GE, SunTrust, Schlumberger: 28 Earnings Reports To Watch, Jan 15-18

After a lackluster third quarter, S&P 500 companies are expected to report overall earnings growth of 2.4 percent for the last three months of 2012, improving from a 1 percent decline in the third quarter, according to FactSet Research.

Seven of the 10 sectors are expected to report a year-over-year increase in earnings for the quarter, led by the financial sector, with earnings growth of more than 15 percent.

The financial sector as a whole is also projected to see modest revenue growth in the fourth quarter of 2012, the first positive growth in several quarters. The estimated revenue growth rate is 7 percent, according to FactSet.

Excluding the financial sector, the earnings growth rate for the S&P 500 companies is expected to be roughly flat at just 0.2 percent.

The information technology sector has the second lowest earnings growth rate (-2.8 percent) of all 10.

The consensus among analysts polled by FactSet, Thomson Reuters and S&P Capital IQ is that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) will post a decline in its quarterly earnings for the first time in more than nine years when it reports fiscal first-quarter results on Jan. 23.

Overall revenue is projected to show signs of life, with FactSet forecasting an increase of 2.1 percent.

While Corporate America is heading in the right direction, the latest earnings projection is sharply lower than the 9.2 percent analysts were looking for at the start of the fourth quarter.

We ran a screen and produced a list of 28 notable companies set to report their earnings between Jan. 15 and Jan. 18. We have highlighted their expected reporting dates and times, along with analysts' earnings per share and revenue estimates from Reuters, as well as the stocks' year-to-date performances.

Tuesday Before Market Open, or BMO:

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: FRX) develops, manufactures and sells branded forms of ethical drug products. The company has a market cap of $9.89 billion. It is expected to report a loss of 14 cents a share in the third quarter of fiscal year 2013 on revenue of $765.3 million, compared with a profit of $1.04 a share on revenue of $1.21 billion in the year-ago period. Forest Laboratories is trading at around $37.19 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 19.7 percent.

Lennar Corporation (NYSE: LEN) is a homebuilder and a provider of financial services. The company has a market cap of $7.79 billion. It is expected to report FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 43 cents on revenue of $1.32 billion, compared with a profit of 16 cents a share on revenue of $952.65 million in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls $2.99 per share earnings on revenue of $4.07 billion. That compares to 48 cents per share and $3.1 billion in the previous year. Lennar is trading around $40.86 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 96.5 percent.

Wednesday, BMO:

The Bank of New York Mellon Corp. (NYSE: BK) is a global financial-services company. The company has a market cap of $31.23 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 54 cents on revenue of $3.61 billion, compared with a profit of 42 cents a share on revenue of $3.52 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $2.07 per share earnings on revenue of $14.53 billion. That compares to $2.03 per share and $14.53 billion in the previous year. Bank of New York Mellon is trading around $26.72 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 25.5 percent.

First Republic Bank (NYSE: FRC) is a full-service bank and wealth management firm. The company has a market cap of $4.54 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 73 cents on revenue of $306.94 million, compared with a profit of 68 cents a share on revenue of $285.54 million in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $2.72 per share earnings on revenue of $1.19 billion. That compares to $2.65 per share and $1.07 billion in the previous year. First Republic Bank is trading around $34.64 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 10.2 percent.

Northern Trust Corp. (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a financial holding company that is a provider of asset-servicing, fund-administration, asset-management, fiduciary and banking solutions. The company has a market cap of $12.57 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 75 cents on revenue of $989.88 million, compared with a profit of 67 cents a share on revenue of $955.6 million in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $2.88 per share earnings on revenue of $3.94 billion. That compares to $2.67 per share and $3.77 billion in the previous year. Northern Trust is trading around $52.44 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 24.8 percent.

U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) is a multistate financial-services holding company. The company has a market cap of $63.07 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 74 cents on revenue of $5.16 billion, compared with a profit of 64 cents a share on revenue of $5.1 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $2.86 per share earnings on revenue of $20.3 billion. That compares to $2.41 per share and $19.11 billion in the previous year. U.S. Bancorp is trading at around $33.54 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 18.6 percent.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a global financial-services firm and a banking institution in the U.S. The company has a market cap of $175.02 billion. It is expected to report FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of $1.2 on revenue of $24.46 billion, compared with a profit of 90 cents a share on revenue of $22.2 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $4.98 per share earnings on revenue of $98.44 billion. That compares to $4.48 per share and $99.77 billion in the previous year. JPMorgan is trading around $46.06 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 27.6 percent.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE: GS) is a global investment-banking, securities and investment-management firm. The company has a market cap of $64.88 billion. It's expected to report FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of $3.65 on revenue of $7.75 billion, compared with a profit of $1.84 a share on revenue of $6.05 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $12.1 per share earnings on revenue of $32.52 billion. That compares to $4.51 per share and $28.81 billion in the previous year. Goldman Sachs is trading at around $137.94 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 40.4 percent.

