Preview: Fidelity National Finl's Earnings

Fidelity National Finl FNF unveils its next round of earnings this Tuesday, August 03. Here is Benzinga's everything-that-matters guide for the earnings announcement.

What Are Earnings, Net Income, And Earnings Per Share?

Earnings and especially earnings per share (EPS) are useful measures of a company's profitability. Total earnings, which is also referred to as net income, equals total revenue minus total expenses. EPS equals to net income divided by the number of shares outstanding.

Earnings And Revenue

Analysts predict Fidelity National Finl will report earnings of $1.42 per share on revenue of $2.91 billion. Fidelity National Finl earnings in the same period a year ago was $1.09 per share. Quarterly sales came in at $2.42 billion.

What Are Analyst Estimates And Earnings Surprises, And Why Do They Matter?

Wall Street analysts who study this company will publish analyst estimates of revenue and EPS. The averages of all analyst EPS and revenue estimates are called the "consensus estimates"; these consensus estimates can have a significant effect on a company's performance during an earnings release. When a company posts earnings or revenue above or below a consensus estimate, it has posted an "earnings surprise", which can really move a stock depending on the difference between actual and estimated values.

If the company were to match the consensus estimate when it reports Tuesday, EPS would be up 30.28%. Sales would be up 20.25% from the same quarter last year. Here is how the company's reported EPS has compared to analyst estimates in the past:

Want Real-Time Earnings Calendar Updates?

Benzinga consistently updates its earnings calendars to stay up-to-date with the latest company earnings reports. Check out the full earnings calendar list updated in real-time by following this link.

Stock Performance

Shares of Fidelity National Finl were trading at $44.61 as of July 30. Over the last 52-week period, shares are up 37.59%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are probably satisfied going into this earnings release.

Do not be surprised to see the stock move on comments made during its conference call. Fidelity National Finl is scheduled to hold the call at 12:00:00 ET and can be accessed here.