Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Whisper Number Impact: Earnings Preview For General Mills

General Mills (GIS) is expected to report earnings on Wednesday, June 26th. The whisper number is $0.52, one cent behind the analysts' estimate. Whispers range from a low of $0.47 to a high of $0.55. GIS has a 67% positive surprise history (having topped the whisper in 22 of the 33 earnings reports for which we have data).

Earnings history:

- Beat whisper: 24 qtrs
- Met whisper: 3 qtrs
- Missed whisper: 14 qtrs

Our primary focus is on post earnings price movement. Knowing how likely a stock's price will move following an earnings report can help you determine the best action to take (long or short). In other words, we look at what happens when the company beats or misses the whisper number expectation.

The table below indicates the average post earnings price movement within a one and thirty trading day timeframe:

(click to enlarge)

The strongest price movement of +0.8% comes within twenty trading days when the company reports earnings that beat the whisper number, and +0.5% within ten trading days when the company reports earnings that miss the whisper number. The overall average price move is positive (beat the whisper and see strength, miss and see strength) when the company reports earnings, but the moves are limited.

The table below indicates the most recent earnings reports and short-term price reaction:

(click to enlarge)

In the comparable quarter last year the company reported earnings in-line with the whisper number. Following that report the stock realized a 3.3% gain in five trading days. Last quarter the company reported earnings seven cents ahead of the whisper number. Following that report the stock realized a 9.2% gain in thirty trading days. Overall historical! data indicates the company to be (on average) a positive price reactor when the company reports earnings.

Enter your expectation and view more earnings information here, or let us know your expectation in the comments section below.

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Since 1998, WhisperNumber.com has been tracking and publishing "crowd sourced estimates" for earnings. We call these earnings expectations whisper numbers. Our whisper numbers are gained from individual investors and traders just like you that have registered with our site. While the whisper number itself is an important part of our analysis, a company's "price reaction" to beating or missing the whisper number expectation is the key. On average, companies that exceed the whisper are "rewarded," while companies that miss are "punished" following an earnings report. Trading on whispers is a technical play on market psychology, rather than a bet on a company's fundamental strengths.

Source: Whisper Number Impact: Earnings Preview For General Mills

Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. (More...)

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