Key Tech Stocks Wobbling as Earnings Reports Approach

F5 Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ:FFIV) will unveil its latest earnings on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. The average estimate of analysts is for net income of 86 cents per share, a rise of 26.5% from the company’s actual earnings for the same quarter a year ago. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved up from 84 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved up. It has been unchanged at 86 cents during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 23.3% versus last year to $3.65.

Last quarter, the company beat estimates by 2 cents, coming in at profit of 83 cents a share versus the estimate of net income of 81 cents a share. It marked the fourth straight quarter of beating estimates. Analysts predict a rise of 20.8% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $335.3 million.

VMware (NYSE:VMW) will unveil its latest earnings on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. The average estimate of analysts is for net income of 42 cents per share, a rise of 55.6% from the company’s actual earnings for the same quarter a year ago. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved up from 38 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved up. It has been unchanged at 42 cents during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 20.8% compared to last year’s $1.86.

The company topped estimates last quarter after missing forecasts the quarter prior. In the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year, it reported profit of 52 cents per share against a mean estimate of net income of 43 cents per share. In the third quarter of the last fiscal year, it missed forecasts by 2 cents. Analysts predict a rise of 22.1% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $1.03 billion.

Qualcomm, Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) will unveil its latest earnings on Wednesday, April 18, 2012. The average analyst estimate is for net income of 86 cents per share, a rise of 11.7% from the company’s actual earnings for the year-ago quarter. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved up from 80 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved up. It has risen from 85 cents during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 14.6% compared to last year’s $3.45.

The company topped estimates last quarter after missing forecasts the quarter prior. In the first quarter, it reported profit of 85 cents per share against a mean estimate of net income of 79 cents per share. In the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year, it missed forecasts by one cent. Analysts predict a rise of 25.1% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $4.84 billion.

Cree, Inc. (NASDAQ:CREE) will unveil its latest earnings on Tuesday, April 17, 2012. The average estimate of analysts is for net income of 13 cents per share, a decline of 31.6% 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 22 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It also has dropped from 14 cents during the last month. For the year, analysts are projecting profit of 67 cents per share, a decline of 52.1% from last year.

Last quarter, the company fell short of estimates by 2 cents, coming in at net income of 15 cents per share against a mean estimate of profit of 18 cents. The company topped expectations in the first quarter. On average, analysts predict $300.8 million in revenue this quarter, a rise of 37.2% from the year-ago quarter. Analysts are forecasting total revenue of $1.2 billion for the year, a rise of 21.5% from last year’s revenue of $987.6 million.

Linear Technology Corp (NASDAQ:LLTC) will unveil its latest earnings on Tuesday, April 17, 2012. The average estimate of analysts is for profit of 42 cents per share, a decline of 32.3% from the company’s actual earnings for the same quarter a year ago. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved up from 41 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved up. It has been unchanged at 42 cents during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 31.3% versus last year to $1.76.

The company topped estimates last quarter after missing forecasts the quarter prior. In the second quarter, it reported net income of 40 cents per share against a mean estimate of profit of 39 cents per share. In the first quarter, it missed forecasts by 2 cents. On average, analysts predict $312.4 million in revenue this quarter, a decline of 11.6% from the year-ago quarter. Analysts are forecasting total revenue of $1.27 billion for the year, a decline of 14.2% from last year’s revenue of $1.48 billion.