S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component C.R. Bard, Inc. (NYSE:BCR) is still in the process of finalizing its upcoming quarterly earnings release date. C.R. Bard designs, makes, and sells diagnostic, medical, surgical, and patient care devices.

C.R. Bard, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for net income of $1.60 per share, a rise of 11.9% 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 $1.62. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It has been unchanged at $1.60 during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 13.8% versus last year to $6.37.

Past Earnings Performance: The company met estimates last quarter after beating the forecasts in the prior two. In the second quarter, the company reported profit of $1.57 per share versus a mean estimate of net income of $1.57 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 rise of 6.8% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $724.8 million.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about C.R. Bard with 15 of 20 analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the second quarter, the company swung to a loss of $47.8 million (55 cents a share) from a profit of $124.6 million ($1.29) a year earlier, meeting analyst expectations. Revenue rose 7.6% to $725 million from $673.9 million.

Key Stats:

Revenue has risen the past four quarters. Revenue rose 7.6% in the first quarter from the year earlier, climbed 5.9% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year from the year-ago quarter and 6.5% in the third quarter of the last fiscal year.

C.R. Bard’s loss in the latest quarter followed profits in the previous three quarters. The company reported a profit of $131.9 million in the first quarter, a profit of $136.2 million in the fourth of the last fiscal year and a profit of $127.5 million in the third quarter of the last fiscal year.

Competitors to Watch: Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX), Covidien plc (NYSE:COV), Boston Scientific Corp. (NYSE:BSX), Merit Medical Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:MMSI), AngioDynamics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANGO), Angiotech Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ:ANPI), Theragenics Corporation (NYSE:TGX), Rochester Medical Corp. (NASDAQ:ROCM), CONMED Corporation (NASDAQ:CNMD), and Becton, Dickinson and Co. (NYSE:BDX).

Stock Price Performance: During July 18, 2011 to October 11, 2011, the stock price had fallen $25.52 (-22.9%) from $111.25 to $85.73. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between March 16, 2011 and March 25, 2011 when shares rose for eight-straight days, rising 3.2% (+$2.99) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between August 15, 2011 and August 22, 2011 when shares fell for six-straight days, falling 5.8% (-$5.38) over that span. Shares are down $5.55 (-6.1%) year to date.

(Source: Xignite Financials)

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