What to Look For in United Technologies' Company Earnings

The following video is part of our "Motley Fool Conversations" series, in which industrials editor/analyst Isaac Pino and analyst Blake Bos discuss topics around the investing world.

In today's edition, Isaac and Blake discuss trends emerging from several manufacturing conglomerates, and how these developments could provide perspective on United Technologies' upcoming earnings announcement. While the macroeconomic picture is murky, Isaac believes that can be a red herring for the long-term investor. Instead, all eyes should be turned to management's comments on demand for aviation equipment and services, the company's plans to reduce exposure to the defense sector, and the ongoing integration of recent megaacquisition Goodrich. At the end of the day, these three issues will determine whether investors are rewarded with the steady dividend payouts they've become accustomed to from this Dow bellwether.

In a lot of ways, United Technologies closely resembles its Dow peer General Electric, which reported earnings last week. Both companies have a strong portfolio of brands, but our top industrials analyst believes GE might be the runaway winner over the next few decades. To find out why, download our premium report on GE. You'll find out everything you need to know about this industrial giant and receive ongoing updates throughout the year. To get started, click here now.