Analog Devices (ADI) Q2 Earnings: What Lies In Store?

Analog Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADI) is set to report second quarter fiscal 2016 results on May 18. Last quarter, the company posted a 5.66% positive earnings surprise.

Let’s see how things are shaping up for this announcement.

Factors at Play

Analog Devices delivered decent first quarter results, surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate for both the top line and the bottom line. However, the consumer segment was weak.

Though the company expects industrial, auto and communication market revenues to be up in mid-to-high single digits in the fiscal second quarter, it expects the consumer market to remain weak.

In 2015, the company successfully incorporated Hittite and expanded the available opportunities. It expects to deliver strong revenue synergies starting 2017.

The company is investing heavily in the health sector and working with several of the world's leading research institutions and system OEMs to improve performance, impact and affordability of medical electronics devices. Primary focus areas within this segment include care-imaging applications and clinical-grade vital signs monitoring.

While the investments are aimed at strengthening the product line and countering increasing competition, the policy of returning cash through dividends and share buybacks will ensure investor loyalty.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2016, management expects sequential revenue growth in the range of (2%) to 4%. On a non-GAAP basis, the company estimates gross margin of approximately 65.5% and earnings per share of 58–66 cents.

On a GAAP basis, the company estimates gross margin of 65.3% and earnings per share in a range of 52–60 cents.

Earnings Whispers

Our proven model does not conclusively show that Analog Devices will beat earnings this quarter. This is because a stock needs to have both a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) for this to happen. That is not the case here as you will see below.

Zacks ESP: Both the Most Accurate estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate stand at 62 cents. Hence, the difference is 0.00%.

Zacks Rank: Analog Devices’ Zacks Rank #3 when combined with a 0.00% ESP makes surprise prediction difficult.

We caution against stocks with a Zacks Rank #4 or 5 (Sell-rated stocks) going into the earnings announcement, especially when the company is seeing negative estimate revisions momentum.

Stocks to Consider

You could consider the following stocks with a positive Earnings ESP and a favorable Zacks Rank:

TiVo Inc. (NASDAQ:TIVO) , with an Earnings ESP of +25.00% and Zacks Rank #1

Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ:INTU) , with an Earnings ESP of +0.66% and Zacks Rank #2

Casey's General Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ:CASY) , with an Earnings ESP of +0.84% and a Zacks Rank #2

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