Most U.S. airlines have returned to profitability after the 2008-09 downturn and are now looking to attract more interests from investors. Today’s graphic charts revenue, earnings and cumulative change in share price of five major U.S. Airlines since 2009. If you could imagine what this chart would look like in three years, what do you think will be the major difference(s)?

With the fourth-quarter earnings season heading into the home stretch, even some sectors that analysts had expected would report underwhelming results are delivering positive surprises.

One week after the next, companies in the S&P 500 have reported stronger than expected earnings. Of the S&P 500 companies that reported last week, 75% reported better-than-expected results and that rate of positive surprises has helped drive the year-over-year blended earnings growth rate still higher, to 5.2%, up from 3.8% at the end of the previous week. Companies also reported better-than-expected revenue figures last week with 71% of reports beating estimates and the growth rate increasing from 2.4% to 3.6%. (more…)

Apple missed Wall Street’s revenue forecast for the 3rd straight quarter as iPhone sales came in below expectations, fueling investors’ worries about the company’s slowing growth. Today’s graphic shows the share price chart (the stock is down around an additional 10% this morning), Q1 shipments and revenue growth by quarter. Do you think the negative sentiment surrounding Apple is warranted?

Yesterday, Apple reported a second straight quarter of disappointing results as iPad sales fell short of analysts’ targets. The company also forecast revenue and margins below Wall Street forecasts. Today’s graphic compares Apple & Samsung’s quarterly net income as well as share price. Although Samsung has posted consistently lower net income, the two companies seem to be trending in opposite directions. Do you think the introduction of the new iPhone and iPads will propel Apple to a better quarter?

Microsoft, Intel and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) struggled to maintain revenue streams, as consumers shifted towards tablets in the tight economy. Today’s graphic looks at the net income and revenue for these three tech giants.

Walt Disney Co posted strong Q2 2012 earnings, rising 31% for the quarter.  The company attributed its success to excellent box office sales of its movie “The Avengers” as well as improved revenue from its theme parks.  If Disney can continue to outperform, its shareholders will benefit.  Here are Disney’s top 10 active institutional investors.

Check out other reports by Thomson Reuters Ownership Intelligence and follow @ownershipintel on Twitter.

Toyota Motor Corp announced outstanding earnings for Q2 2012.  Its Q2 operating profit was the largest quarterly operating profit in four years for the Japanese auto company.  In addition, the company increased its sales target for the remainder of 2012.  Here are the top active institutional shareholders of Toyota, all of which should be positively affected should Toyota outperform for the rest of the year.  Check out other reports by Thomson Reuters Ownership Intelligence and follow @ownershipintel on Twitter.

 

General Motors Corp posted better earnings than expected for Q2 2012.

Two main factors driving its success were unusually good results in Europe and delayed spending in the United States.  Some analysts are concerned that GM’s excellent quarter may be an anomaly.  In particular, the delayed spending must be made up in the future, which could affect the bottom line.  Also, as volatility in Europe continues, there is no guarantee GM’s European business will post another successful quarter.  If the outlook on GM declines, GM’s top 10 shareholders could be affected.

See the full report.  Check out other reports by Thomson Reuters Ownership Intelligence and follow @ownershipintel on Twitter.

 

 

Today Sony reported that operating profit for April-June fell a much steeper-than-expected 77% to 6.28 billion yen ($80 million) compared with a year earlier. Analysts had expected a 36% fall in profit. Citing exchange rate moves and a weak global economy, Sony cut its forecast for operating profit in 2012/13 to 130 billion yen from a previous forecast of 180 billion yen. The consensus forecast of 18 analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters is for annual operating profit of 139 billion yen. Today’s graphic shows Sony’s operating profit/loss for the last 13 quarters as well as its proportion of sales by segment.

Richard Beales and Breakingviews columnists discuss Facebook’s share price plunge and why investors reacted differently to Amazon’s somewhat similar earnings report.

 

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