| Stocks rise early on first day of earnings season and Acuity Brands 1Q net income rises on higher prices |
| News - Financial News |
|
Stocks are edging higher in early trading as traders look ahead to Alcoa Inc.'s fourth-quarter results, the unofficial start of corporate earnings season. Alcoa will release its financial results after the market closes on Monday. [Read the full article] Independent refiner Tesoro Corporation (NYSE:TSO - News) expects to witness net loss per diluted share in the fourth quarter 2011, bruised by a low margin environment in California along with the weakening crude oil spread.The company projects loss in the range of 55 cents to 80 cents per diluted share in the quarter, as against an impressive earnings figure posted in the previous quarter. The fourth quarter loss includes an estimated after-tax expense of approximately 9 cents per diluted share associated with the non-cash stock-based compensation.In the third quarter, Tesoro came up with earnings per share of $2.39, comfortably surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.83 and way above the year-ago adjusted profit of 51 cents.Notwithstanding the fourth quarter loss, Tesoro expects to report earnings per diluted share of $3.85 to $4.10 for full year 2011, reflecting better refinery utilization rates, gross margin improvements and strong operational efficiency. [Read the full article] The bottom line is investors, shareholders and traders LOVE the bottom line, also known as profit. Profit, among other variables, is the key driver of stock prices. Here(TM)s our Cheat Sheet Quarterly Earnings Preview to the upcoming earnings season set to begin January 9th, 2012:Alcoa is the first Dow stock component to kick off major earnings releases in 2012.The consensus analyst earnings estimate is for -$.02 cents per share and $5.74 billion in revenue. AA has beaten earnings estimates the past 3 out of 4 quarters in a row by an average of -31.80% to 10.50%. Earnings will be released Monday, January 9th.American Express : The consensus analyst earnings estimate is for $.98 cents per share and $7.92 billion in revenue . AXP has beaten earnings estimates the past 3 out of 4 quarters in a row by an average of -9.3% to 8.1%. Earnings will be released January 23rd. [Read the full article] 
|