Earnings Expectations For The Week Of April 13

The new earnings season ramps up this week. Among the highlights will be the first-quarter results from the big banks. Below is a quick look at what analysts are looking for from Bank of America Corp BAC, Citigroup Inc C, Goldman Sachs Group Inc GS, JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM and Wells Fargo & Co WFC. But more than just the banks will be passing through the earnings spotlight this week. Wall Street analysts on average are looking for earnings growth when American Express Company AXP, Delta Air Lines, Inc. DAL and United Healthcare Group Inc. UNH share their results. However, consensus forecasts call for shrinking earnings from General Electric Company GE Netflix, Inc. NFLX, Philip Morris International Inc. PM and Schlumberger Limited. SLB. Johnson & Johnson JNJ is scheduled to report this week too, but earnings per share (EPS) will be the same as in the year-ago period, if analysts are correct. See also: Netflix Proposes Stock Split, Giant Boost In Authorized Shares

Bank of America

The first-quarter forecast from 37 Estimize estimates calls for earnings per share (EPS) of $0.30, compared to a net loss of $0.05 in the year-ago period. Also, revenues for the three months that ended in March are expected to have risen more than 5 percent to about $21.58 million. Wall Street's consensus EPS was $0.30 as well, but recently ticked down by a penny. Note that the company fell well short Wall Street EPS estimates in three of the past four quarters. Look for Bank of America to release its results Wednesday before the regular trading session begins.

Citigroup

Some 15 estimates from Estimize suggest a profit of $1.40 per share and revenue that totals $19.9 billion for the bank's first quarter when it reports Thursday morning. That would compare to $1.39 per-share earnings and revenue of $20.12 billion in the same period of last year. Citigroup also fell well short of analysts' EPS expectations in three of the past four quarters. Looking ahead, Wall Street sees sequentially lower numbers on the top and bottom lines for the current period, though EPS growth year-on-year will be strong, if the consensus forecast is accurate.

Goldman Sachs

When it shares its results first thing Thursday, this financial giant is expected to say its earnings for the most recent quarter came in at $4.21 a share, according to 40 Estimize estimates. That would be up from $4.01 per share in the year-ago quarter. Note that the Wall Street consensus EPS estimate is now $4.23. The Estimize forecast for Goldman also calls for revenue to be lower than a year ago to $9.16 billion for the first quarter. Wall Street analysts are calling for $9.30 billion in revenue, which would be essentially flat compared to a year ago, but for revenue to fall more than 5 percent in the current quarter.

J.P. Morgan

This money center bank will report $1.36 per share earnings for its first quarter, says 54 Estimize estimates. That would be up from $1.28 in the year-ago period. Note that Wall Street analysts are expecting $1.39 per share, but they overestimated EPS by 12 cents back in the fourth quarter. Revenue for the three months that ended in March will be around 2 percent higher than a year ago to $24.21 billion, says Estimize. So far, Wall Street sees sequential top line and bottom line growth for the current quarter. Look for J.P. Morgan's results before Tuesday's opening bell. See also: Why Is GE Selling Most Of GE Capital, And Why Now?

Wells Fargo

In its report early Tuesday, this San Francisco-based bank is expected to say that its EPS slipped five cents to $1.00, based on 40 Estimize estimates. Wall Street analysts are a bit more pessimistic, placing EPS at just $0.98 for the first quarter, unchanged in the past 60 days, and their estimates have been spot on in the past three quarters. The Estimize forecast has revenues up around 3 percent to $21.27 billion for the most recent quarter. Looking ahead, Wall Street analysts thus far expect sequential and year-over-year growth on both the top and bottom lines in the current quarter. Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following Benzinga on Twitter.