S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component Wisconsin Energy Corp (NYSE:WEC) will unveil its latest earnings on Thursday, February 2, 2012. Wisconsin Energy, through its subsidiaries, conducts operations mainly in utility energy. Its main subsidiaries are Wisconsin Electric, Wisconsin Gas, and We Power.

Wisconsin Energy Corp Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for net income of 47 cents per share, a decline of 11.3% 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 50 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It also has dropped from 49 cents during the last month. For the year, analysts are projecting profit of $2.15 per share, a rise of 12% from last year.

Past Earnings Performance: The company’s quarterly results have come in above estimates for the last three quarters. Last quarter, the company booked net income of 55 cents per share versus a mean estimate of profit of 49 cents per share.

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Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts are projecting a rise of 0.9% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $1.1 billion.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about Wisconsin Energy with 11 of 15 analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the third quarter, profit rose 15.7% to $129.8 million (55 cents a share) from $112.2 million (48 cents a share) the year earlier, exceeding analyst expectations. Revenue rose 8.2% to $1.05 billion from $973.2 million.

Key Stats:

The company has seen net income rise in three straight quarters. Net income rose 23.4% in the second quarter and 31.8% in the first quarter.

Revenue has risen the past four quarters. Revenue rose 11.3% in the second quarter from the year earlier, climbed 5.8% in the first quarter from the year-ago quarter and 2.1% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.

Competitors to Watch: DTE Energy Company (NYSE:DTE), CMS Energy Corporation (NYSE:CMS), Integrys Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:TEG), The Empire District Electric Co. (NYSE:EDE), Alliant Energy Corporation (NYSE:LNT), Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA), SCANA Corporation (NYSE:SCG), CH Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:CHG), Ameren Corporation (NYSE:AEE), and Dominion Resources, Inc. (NYSE:D).

Stock Price Performance: During October 31, 2011 to January 27, 2012, the stock price had risen $2.07 (6.4%) from $32.18 to $34.25. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between April 18, 2011 and April 29, 2011 when shares rose for nine-straight days, rising 5.4% (+$1.55) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between April 1, 2011 and April 12, 2011 when shares fell for eight-straight days, falling 3.8% (-$1.14) 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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