S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. (NYSE:WFR) will unveil its latest earnings on Wednesday, February 15, 2012. Memc Electronic Material manufactures and sells silicon wafers that are used primarily in semiconductor and solar energy technologies.

MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average analyst estimate is for a loss of 14 cents per share, a spike from net income of 25 cents in the year-ago quarter. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved down from 8 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It also has dropped from breaking even during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 12.8% compared to last year’s 34 cents.

Past Earnings Performance: Last quarter, the company fell short of estimates by 22 cents, coming in at profit of 3 cents per share against a mean estimate of net income of 10 cents. The company topped expectations in the second quarter.

Investing Insights: Will the iPad 3 Be the Next Catalyst for Apple’s Stock?

Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts predict a decline of 7.8% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $783.6 million.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about MEMC Electronic Materials with 10 of 19 analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the third quarter, the company swung to a loss of $94.4 million (41 cents a share) from a profit of $17.6 million (8 cents) a year earlier, missing analyst expectations. Revenue rose 2.6% to $516.2 million from $503.1 million.

Key Stats:

For four quarters in a row, revenue has increased. Revenue rose 66.3% in the second quarter from the year earlier, climbed 68.1% in the first quarter from the year-ago quarter and more than twofold in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.

Stock Price Performance: Between December 12, 2011 and February 9, 2012, the stock price had risen $1.67 (40.6%), from $4.11 to $5.78. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between September 9, 2011 and September 16, 2011, when shares rose for six straight days, increasing 6.6% (+44 cents) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between July 25, 2011 and August 8, 2011 when shares fell for 11 straight days, dropping 39.3% (-$3.23) over that span.

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

Don’t Miss These Additional Hot Stories:

Investors Wake Up to the Return of Dividends

Do We Know If the Housing Market Has Hit Bottom?

Should Investors Reconsider Cash and Gold as Safe-Havens?

Get Your FREE Special Report: 4 Things You Must Know About the US Economy Now!