Wednesday After Market Close, or AMC:

EBay Inc. (Nasdaq: EBAY) is a global commerce platform. The company has a market cap of $68.39 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 69 cents on revenue of $3.97 billion, compared with a profit of 60 cents a share on revenue of $3.38 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $2.35 per share earnings on revenue of $14.05 billion. That compares to $2.03 per share and $11.65 billion in the previous year. EBay is trading at around $52.86 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 69.5 percent.

SLM Corp. (Nasdaq: SLM) originates, services, and collects loans it makes to students and/or their parents to finance the cost of education. The company has a market cap of $8.11 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 53 cents on revenue of $711 million, compared with a profit of 51 cents a share on revenue of $773 million in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $2.15 per share earnings on revenue of $2.81 billion. That compares to $1.83 per share and $3.06 billion in the previous year. SLM is trading at around $17.56 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 27.4 percent.

Thursday BMO:

BB&T Corp. (NYSE: BBT) is a financial holding company. The company has a market cap of $21.34 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 71 cents on revenue of $2.45 billion, compared with a profit of 55 cents a share on revenue of $2.41 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $2.71 per share earnings on revenue of $9.74 billion. That compares to $1.83 per share and $8.77 billion in the previous year. BB&T is trading at around $30.53 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 14.1 percent.

BlackRock Inc. (NYSE: BLK) is an independent investment manager. The company has a market cap of $38.1 billion. It's expected to report FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of $3.69 on revenue of $2.49 billion, compared with a profit of $3.06 a share on revenue of $2.23 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $2.71 per share earnings on revenue of $13.41 billion. That compares to $1.83 per share and $11.85 billion in the previous year. BlackRock is trading at around $218.29 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 19.3 percent.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) is a global diversified financial-services holding company. The company has a market capitalization of $125.98 billion. It's expected to report FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 97 cents on revenue of $18.84 billion, compared with a profit of 31 cents a share on revenue of $17.17 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $3.93 per share earnings on revenue of $72.17 billion. That compares to $3.63 per share and $78.35 billion in the previous year. Citigroup is trading at around $42.95 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 43.2 percent.

Fifth Third Bancorp (Nasdaq: FITB) is a diversified financial-services company. The company has a market cap of $14.09 billion. It is expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 42 cents on revenue of $1.64 billion, compared with a profit of 34 cents a share on revenue of $1.47 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $1.62 per share earnings on revenue of $6.4 billion. That compares to $1.19 per share and $6.01 billion in the previous year. Fifth Third Bancorp is trading at around $15.71 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 13.3 percent.

Huntington Bancshares Inc. (Nasdaq: HBAN) is a multistate diversified regional bank holding company. The company has a market cap of $5.73 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 17 cents on revenue of $703.76 million, compared with a profit of 14 cents a share on revenue of $644.38 million in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for 68 cents per share earnings on revenue of $2.77 billion. That compares to 59 cents per share and $2.61 billion in the previous year. Huntington Bancshares is trading at around $6.68 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 13.5 percent.

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (NYSE: PNC) is a financial-services company. The company has a market cap of $32.29 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of $1.55 on revenue of $3.98 billion, compared with a profit of $1.15 a share on revenue of $3.55 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $5.66 per share earnings on revenue of $15.47 billion. That compares to $6.04 per share and $14.33 billion in the previous year. PNC is trading at around $61.14 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 2.1 percent.

UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health and well-being company. The company has a market cap of $54.25 billion. It is expected to report FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of $1.19 on revenue of $28.13 billion, compared with a profit of $1.17 a share on revenue of $25.92 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $5.28 per share earnings on revenue of $109.85 billion. That compares to $4.73 per share and $101.86 billion in the previous year. UnitedHealth is trading at around $53.11 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 0.6 percent.

Bank of America Corp. (NYSE: BAC) is a financial institution. The company has a market cap of $126.97 billion. It is expected to report FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 2 cents on revenue of $21.11 billion, compared with a profit of 15 cents a share on revenue of $24.89 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for 24 cents per share earnings on revenue of $86.92 billion. That compares to 1 cent per share and $93.45 billion in the previous year. Bank of America is trading at around $11.78 a share. Over the last 12 months, the stock has gained 90.6 percent.

