W.W. Grainger Earnings Preview: Analysts Expect Rising Revenue

Get ready for W.W. Grainger (NYSE: GWW) earnings! Don't be the last to know: The company announces its next round of earnings this Tuesday, July 19, 2011.

Want to skip the homework and get all the facts in one place? We thought so. Here is your everything-that-matters guide for this Tuesday's second quarter earnings announcement.

Let's Do the Numbers:

Wall Street expects a positive EPS reading of $2.11 per share and revenues of $1.98 billion. We'll know on Tuesday whether W.W. Grainger has managed the estimated 130% increase in EPS and 111% 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:

Stock Performance:

As of July 13, 2011, W.W. Grainger's current share price was $158.75. Since January 1st, shares of W.W. Grainger have given investors a return of 15.9%.

Average Stock Rating:

The average rating by analysts for W.W. Grainger is a Hold. Over the past three months this rating's strength has declined slightly.

Competitors:

Looking for a sympathy stock to trade or interested in the performance of other companies in the same sector? Take a look at some of W.W. Grainger's peers.

• Anixter International (NYSE: AXE): Moderate Buy with a $1.32 recent quarter EPS
• Fastenal Company (NASDAQ: FAST): Hold with a $0.32 recent quarter EPS

The industrial services company's industry has seen price/earnings growth of 0.7% during the current fiscal year.

Finally, a description of the main business areas of the company, in case you need a little refresher: W.W. Grainger is a distributor of facilities maintenance products and provides services and related information used by businesses and institutions throughout North America.

Take Action:

Now that you've gotten an advanced peak at W.W. Grainger's upcoming earnings numbers, keep an eye out for any surprises in the report and be ready to take action. Also, check back in with us after the announcement for a full recap and a guide to your next steps.

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