Earnings Preview: US Bancorp Earnings Expected to Stay Flat

Now's the time to start prepping for US Bancorp USB! Don't be caught off-guard: The company releases 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 US Bancorp's second quarter earnings report.

Let's Do the Numbers:

Ahead of the company's earnings announcement, analysts are expecting a positive EPS reading of 53 cents per share and revenues of $4.55 billion. We'll know on Wednesday whether US Bancorp has managed the estimated 144% increase in EPS and 101% rise in revenues on a year-over-year basis.

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

Quarter	Q1	Q4	Q3	Q2
EPS Estimate	$0.49	$0.46	$0.43	$0.39
EPS Actual	$0.52	$0.47	$0.45	$0.45

Stock Performance:

At last check, shares of US Bancorp were trading at $24.69. Shares are down 7.6% year to date. For a full 12 months, the return has risen by 11.1%. 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 US Bancorp is a Moderate Buy. The strength of this rating has stayed consistent over the past three months.

Competitors:

Want to check out the performance of US Bancorp closest competitors? Take a look at some of the company's peers in the financials sector.

• Bank of America BAC: Hold with a $0.17 recent quarter EPS
• Citigroup C: Moderate Buy with a $1.0 recent quarter EPS
• Goldman Sachs Group GS: Moderate Buy with a $1.56 recent quarter EPS

Finally, a description of the main business areas of the company, in case you need a little refresher: U.S. Bancorp is a financial holding company that provides financial services through its subsidiaries, including lending and depository services, cash management, foreign exchange and trust and investment management services.

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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