There’s a variety of earnings reports coming out the next couple of days that might give some insight into how different
segments of the economy are performing. Investors will be looking at results after the session ends today from semiconductor giant
Intel Corporation (NASDAQ: INTC) and online
sales site eBay Inc. (NASDAQ: EBAY), and
then auto manufacturer General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) before the bell on Thursday.
INTC Inside the Cloud
INTC broke news ahead of Q1 that it was moving into a restructuring that would step up its evolution from a PC company to
cloud-based powerhouse. The company is refocusing on the billions of connected, smart devices and the Internet of Things. INTC said
it expected to take a one-time restructuring charge of $1.2 billion in Q2.
Analysts say they want to know what the next chapter in the restructuring might look like and how well INTC’s efforts to stem
the declines in PC sales through innovation in other segments like gaming and set-top boxes. Recently, INTC unveiled its Core i7
processor Extreme Edition, what analysts called its “most powerful desktop processor ever, designed for the needs of today’s
mega-tasking gamers and content creators.”
Analysts reporting to Thomson Reuters are forecasting a per-share profit of $0.53, off $0.02 from the year-ago period. Revenues
are projected to edge up to $13.5 billion from $13.2 billion.
Short-term options traders have priced in a potential 3% share price move in either direction around the earnings release,
according to the Market Maker Move™ indicator on the thinkorswim® platform by TD Ameritrade.
Ahead of earnings, options traders were active in the 35- and 34-strike puts and 35-strike calls. The implied volatility is at
the 17th percentile. (Please remember past performance is no guarantee of future results.)
Note: Call options represent the right, but not the obligation, to buy the underlying security at a predetermined price over
a set period of time. Put options represent the right, but not the obligation, to sell the underlying security at a predetermined
price over a set period of time.
EBAY to Watch Consumers Buy
EBAY, still stretching after its split from PayPal Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL), is on track to deliver results that are half of what they were a year ago
when PYPL was contributing to top and bottom lines. At the same time, analysts point out the company is facing growing competition
in the online sales space and is looking to grab a spot in the online marketplace rather than as an auction site of second-hand
goods.
It’s struggled with sales results, as reported by Channel Advisor. In the three-month period ending this month, analysts are
projecting a decline in sales at a time when ecommerce sales at rivals are growing.
Analysts also say they are looking for more information on the recently acquired SalesPredict, the Israel-based analytics
company. SalesPredict uses technology to decipher consumer buying behavior and sales conversions, a tool EBAY says it can use to
step up sales and better compete against ecommerce rivals Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOGL).
For the quarter, Thomson Reuters analysts are forecasting a per-share profit of $0.42 a share, a 44% drop below the year-ago
profit of $0.76 a share. Revenues are forecast to tumble 50% to $2.174 billion from $4.4 billion a year ago.
Short-term options traders have priced in a potential share-price move of 6% in either direction around the earnings release,
according to the Market Maker Move indicator.
EBAY options are typically not the most active, but there was som
e trading at the 26.5-strike puts and the 27-strike calls. The implied volatility is at the 39th percentile, notably higher than
what we’ve seen in some other technology stocks this earnings season.
GM Slips into Cruise Control
Investors and analysts are eager to learn of GM’s operating results, particularly its China ventures, which account for about
50% of total sales. Analysts say China is back on track and Europe is showing signs of recovery.
But a Motley Fool analyst says investors may be more drawn to news about GM’s March announcement that it bought Cruise, a small
startup that’s got self-driving technology that could power GM into the self-driving auto business.
“It's believed that Cruise's technology will allow GM to make a significant leap in its ongoing development of self-driving
technology, possibly allowing it to take a lead over much of the industry,” according to the Motley Fool.
“GM's purchase of Cruise was completed in May, and the company wasted no time getting to work: Self-driving versions of GM"s
upcoming electric car, the Chevrolet Bolt, have been spotted on San Francisco streets, and at least one with Cruise co-founder Kyle
Vogt in the driver's seat.”
Analysts reporting to Thomson Reuters are forecasting a per-share profit of $1.29, up from $1.08 in the year ago period.
Revenues are projected to edge up to $38.6 billion from $38.2 billion last year.
Short-term options traders have priced in a potential 3% share price move in either direction around the earnings release,
according to the Market Maker Move indicator.
Ahead of earnings, options traders were active at the 32- and 31-strike puts and there was activity at the 31-strike calls. The
implied volatility is at the 7th percentile.
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