Northern Earnings Preview: Analysts Predict Higher Earnings Over Prior Quarter

Northern NTRS earnings are right around the corner! Don't be caught off-guard: The company unveils its next round of earnings this Wednesday, July 20, 2011.

Wondering what to expect from this Wednesday's announcement? Don't worry. Here's your essential guide to Northern's second quarter earnings report.

Let's Do the Numbers:

Wall Street expects a positive EPS reading of 69 cents per share and revenues of $950.7 million. We'll have to wait for Wednesday to see if Northern falls in line with analyst expectations and reports an estimated increase in both EPS and revenue from the year-ago quarter.

Here's how the company's reported EPS has stacked up against analyst estimates in the past:

Quarter	Q1	Q4	Q3	Q2
EPS Estimate	$0.65	$0.71	$0.71	$0.74
EPS Actual	$0.59	$0.59	$0.64	$0.78

Stock Performance:

As of July 14, 2011, Northern's current share price was $44.44. Since January 1st, shares of Northern have declined 18.9%. For a full 12 months, the return has declined by 6.5%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are probably a little upset going into this earnings release.

• Long-term shareholders are already wary of 12-month losses prior to the announcement

Average Stock Rating:

The average rating by analysts for Northern is a Hold. This rating has strengthened slightly over the past ninety days.

Competitors:

Looking for a sympathy stock to trade or interested in the performance of other companies in the same sector? Take a look at some of Northern's peers.

• Bank of New York Mellon BK: Moderate Buy with a $0.54 recent quarter EPS
• Bank Mutual BKMU: Hold with a $0.02 recent quarter EPS
• Capital One COF: Hold with a $2.04 recent quarter EPS

Finally, a description of the main business areas of the company, in case you need a little refresher: Northern is a financial holding company that provides investment management, asset and fund administration and banking solutions for corps, institutions and affluent individuals.

Take Action:

Now that you're fully prepared, get ready to take quick action if the company reports any numbers significantly different from those listed above. Also, check back in with us after the announcement for a full recap and what-to-do-next guide.

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