S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component Stericycle, Inc. (NASDAQ:SRCL) will unveil its latest earnings on Thursday, February 2, 2012. Stericycle manages regulated waste and provides related services. It operates in the United States, Canada, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Ireland, Portugal, Romania and the United Kingdom.

Stericycle, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for profit of 74 cents per share, a rise of 7.2% from the company’s actual earnings for the same quarter a year ago. The average estimate is the same as three months ago. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate was unchanged. It also has not changed during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 11.9% versus last year to $2.82.

Past Earnings Performance: The company topped forecasts last quarter after being in line with estimates the quarter prior. In the third quarter, it reported net income of 71 cents per share versus a mean estimate of 70 cents. Two quarters ago, it reported profit of 69 cents per share.

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Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts are projecting a rise of 12.6% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $443 million.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts are bullish on this stock with six analysts rating it as a buy, none rating it as a sell and three rating it as a hold.

A Look Back: In the third quarter, profit rose 4.5% to $59.2 million (68 cents a share) from $56.7 million (65 cents a share) the year earlier, exceeding analyst expectations. Revenue rose 16% to $420.9 million from $363 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 19.6%, with the biggest boost coming in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year when revenue rose 25.5% from the year earlier quarter.

The company has seen net income rise in three straight quarters. Net income rose 4.6% in the second quarter and 15.7% in the first quarter.

Competitors to Watch: Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM), Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE:RSG), Sharps Compliance Corp. (NASDAQ:SMED), Environmental Waste Intl. Inc. (NYSE:EWS), The TEG Group PLC (NYSE:TEG).

Stock Price Performance: During November 29, 2011 to January 27, 2012, the stock price had risen $6.06 (7.8%) from $77.44 to $83.50. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between June 24, 2011 and July 7, 2011 when shares rose for nine-straight days, rising 8.6% (+$7.39) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between July 21, 2011 and August 2, 2011 when shares fell for nine-straight days, falling 13.1% (-$12.16) 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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