It’s not a perfect world out there for investors, but things may be starting to get better.
Seeing just 88,000 nonfarm payrolls added in March was a disappointment, but there was a reason that there was chatter earlier in the week indicating that the Fed may be able to put an end to quantitative easing sooner rather than later.
I recently went over some of the companies that are expected to post lower quarterly profits when they report this week. Thankfully, they’re the exceptions and not the rule.
Let’s go over some publicly traded companies that are expected to stand tall this week by posting year-over-year improvement on the bottom line.
| Company | Latest-Quarter EPS (estimated) | Year-Ago Quarter EPS |
|---|---|---|
| Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST) | $0.37 | $0.34 |
| Titan Machinery Inc. (NASDAQ:TITN) | $0.92 | $0.84 |
| JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS) | ($0.80) | ($2.58) |
| Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY) | $1.68 | $1.48 |
| Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) | ($0.02) | ($0.18) |
Source: Thomson Reuters.
Clearing the table
Let’s start at the top with Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST). The maker of fasteners for the industrial and construction industries is expected to post a 9% increase in earnings when it reports on Wednesday.
Fastenal Company (NASDAQ:FAST) is generous enough to provide investors with monthly sales data. That was a flattering metric until recently, posting double-digit year-over-year growth for 29 consecutive quarters. That streak came to an end this past October, where growth has remained positive but is now growing in the single digits.
Titan Machinery Inc. (NASDAQ:TITN) is another company projected to post improving net income. The retailer of agricultural and construction equipment is now up to 106 stores throughout North America. It also has 13 stores scattered around Romania, Bulgaria, and now Serbia.
Wall Street sees bottom-line improvement at Titan Machinery Inc. (NASDAQ:TITN), but investors have a right to worry. Titan has come up short on the bottom line in two of its past three quarters.
Next up we have JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS). These aren’t the best of times for solar companies, and JinkoSolar Holding Co., Ltd. (NYSE:JKS) knows it. The distributor of photovoltaic products has posted losses in each of the five previous quarters. It used to be very profitable before that, but life can be pretty hard when cash-strapped European markets are holding off on solar subsidies and the solar boom in China is meandering. The good news here is that the pros see a much narrower deficit this time around.
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY) is the leading stand-alone retailer of home goods. From shower curtains to fitted bed sheets, the company sells a wide assortment of soft goods at its superstores. Homeowners and renters are feeling pretty good these days about improving things around the house, and that’s where Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ:BBBY) is there for the simple solutions.
Finally, we have Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) reporting. The drugstore chain surprised investors with a profit last time out, but you have to go all the way back to 2007 to find the last time that Rite Aid didn’t post a quarterly loss before that.
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD) announced mixed sales for the month of March last week. Pharmacy sales fell on a per-store basis, but the rest of the store posted positive growth. Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE:RAD)’s expected to post another quarterly loss on Thursday, but it should be a lot smaller than the prior year’s deficit.
Cross those fingers, but know the fundamentals
Investors in these five stocks have a right to be excited. They are all improving their financial situations. They are worthy of the gains that the market rally has bestowed upon them over the past year.
I wouldn’t be uncomfortable owning any of these companies. They’re doing the right thing, regardless of Mr. Market’s mood swings.
The expectations may be high, but these five stocks wouldn’t have it any other way.
The article 5 Reasons Not to Worry This Week originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Rick Munarriz.
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Bed Bath & Beyond.
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