Earnings Expectations For The Week Of September 8: The Kroger Co., Lululemon Athletica Inc. And More

In another relatively quiet week on the earnings front, the most anticipated quarterly reports include those from The Kroger Co. KR, Palo Alto Networks Inc PANW and Restoration Hardware Holdings Inc RH.

Analysts are looking for earnings gains from those three, but earnings declines from Darden Restaurants, Inc. DRI and Lululemon Athletica Inc. LULU and a net loss from FuelCell Energy Inc FCEL.

Darden Restaurants

The fiscal first-quarter forecast for this operator of the Olive Garden and Capital Grille chains calls for earnings per share (EPS) to have fallen from $0.53 in the year-ago period to $0.32 in Friday morning's report. Revenues are expected to be more than 26 percent lower to $1.59 billion.

Note that 60 days ago, the consensus EPS estimate was $0.48, and that the company has not topped consensus EPS expectations in the past four quarters. So far, the consensus forecast for the current quarter has revenue down more than 24 percent, but EPS about 43 percent higher.

See also: Benzinga Weekly Preview: Apple To Reveal Highly Anticipated New Product Line

FuelCell Energy

The forecast for this maker of fuel cell power plants calls for a net loss of $0.03 per share and for revenue to come to $53.64 million for the most recent quarter. In the year-ago period, the company also posted a net loss of $0.03 per share and sales totaled $53.71 million.

Despite having a cult stock, FuelCell Energy has not exceeded analysts' expectations in the past four quarters. Still, the consensus estimate for the period that ended in July has not changed in the past 60 days. Look for the company to share its latest results Monday after the closing bell.

Kroger

Analysts expect the largest supermarket chain by revenue to say that it had a profit of $0.69 per share in its fiscal second quarter. That would be nine cents higher than in the year-ago period. Revenues are forecast to have risen from $22.72 billion a year ago to $24.92 billion for the period that ended in July.

The Cincinnati-based company topped EPS estimates in the previous period by less than four percent and by more than eight percent in the period before that. The consensus EPS estimate for the most recent quarter has remained steady over the past 60 days. Kroger is scheduled to report Thursday before the markets open.

Lululemon Athletica

When it shares its results early Thursday, this yoga-inspired apparel maker and retailer is expected to say its earnings for the most recent quarter decreased year over year by a dime to $0.29 per share. Analysts seem sure as individual estimates range only from $0.27 to $0.31 per share and the consensus estimate is unchanged from 60 days ago.

The consensus forecast also calls for fiscal second-quarter revenue of$376.77 million. That would be more than nine percent higher than a year ago. Analysts thus far are looking for about an 11 percent gain in revenue for the current quarter, as well as almost 12 percent for the full year.

Palo Alto Networks

In its report late Tuesday, this network security company is expected to report that its EPS grew from $0.06 in the year-ago quarter to $0.11 for the three months that ended in July. Note that analysts underestimated earnings in the previous three periods by a penny per share.

Revenues for the fiscal fourth quarter are predicted to have jumped by more than 43 percent to $161.25 million, relative to the same period of last year. So far the full-year forecast has revenue up more than 46 percent to $581.13 million and earnings almost double to $0.40 per share.

See also: Jim Cramer Likes Palo Alto Networks

Restoration Hardware

This specialty retailer is expected to report a profit of $0.64 per share in Wednesday afternoon's report. That would be a gain of more than 23 percent from the same period of last year. Note that analysts underestimated its EPS by more than 63 percent in the previous quarter.

The company also is expected to say that revenues gained about 14 percent from a year ago to $454.38 million for the fiscal second quarter. In addition, so far, growth of 21 percent or more is predicted for both the current quarter and for the full year.

And Others

Others expected to report earnings gains this week include Campbell Soup, HD Supply, Krispy Kreme, Men's Wearhouse and Ulta Beauty. Analysts are looking for a year-over-year earnings decline from Francesca's, as well as a narrower net loss from Barnes & Noble.

In the following week, keep a look out for results from FedEx, General Mills, Oracle, Rite Aid and others.

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