Filed under: Company News, Coca-Cola Company, Starbucks, Facebook, Earnings
Monday -- Growing Lines at Chipotle
Earnings season continues this week with Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) reporting financials on Monday afternoon. Chipotle has bucked the trend of other eateries. It's been growing sales, earnings and comparable-store sales.
Plenty of chains stumbled during the holiday quarter, blaming snowstorms for keeping hungry patrons away. Chipotle grew. The following quarter saw many restaurant operators stumble on the shift of the Easter holiday. Chipotle grew. It won't be a surprise to see Chipotle growing nicely again on Monday.
Tuesday -- A Pop Star Goes Flat
Selling Coke and Sprite isn't as easy as it used to be. Coca-Cola (KO) reports on Tuesday, and the beverage giant's likely to deliver the flattest report of the week. Analysts see a profit of 63 cents a share, even with what it earned a year earlier. Revenue is supposed to clock in barely unchanged, inching 0.6 percent higher to $12.8 billion.
Sales of sugary soft drinks have been fading in popularity, but Coca-Cola's acquisitions in juices, water, energy drinks and coffee apparently haven't been enough to move the needle.
Wednesday -- Friends With Financial Benefits
Facebook (FB) should provide the fireworks that Coca-Cola lacked a day earlier when it steps up with its quarterly results on Wednesday. Analysts see revenue and earnings per share climbing 55 percent and 68 percent, respectively.
Facebook's growth has been fueled in part by its user and engagement growth, but mostly through its ability to better monetize its traffic. If analysts seem a bit ambitious in their targets, consider that Facebook has blown past Wall Street profit estimates with ease over the past year. It should be another strong report.
Thursday -- Cool Beans
Starbucks (SBUX) reports on Thursday, and just like Chipotle, the baron of baristas has been a star against languishing retail food outfits. It's expected to post double-digit percentage growth on both ends of the income statement.
Savvy menu additions and the growing allure of the Starbucks brands have combined to serve up caffeinated results. Just when you think that Starbucks has saturated the market it finds new places to open up, and it's just starting to scratch the surface in many promising overseas markets.
The news will be quiet on the earnings front, but it's a different world at the multiplex. Summer is blockbuster season for the movie industry, and while most of the year's biggest releases likely came out earlier in the season, there are still some potential epics on the way. Friday's big flick is "Hercules," and the live-action release from Viacom's (VIA) Pararmount Pictures division and MGM will also be out in 3-D and IMAX (IMAX) screens.
It's been a good summer for exhibitors. Let's see if the healthy box office receipts can keep coming.
Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Chipotle Mexican Grill, Coca-Cola, Facebook and Starbucks. The Motley Fool owns shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Facebook and Starbucks and has the following options: long January 2016 $37 calls on Coca-Cola and short January 2016 $37 puts on Coca-Cola. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days.
