S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE:BSX) will unveil its latest earnings on Thursday, October 20, 2011. Boston Scientific provides devices used in medical procedures related to disciplines such as cardiology, endoscopy, gynecology, and electrophysiology.

Boston Scientific Corp. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for profit of 8 cents per share, a decline of 33.3% from the company’s actual earnings for the same quarter a year ago. The average estimate is the same as three months ago. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate was unchanged. It also has not changed during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 6.2% versus last year to 45 cents.

Past Earnings Performance: Last quarter, the company beat estimates by one cent, coming in at net income of 10 cents a share versus the estimate of profit of 9 cents a share. It marked the fourth straight quarter of beating estimates.

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Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts are projecting a decline of 0.5% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $1.91 billion.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about Boston Scientific with 20 of 27 analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the second quarter, profit rose 49% to $146 million (10 cents a share) from $98 million (6 cents a share) the year earlier, exceeding analyst expectations. Revenue rose 2.4% to $1.98 billion from $1.93 billion.

Key Stats:

A year-over-year revenue increase in the second quarter snapped a streak of three consecutive quarters of revenue declines. Revenue fell 1.8% in the first quarter, 3.7% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year and 5.4% in the third quarter of the last fiscal year.

Competitors to Watch: Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT), St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE:STJ), Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI), C.R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE:BCR), Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ), Stryker Corporation (NYSE:SYK), Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX), AngioDynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANGO), and The Spectranetics Corp. (NASDAQ:SPNC).

Stock Price Performance: During July 21, 2011 to October 14, 2011, the stock price had fallen $1.39 (-19.6%) from $7.08 to $5.69. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between March 22, 2011 and March 30, 2011 when shares rose for seven-straight days, rising 6.2% (+43 cents) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between May 31, 2011 and June 8, 2011 when shares fell for seven-straight days, falling 6.5% (-47 cents) over that span. Shares are down $1.88 (-24.8%) year to date.

(Source: Xignite Financials)

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