Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ:SCHN) will unveil its latest earnings on Monday, January 9, 2012. Schnitzer Steel Industries is currently a recycler of ferrous and nonferrous scrap metal and used and salvaged vehicles. It is also a manufacturer of finished steel products.

Schnitzer Steel Industries, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for net income of 23 cents per share, a decline of 64.1% from the company’s actual earnings for the same quarter a year ago. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved down from 95 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It also has dropped from 55 cents during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 13.9% versus last year to $3.65.

Last quarter, the company came in at profit of $1.33 per share against a mean estimate of net income of $1.22 per share, beating estimates after missing them in the previous quarter. In the third quarter of the last fiscal year, it missed forecasts by 2 cents.

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Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts are projecting a rise of 17.1% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $790.3 million.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts are bullish on Schnitzer Steel Industries as four analysts rate it as a buy, two rate it as a sell and three rate it as a hold.

A Look Back: In the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year, profit rose more than twofold to $36.7 million ($1.31 a share) from $17.4 million (62 cents a share) the year earlier, exceeding analyst expectations. Revenue rose 69.2% to $1.08 billion from $639.1 million.

Key Stats:

The company has enjoyed double-digit year-over-year percentage revenue growth for the past four quarters. Over that span, the company has averaged growth of 51.9%, with the biggest boost coming in the first quarter of the last fiscal year when revenue rose 71.2% from the year earlier quarter.

Competitors to Watch: Sims Metal Management Ltd (NYSE:SMS), Commercial Metals Company (NYSE:CMC), Steel Dynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ:STLD), Nucor Corporation (NYSE:NUE), Metalico, Inc. (AMEX:MEA), Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE:WOR), AK Steel Holding Corp. (NYSE:AKS), Titanium Metals Corp. (NYSE:TIE), Grupo Simec S.A.B. de C.V. (AMEX:SIM), and United States Steel Corp. (NYSE:X).

Stock Price Performance: During October 6, 2011 to January 3, 2012, the stock price had risen $5.50 (14.1%) from $39.08 to $44.58. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between February 9, 2011 and February 18, 2011 when shares rose for eight-straight days, rising 8.2% (+$4.91) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between April 4, 2011 and April 14, 2011 when shares fell for nine-straight days, falling 9.2% (-$6.06) over that span.

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

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To contact the reporter on this story: Derek Hoffman at staff.writers@wallstcheatsheet.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Damien Hoffman at editors@wallstcheatsheet.com

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