Earnings Preview: United Parcel Service EPS, Revenue Expected to Rise from Previous Quarter

United Parcel Service UPS unveils its next round of earnings this Tuesday, July 26, 2011. Here is Benzinga's everything-that-matters guide for this Tuesday's second quarter earnings announcement.

Earnings and Revenue:

Analysts are looking ahead to a positive EPS reading of $1.04 per share and revenues of $13.13 billion. Whether the reported numbers beat or miss analysts' estimates, they will also be compared against last year's numbers for the same period, which were a profit of 84 cents per share on revenues of $12.2 billion. We'll have to wait for Tuesday to see if United Parcel Service reports a rise in EPS and revenue from the year-ago quarter, as analysts are expecting.

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

Quarter	Q1	Q4	Q3	Q2
EPS Estimate	$0.85	$1.05	$0.87	$0.77
EPS Actual	$0.88	$1.08	$0.93	$0.84

Stock Performance:

As of July 20, 2011, United Parcel Service's current share price was $73.52. Since January 1st, shares of United Parcel Service have given investors a return of 2.7%. For a full 12 months, the return has risen by 11.4%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are probably satisfied going into this earnings release.

• Long-term shareholders are already enjoying 12-month gains prior to the announcement

Average Stock Rating:

The average rating by analysts for United Parcel Service is a Moderate Buy. The strength of this rating has stayed consistent over the past three months.

Competitors:

Wondering how United Parcel Service compares to rivals in the same sector? Here are a few of the company's peers.

• FedEx (FDX): Moderate Buy with a $1.75 recent quarter EPS

United Parcel Service is in the transportation-air freight industry, which has experienced price/earnings growth of 1%.

Finally, a description of the company's main areas of operation: United Parcel Service offers services in the package and freight delivery industry. It operates through three segments: International Package, U.S. Domestic Package and Supply Chain and Freight.

Take Action:

That's your advanced look at United Parcel Service'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.

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