US Airways Group Inc. Fourth Quarter Earnings Sneak Peek

US Airways Group, Inc. (NYSE:LCC) will unveil its latest earnings on Wednesday, January 25, 2012. US Airways Group is a holding company that operates a major network air carrier through its wholly owned subsidiaries US Airways, Piedmont, PSA, MSC, and Airways Assurance Limited.
US Airways Group, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet.
Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for a loss of 2 cents per share, a swing from profit of 17 cents in the year earlier quarter. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved up from a loss of 30 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved up. It has risen from a loss of 21 cents during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 76.1% versus last year to 56 cents.
Past Earnings Performance: The company topped estimates last quarter after missing forecasts the quarter prior. In the third quarter, it reported net income of 50 cents per share against a mean estimate of profit of 47 cents per share. In the second quarter, it missed forecasts by 3 cents.
Wall St. Revenue Expectations: On average, analysts predict $3.14 billion in revenue this quarter, a rise of 7.9% from the year ago quarter. Analysts are forecasting total revenue of $13.04 billion for the year, a rise of 9.5% from last year’s revenue of $11.91 billion.
Analyst Ratings: Analysts are bullish on this stock with seven analysts rating it as a buy, none rating it as a sell and three rating it as a hold.
A Look Back: In the third quarter, profit fell 68.3% to $76 million (41 cents a share) from $240 million ($1.22 a share) the year earlier, but exceeded analyst expectations. Revenue rose 8.1% to $3.44 billion from $3.18 billion.
Key Stats:
Revenue has risen the past four quarters. Revenue rose 10.5% in the second quarter from the year earlier, climbed 11.7% in the ! first qu arter from the year-ago quarter and 10.7% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year.
Competitors to Watch: Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL), AMR Corporation (NYSE:AMR), Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE:LUV), JetBlue Airways Corp. (NASDAQ:JBLU), Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK), United Continental Hldgs., Inc. (NYSE:UAL), Republic Airways Hldgs. Inc. (NASDAQ:RJET), AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:AAI), Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:HA), and Pinnacle Airlines Corp. (NASDAQ:PNCL).
Stock Price Performance: During November 18, 2011 to January 19, 2012, the stock price had risen $1.84 (41.6%) from $4.42 to $6.26. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between November 23, 2011 and December 1, 2011 when shares rose for six-straight days, rising 23.5% (+94 cents) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between July 7, 2011 and July 20, 2011 when shares fell for 10-straight days, falling 17.8% (-$1.49) over that span.