S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component Xerox Corp (NYSE:XRX) will unveil its latest earnings on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. Xerox engages in the development, manufacturing, marketing, services and finance of document equipment, software, solutions and services worldwide.

Xerox Corp Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet.

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for net income of 32 cents per share, a rise of 10.3% 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. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 14.9% versus last year to $1.08.

Past Earnings Performance: Last quarter, the company beat estimates by one cent, coming in at profit of 26 cents a share versus the estimate of net income of 25 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: On average, analysts predict $6.07 billion in revenue this quarter, a rise of 1.5% from the year ago quarter. Analysts are forecasting total revenue of $22.76 billion for the year, a rise of 5.2% from last year’s revenue of $21.63 billion.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts are bullish on Xerox as four analysts rate it as a buy, one rates it as a sell and three rate it as a hold.

A Look Back: In the third quarter, profit rose 28% to $320 million (22 cents a share) from $250 million (17 cents a share) the year earlier, exceeding analyst expectations. Revenue rose 3% to $5.43 billion from $5.27 billion.

Key Stats:

Revenue has risen the past four quarters. Revenue rose 2% in the second quarter from the year earlier, climbed 16.6% in the first quarter from the year-ago quarter and 43.8% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.

Competitors to Watch: Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI), Staples (NASDAQ:SPLS), Office Depot (NYSE:ODP), OfficeMax (NYSE:OMX), Dell (NASDAQ:DELL), FedEx (NYSE:FDX), IBM (NYSE:IBM), Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), Pitney Bowes Inc. (NYSE:PBI), Chyron Corporation (NASDAQ:CHYR), X-Rite, Incorporated (NASDAQ:XRIT), Hewlett-Packard Company (NYSE:HPQ), and Eastman Kodak Company (NYSE:EK).

Stock Price Performance: During December 19, 2011 to January 19, 2012, the stock price had risen $1.03 (13.4%) from $7.68 to $8.71. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between June 15, 2011 and June 23, 2011 when shares rose for seven-straight days, rising 4.5% (+43 cents) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between July 21, 2011 and August 2, 2011 when shares fell for nine-straight days, falling 14.4% (-$1.47) 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?

Get Your FREE Special Report: 4 Things You Must Know About the US Economy Now!