the three months that ended in March, Estee Lauder acquired an exclusive license to the Ermenegildo Zegna brand and also announced a development and supply agreement with Unigen. The consensus revenue forecast for that quarter calls for $2.1 billion. That is an increase of 10.2% from the same period of last year. Shares are trading near the multi-year high of $97.90 and are up more than 18% year-to-date. In that time the stock has outperformed the broader market and competitors L'Oreal (LRLCY) and Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG).