Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM) will unveil its latest earnings on Thursday, November 17, 2011. Williams-Sonoma is a retailer of products for the home. The retail segment of its business sells products through five retail store concepts: Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma Home.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for net income of 38 cents per share, a rise of 8.6% 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. For the year, analysts are projecting profit of $2.22 per share, a rise of 13.8% from last year.

Past Earnings Performance: Last quarter, the company beat estimates by one cent, coming in at net income of 37 cents a share versus the estimate of profit of 36 cents a share. It marked the fourth straight quarter of beating estimates.

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Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts are projecting a rise of 5% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $856.2 million.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about Williams-Sonoma with 11 of 18 analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the second quarter, profit rose 27.8% to $39.3 million (37 cents a share) from $30.8 million (28 cents a share) the year earlier, exceeding analyst expectations. Revenue rose 5.1% to $814.8 million from $775.6 million.

Key Stats:

The company has seen net income rise in three straight quarters. Net income rose 61.8% in the first quarter and 28.3% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.

Revenue has risen the past four quarters. Revenue rose 7.4% in the first quarter from the year earlier, climbed 9.7% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year from the year-ago quarter and 11.8% in the third quarter of the last fiscal year.

Competitors to Watch: Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY), Pier one Imports, Inc. (NYSE:PIR), Kirkland’s, Inc. (NASDAQ:KIRK), Cost Plus, Inc. (NASDAQ:CPWM), Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc. (NYSE:HVT), Italtile Limited (NYSE:ITE), Macy’s (NYSE:M) and Nordstrom’s (NYSE:JWN).

Stock Price Performance: During August 18, 2011 to November 11, 2011, the stock price had risen $9.43 (32.9%) from $28.68 to $38.11. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between February 2, 2011 and February 14, 2011 when shares rose for nine-straight days, rising 18.5% (+$5.89) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between May 26, 2011 and June 8, 2011 when shares fell for nine-straight days, falling 8.6% (-$3.40) over that span. Shares are up $3.04 (+8.7%) year to date.

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

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