S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component Weyerhaeuser Company (NYSE:WY) will unveil its latest earnings on Friday, February 3, 2012. Weyerhaeuser is a forest products company, which mainly grows and harvests trees, builds homes, and makes a range of forest products.

Weyerhaeuser Company Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for profit of 6 cents per share, a decline of 40% 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 8 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It also has dropped from 7 cents during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 50% versus last year to 25 cents.

Past Earnings Performance: The company beat estimates last quarter after falling short in the prior two. In the third quarter, the company reported net income of 12 cents per share versus a mean estimate of profit of 11 cents per share. In the second quarter, the company missed estimates by 3 cents.

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Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts are projecting a decline of 4.2% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $1.59 billion.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about Weyerhaeuser Company with eight of 13 analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the third quarter, profit fell 85.9% to $157 million (29 cents a share) from $1.12 billion ($3.50 a share) the year earlier, but exceeded analyst expectations. Revenue fell 5.7% to $1.57 billion from $1.66 billion.

Key Stats:

Revenue has fallen in the past two quarters. In the second quarter, the figure fell 10.8%.

Competitors to Watch: Universal Forest Products, Inc. (NASDAQ:UFPI), Deltic Timber Corporation (NYSE:DEL), Canfor Corporation (AMEX:CFP) and Rougier SA (NYSE:RGR).

Stock Price Performance: During November 30, 2011 to January 30, 2012, the stock price had risen $3.51 (20.9%) from $16.79 to $20.30. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between January 9, 2012 and January 19, 2012 when shares rose for eight-straight days, rising 11.8% (+$2.22) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between April 1, 2011 and April 13, 2011 when shares fell for nine-straight days, falling 10.8% (-$2.64) 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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