MDC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:MDC) will unveil its latest earnings on Thursday, February 2, 2012. M.D.C. Holdings operates in the field of homebuilding and financial services. Its homebuilding operations consist of construction and sale of single-family detached homes and financial services includes mortgage loans and title agency services.

MDC Holdings, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for a loss of 47 cents per share, a narrower loss from the year earlier quarter net loss of 65 cents. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved down from a loss of 24 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It has been unchanged at a loss of 47 cents during the last month.

Last quarter, the company came in at net loss of 32 cents per share against a mean estimate of a loss of 50 cents per share, beating estimates after missing them in the previous quarter. In the second quarter, it missed forecasts by 3 cents.

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Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts are projecting a decline of 4% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $249.2 million.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about MDC Holdings with seven of nine analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the third quarter, the company’s loss widened to a loss of a $31.7 million (68 cents a share) from a loss of $10.2 million (22 cents) a year earlier, but beat analyst expectations. Revenue fell 6.3% to $211.4 million from $225.7 million.

Key Stats:

Revenue has fallen in the past two quarters. In the second quarter, the figure fell 33.9%.

Competitors to Watch: D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI), PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM), Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL), KB Home (NYSE:KBH), The Ryland Group, Inc. (NYSE:RYL), Standard Pacific Corp. (NYSE:SPF), Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:HOV), NVR, Inc. (NYSE:NVR), Beazer Homes USA, Inc. (NYSE:BZH), and M/I Homes, Inc. (NYSE:MHO).

Stock Price Performance: During December 28, 2011 to January 27, 2012, the stock price had risen $4.02 (23.7%) from $16.93 to $20.95. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between June 15, 2011 and June 23, 2011 when shares rose for seven-straight days, rising 7.2% (+$1.69) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between July 21, 2011 and August 8, 2011 when shares fell for 13-straight days, falling 31.6% (-$7.62) over that span.

(Company fundamentals by Xignite Financials. Earnings estimates provided by Zacks)

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