S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component The Clorox Company (NYSE:CLX) will unveil its latest earnings on Friday, February 3, 2012. Clorox manufactures consumer products that are sold primarily through mass merchandisers, grocery stores, and other retail outlets.

The Clorox Company Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for net income of 69 cents per share, a rise of 1.5% from the company’s actual earnings for the same quarter a year ago. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved up from 68 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved up. It has been unchanged at 69 cents during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 2.2% versus last year to $4.07.

Past Earnings Performance: Last quarter, the company beat estimates by 9 cents, coming in at profit of $1.01 a share versus the estimate of net income of 92 cents a share. It marked the fourth straight quarter of beating estimates.

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

Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts are projecting a rise of 1.7% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $1.2 billion.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about Clorox Company with 14 of 15 analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the first quarter, profit fell 39.8% to $130 million (98 cents a share) from $216 million ($1.52 a share) the year earlier, but exceeded analyst expectations. Revenue rose 3.1% to $1.3 billion from $1.27 billion.

Key Stats:

A year-over-year revenue increase in the first quarter snapped a streak of three consecutive quarters of revenue declines. Revenue fell 2.3% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year, 4.5% in the third quarter of the last fiscal year and 7.8% in the second quarter of the last fiscal year.

Competitors to Watch: Zep, Inc. (NYSE:ZEP), The Procter & Gamble Co. (NYSE:PG), Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD), Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE:CL), Kimberly-Clark (NYSE:KMB), Ocean Bio-Chem, Inc. (NASDAQ:OBCI), PURE Bioscience (NASDAQ:PURE).

Stock Price Performance: During November 30, 2011 to January 30, 2012, the stock price had risen $3.91 (6.1%) from $64.40 to $68.31. It saw one of its worst periods between July 27, 2011 and August 4, 2011 when shares fell for seven-straight days, falling 12% (-$8.66) over that span. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between May 3, 2011 and May 13, 2011 when shares rose for nine-straight days, rising 5.2% (+$3.39) 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?

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!