The Talbots, Inc. (NYSE:TLB) will unveil its latest earnings on Thursday, December 1, 2011. Talbots, together with its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is a retailer and direct marketer of women’s apparel, shoes and accessories.

The Talbots, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for a loss of 15 cents per share, a swing from profit of 27 cents in the year earlier quarter. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved down from 2 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It has risen from a loss of 16 cents during the last month. For the year, analysts are projecting net loss of 80 cents per share, a swing from net income of 61 cents last year.

Past Earnings Performance: The company missed estimates last quarter after beating forecasts in the prior two. In the second quarter, the company reported a loss of 51 cents per share versus a mean estimate of net loss of 44 cents per share. In the first quarter, the company beat estimates by 5 cents.

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Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts are projecting a decline of 9.2% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $271.5 million.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about Talbots with six of nine analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the second quarter, the company swung to a loss of $37.3 million (54 cents a share) from a profit of $941,000 (one cent) a year earlier, missing analyst expectations. Revenue fell 9.9% to $271.1 million from $300.7 million.

Key Stats:

Revenue has fallen in the past four quarters. Revenue declined 6% in the first quarter from the year earlier, dropped 7.4% in fourth quarter of the last fiscal year from the year-ago quarter and 3.2% in the third quarter of the last fiscal year.

Competitors to Watch: Coldwater Creek Inc. (NASDAQ:CWTR), Christopher & Banks Corp. (NYSE:CBK), New York & Company, Inc. (NYSE:NWY), Ann Inc (NYSE:ANN), Ascena Retail Group Inc (NASDAQ:ASNA), Charming Shoppes, Inc. (NASDAQ:CHRS), Limited Brands, Inc. (NYSE:LTD), Chico’s FAS, Inc. (NYSE:CHS), The Cato Corporation (NYSE:CATO), and Destination Maternity Corp. (NASDAQ:DEST).

Stock Price Performance: During August 31, 2011 to November 25, 2011, the stock price had fallen $1.06 (-36.1%) from $2.94 to $1.88. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between June 8, 2011 and June 15, 2011 when shares rose for six-straight days, rising 27.3% (+69 cents) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between January 27, 2011 and February 4, 2011 when shares fell for seven-straight days, falling 15.9% (-99 cents) over that span. Shares are down $6.64 (-77.9%) year to date.

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

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