S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM) will unveil its latest earnings on Thursday, February 2, 2012. PulteGroup is a publicly held holding company involved in the homebuilding and financial services businesses.

PulteGroup, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for profit of 8 cents per share, a swing from a loss of one cent in the year earlier quarter. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved up from 6 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved up. It has been unchanged at 8 cents during the last month.

Past Earnings Performance: Last quarter, the company topped estimates by 0 cents, coming in at net income of 11 cents per share against a mean estimate of 0 cents. The company fell in line with estimates in the second quarter.

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

Wall St. Revenue Expectations: On average, analysts predict $1.14 billion in revenue this quarter, a decline of 4.2% from the year ago quarter. Analysts are forecasting total revenue of $4.01 billion for the year, a decline of 12.3% from last year’s revenue of $4.57 billion.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about PulteGroup with 12 of 16 analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the third quarter, the company’s loss narrowed to a loss of $129.3 million (34 cents a share) from a loss of $995.1 million ($2.63) a year earlier, beating analyst expectations. Revenue rose 8% to $1.14 billion from $1.06 billion.

Key Stats:

A year-over-year revenue increase in the third quarter snapped a streak of three consecutive quarters of revenue declines. Revenue fell 29% in the second quarter, 21.1% in the first quarter and 31.5% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.

Competitors to Watch: D.R. Horton, Inc. (NYSE:DHI), Lennar Corporation (NYSE:LEN), The Ryland Group, Inc. (NYSE:RYL), Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE:TOL), KB Home (NYSE:KBH), M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:MDC), Hovnanian Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE:HOV), Standard Pacific Corp. (NYSE:SPF), and Comstock Homebuilding Companies, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHCI).

Stock Price Performance: During October 31, 2011 to January 27, 2012, the stock price had risen $2.61 (50.4%) from $5.18 to $7.79. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between December 30, 2011 and January 11, 2012 when shares rose for eight-straight days, rising 22% (+$1.39) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between August 15, 2011 and August 23, 2011 when shares fell for seven-straight days, falling 25.4% (-$1.23) over that span.

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

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

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