Earnings Preview: Citigroup Earnings Expected to Increase Over Last Quarter

It's time to get ready for Citigroup C earnings! Don't be caught off-guard: The company releases its next round of earnings this Friday, July 15, 2011. Wondering what to expect from Citigroup's latest earnings numbers? We thought so. Here's an advanced look at the company's second quarter earnings report. The Numbers: Wall Street expects a positive EPS reading of $0.97 and revenues of $19.94 billion. We'll have to wait for Friday to see if Citigroup 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:
Q1 EPS $1.00 vs. $0.90 Estimate
Q4 EPS $0.40 vs. $0.80 Estimate
Q3 EPS $0.80 vs. $0.50 Estimate
Q2 EPS $0.90 vs. $0.50 Estimate Stock Performance: Shares of Citigroup were trading at $39.79 as of July 11, 2011. Since January 1st, shares of Citigroup have declined 15.9%. For a full 12 months, the return has declined by 9.6%. Given that these returns are generally negative, long-term shareholders are probably a little upset going into this earnings release. Average Stock Rating: The average rating by analysts for Citigroup is a Moderate Buy. Competitors: Wondering how Citigroup compares to rivals in the same sector? Here are a few of the company's peers.

• Bank of America BAC: Hold with a $0.17 recent quarter EPS
• Goldman Sachs Group GS: Moderate Buy with a $1.56 recent quarter EPS

Citigroup is in the banks industry, which has experienced price/earnings growth of 0.1%. Finally, a description of the main business areas of the company, in case you need a little refresher: Citigroup Inc. is a financial services holding company which provides corps, governments, and consumers with a broad range of financial products and services. Take Action: That's your advanced look at Citigroup's upcoming earnings numbers -- be ready to take quick action if the company's report contains any surprises. Also, check back in with us after the announcement for a full recap and what-to-do-next guide.

• To see up-to-date news on Citigroup, click here
• To see other trading ideas, click here
• To see other company earnings recaps, click here