Fastenal Co. (Nasdaq: FAST) is engaged in selling industrial and construction supplies, both wholesale and retail. The company has a market cap of $13.78 billion. It is expected to report FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 33 cents on revenue of $759.66 million, compared with a profit of 30 cents a share on revenue of $697.8 million in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $1.43 per share earnings on revenue of $3.14 billion. That compares to $1.21 per share and $2.77 billion in the previous year. Fastenal is trading around $46.5 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 2.9 percent.

Thursday AMC:

Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) designs and manufactures integrated digital technology platforms. The company has a market cap of $109.12 billion. It's expected to report FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 45 cents on revenue of $13.76 billion, compared with a profit of 64 cents a share on revenue of $13.89 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $2.11 per share earnings on revenue of $53.44 billion. That compares to $2.39 per share and $54 billion in the previous year. Intel is trading at around $21.8 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has lost 13.7 percent.

Capital One Financial Corp. (NYSE: COF) is a diversified financial services holding company. The company has a market cap of $36.57 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of $1.61 on revenue of $5.87 billion, compared with a profit of 88 cents a share on revenue of $4.05 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $6.43 per share earnings on revenue of $21.5 billion. That compares to $6.8 per share and $16.28 billion in the previous year. Capital One is trading at around $62.87 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 39.2 percent.

People's United Financial Inc. (NASDAQ: PBCT) is a savings and loan holding company. The company has a market cap of $4.39 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 19 cents on revenue of $314.05 million, compared with a profit of 12 cents a share on revenue of $313.8 million in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for 74 cents per share earnings on revenue of $1.24 billion. That compares to 57 cents per share and $1.23 billion in the previous year. People's United Financial is trading at around $12.62 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has lost 5.3 percent.

Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX) designs, develops and markets programmable platforms. The company has a market cap of $9.39 billion. It is expected to report an FY 2013 third-quarter EPS of 37 cents on revenue of $527.66 million, compared with a profit of 47 cents a share on revenue of $511.09 million in the year-ago period. Xilinx is trading at around $36 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 11.9 percent.

Friday BMO:

General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) is a diversified technology and financial-services company. The company has a market cap of $221.99 billion. It's expected to report FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 43 cents on revenue of $38.71 billion, compared with a profit of 39 cents a share on revenue of $37.97 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $1.51 per share earnings on revenue of $147.04 billion. That compares to $1.37 per share and $147.3 billion in the previous year. GE is trading at around $21.17 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 13.5 percent.

Schlumberger Ltd. (NYSE: SLB) provides a range of products and services from exploration through production. The company has a market cap of $97.24 billion. It is expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of $1.08 on revenue of $10.85 billion, compared with a profit of $1.11 a share on revenue of $10.97 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $4.19 per share earnings on revenue of $42.37 billion. That compares to $3.66 per share and $39.54 billion in the previous year. Schlumberger is trading at around $73.25 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 8.1 percent.

State Street Corp.  (NYSE: STT) is a financial holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides a range of financial products and services to institutional investors worldwide. State Street has a market cap of $23.36 billion. It's expected to report FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of $1 on revenue of $2.36 billion, compared with a profit of 93 cents a share on revenue of $2.29 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $3.84 per share earnings on revenue of $9.54 billion. That compares to $3.73 per share and $9.5 billion in the previous year. State Street is trading at around $50.25 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 20.3 percent.

SunTrust Banks, Inc. (NYSE: STI) is a commercial banking organization. The company has a market cap of $15.41 billion. It is expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 62 cents on revenue of $2.31 billion, compared with a profit of 28 cents a share on revenue of $2.03 billion in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for $3.55 per share earnings on revenue of $10.58 billion. That compares to $1.09 per share and $8.48 billion in the previous year. SunTrust Banks is trading at around $28.6 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 44.8 percent.

First Horizon National Corp. (NYSE: FHN) is a bank holding company. The company has a market cap of $2.5 billion. It's expected to report an FY 2012 fourth-quarter EPS of 17 cents on revenue of $338.6 million, compared with a profit of 13 cents a share on revenue of $360.07 million in the year-ago period. The analysts' consensus full-year forecast calls for a loss of 10 cents per share on revenue of $1.38 billion. That compares to 50 cents per share and $1.49 billion in the previous year. First Horizon is trading at around $10.1 a share. Over the past 12 months, the stock has gained 18.5 percent.