Leggett & Platt Fourth Quarter Earnings Sneak Peek

Stock Price Performance: From December 28, 2012 to January 29, 2013, the stock price rose $3.28 (12.4%), from $26.43 to $29.71. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between March 23, 2012 and April 3, 2012, when shares rose for eight straight days, increasing 3.5% (+79 cents) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between November 6, 2012 and November 14, 2012 when shares fell for seven straight days, dropping 4.7% (-$1.28) over that span.

Balance Sheet Analysis: The company’s current ratio of assets to liabilities came in at 1.73 last quarter. The current ratio is an indication of a firm’s liquidity and ability to meet creditor demands and generally, for every dollar the company owes in the short term, it has that figure available in assets that can be converted to cash in the short term.

Key Stats:

The company is trying to stem some negative momentum heading into this earnings announcement. Profit has dropped by a year-over-year average of 2.3% over the past four quarters.

On the top line, the company is hoping to build on a revenue increase last quarter. Revenue fell 0.7% in the second quarter after increasing in the third quarter.

Wall St. Revenue Expectations: Analysts predict a rise of 2.2% in revenue from the year-earlier quarter to $872.7 million.

Analyst Ratings: With three analysts rating the stock as a buy, none rating it as a sell and three rating it as a hold, there are indications of a bullish outlook.

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