We go international next week, with results from China and Canada sprinkled in the earnings soup. Let's take a closer look.
Monday
Soup may be good food, but does it make for a good investment? Campbell Soup (NYSE:CPB), the company with more Ms in its flagship product's tagline than Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing, will kick off the new trading week with its fiscal third-quarter earnings. The last time we took a look at the food giant was back in November after the company posted numbers that seemed respectable on the surface -- sales were up by 10%, earnings were up by 9% -- yet not so hearty once you dug into the rather anemic 4% rise in operating profits.
The company is about more than just its namesake soups, though it does command a whopping 70% of the canned soup market. Campbell is also the name behind Pepperidge Farm treats, Pace salsas, and Godiva chocolates. It has a wide range of steady products, yet the stock is trading just about where it was five years ago. We'll see if Monday's report inspires the stock to make a more pronounced move in either direction.
Tuesday
We already know that the news will be good from Toro (NYSE:TTC) come Tuesday morning. Earlier this month, the maker of lawn maintenance equipment raised its April quarter guidance. While the company had originally expected to earn no more than $1.20 a share for the period, it pleased the market when it revealed that earnings would come in between $1.28 and $1.33 a share.
Toro makes lawn mowers, irrigation systems, and assorted turf care products. While you may know it as a consumer brand, just a third of Toro's sales come from the residential market. Yes, there's a lot of green out there in the professional world worth maintaining and Toro seems to have it covered nicely.
Wednesday
There are few markets as promising as online gaming in China. With the perfect upside mix of a populous nation hungry for diversions and an improving economy, it's not a coincidence that our Rule Breakers investing service has already singled out two of the most vibrant players in that booming field. On Wednesday, we'll see another fast-growing prospect come into play as The9 (NASDAQ:NCTY) reports earnings.
With the company's rollout of World of Warcraft in China generating a great deal of buzz given the franchise's popular run globally, The9 is one of the exciting -- and profitable -- companies making it happen in this explosive niche.
Thursday
Just a stroll down the supermarket aisle from Campbell Soup, H.J. Heinz (NYSE:HNZ) will follow with its own financials today. The company's meaty 3.1% dividend yield and attractive valuation inspired Mathew Emmert to recommend it to Income Investor newsletter subscribers this past summer.
Last time out, Heinz reported better than expected growth in profits from its continuing operations though it did have to write down its 17% stake in healthy eats specialist Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ:HAIN). Like Campbell Soup, Heinz is about much more than its signature ketchup -- it's the company behind Ore-Ida potato products and Weight Watchers frozen foods.
Friday
With the long Memorial Day weekend looming, most stateside companies will be packing it in early on the earnings front. However, if you're hungry for more quarterly financials, you can cross the border and tune in as the Royal Bank of Canada (NYSE:RY) reports. The company is Canada's largest financial institution and, no, you won't be getting a stamp in your passport if you buy into the company.
Want to learn more about the companies waiting to report earnings this week? Check out:
- M'm! M'm! Could Be Better
- Toro's Running of the Bulls
- China's Hungry for More
- Heinz Needs Tougher Teammates
- Canada: Post of the Day
Until next week I remain,
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz knows that you don't need a passport to invest internationally. He does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this story. The Fool has a disclosure policy. He is also part of the Rule Breakers newsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early.
