S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component Sigma-Aldrich Corp (NASDAQ:SIAL) will unveil its latest earnings on Thursday, February 9, 2012. Sigma-Aldrich is a life science and high technology company that develops, manufactures, purchases and distributes a range of high quality chemicals, biochemicals and equipment.

Sigma-Aldrich Corp Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for profit of 89 cents per share, a rise of 7.2% 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 90 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It has been unchanged at 89 cents during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 13% versus last year to $3.74.

Past Earnings Performance: The company has beaten estimates the last four quarters and is coming off a quarter where it topped forecasts by 5 cents, reporting net income of 96 cents per share against a mean estimate of profit of 91 cents per share.

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

Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts are projecting a rise of 7.7% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $626.9 million.

Analyst Ratings: eight out of 14 analysts surveyed (57.1%) have a buy rating on Sigma-Aldrich.. This is below the mean analyst rating of 10 competitors, which average 58.1% buy ratings.

A Look Back: In the third quarter, profit rose 25.8% to $117 million (95 cents a share) from $93 million (76 cents a share) the year earlier, exceeding analyst expectations. Revenue rose 11.2% to $626 million from $563 million.

Key Stats:

The company has seen net income rise in three straight quarters. Net income rose 16.5% in the second quarter and 19% in the first quarter.

Revenue has risen the past four quarters. Revenue rose 15% in the second quarter from the year earlier, climbed 10.5% in the first quarter from the year-ago quarter and 1.7% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.

Stock Price Performance: During January 5, 2012 to February 3, 2012, the stock price had risen $7.65 (12.1%) from $63.12 to $70.77. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between January 13, 2012 and January 25, 2012 when shares rose for eight-straight days, rising 9.4% (+$6.04) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between July 25, 2011 and August 2, 2011 when shares fell for seven-straight days, falling 13.3% (-$9.75) over that span.

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

Don’t Miss These Additional Hot Stories:

These Retailers Continue to Confuse Investors

Are You Ready for Some Super Bowl Inflation?

Is 2012 the Year of the Golden Dragon?

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

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