Bemis Company Inc. Third Quarter Earnings on Deck

S&P 500 (NYSE:SPY) component Bemis Company, Inc. (NYSE:BMS) will unveil its latest earnings on Wednesday, October 26, 2011. Bemis Company is a manufacturer of flexible packaging products and pressure-sensitive materials for customers worldwide.

Bemis Company, Inc. Earnings Preview Cheat Sheet

Wall St. Earnings Expectations: The average estimate of analysts is for net income of 58 cents per share, a rise of 1.8% from the company’s actual earnings for the same quarter a year ago. During the past three months, the average estimate has moved down from 63 cents. Between one and three months ago, the average estimate moved down. It has been unchanged at 58 cents during the last month. Analysts are projecting profit to rise by 0.9% versus last year to $2.10.

Past Earnings Performance: The company beat estimates last quarter after falling short in the prior two. In the second quarter, the company reported profit of 51 cents per share versus a mean estimate of net income of 50 cents per share. In the first quarter, the company missed estimates by 5 cents.

Wall St. Revenue Expectations: On average, analysts predict $1.37 billion in revenue this quarter, a rise of 6.2% from the year ago quarter. Analysts are forecasting total revenue of $5.34 billion for the year, a rise of 10.3% from last year’s revenue of $4.84 billion.

Analyst Ratings: Analysts seem relatively indifferent about Bemis Company with four of seven analysts surveyed maintaining a hold rating.

A Look Back: In the second quarter, profit fell 9% to $54.3 million (51 cents a share) from $59.6 million (54 cents a share) the year earlier, but exceeded analyst expectations. Revenue rose 7.9% to $1.37 billion from $1.27 billion.

Key Stats:

The decrease in profit in the second quarter broke a streak of three consecutive quarters of year-over-year profit increa! ses. Net income rose 66.4% in the first quarter, more than twofold in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year and 71.4% in the third quarter of the last fiscal year.

Revenue has risen the past four quarters. Revenue rose 29.6% in the first quarter from the year earlier, climbed 37.8% in the fourth quarter of the last fiscal year from the year-ago quarter and 44% in the third quarter of the last fiscal year.

Competitors to Watch: Sonoco Products Company (NYSE:SON), Sealed Air Corp. (NYSE:SEE), Rock-Tenn Company (NYSE:RKT), AptarGroup, Inc. (NYSE:ATR), Amcor Limited (AMCRY), and Can Tho Sadico Joint Stock Corp (NYSE:SDG).

Stock Price Performance: During September 22, 2011 to October 20, 2011, the stock price had risen $1.51 (5.2%) from $29.21 to $30.72. The stock price saw one of its best stretches over the last year between June 24, 2011 and July 1, 2011 when shares rose for six-straight days, rising 6.1% (+$1.93) over that span. It saw one of its worst periods between July 21, 2011 and August 2, 2011 when shares fell for nine-straight days, falling 9.2% (-$3.10) over that span. Shares are down $1.20 (-3.8%) year to date.