Jobs Report, Yellen, Results from Media Companies, Twitter, GM -- Week Ahead

   By Michael Calia 
 

It's a big week for media companies to report results, with Walt Disney Co. (DIS) and Time Warner (TWX) leading the way.

General Motors Co. (GM) is also scheduled to release results, while Twitter Inc. (TWTR) is expected to lead the week's slate of tech companies.

Markets will also have an eye on the macroeconomic front: Janet Yellen is set to be sworn in as the chairwoman of the Federal Reserve on Monday, and Friday brings the Labor Department's jobs report for January.

 
   Yellen at the Fed 

Ms. Yellen--the current Fed vice chairwoman, who is considered a "dove" on monetary policy--takes over as Fed chairwoman on Monday. Ben Bernanke, who has held the office for eight years, departs Friday.

 
   Jobs Data 

Markets will be keeping an eye on nonfarm payrolls data amid ongoing signs that the consumer continues to struggle. Economists expect the U.S. economy to have added 183,000 jobs in January, more than double than December's underwhelming figure.

 
   Media Companies in Focus 

Disney is looking to keep up the momentum in its fiscal first quarter, while observers will be looking for a bounceback from the company's cable networks, which were hurt by an affiliate-fee change related to ESPN. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters are expecting per-share earnings of 91 cents and revenue of $12.23 billion.

Time Warner, which is expected to spin off its magazine unit this year, may not get the boost from lower programming costs in its network division like it did in the third quarter. Analysts are looking for revenue to increase 3%, with per-share earnings at $1.15.

New York Times Co. (NYT), 21st Century Fox Inc. (FOXA), Gannett Co. (GCI) and News Corp (NWSA), the owner of the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, are also expected to report results.

 
   Twitter Leads Tech Results 

Twitter is expected to report its first quarterly earnings Wednesday since the social network went public in early November. Analysts are expecting a per-share loss of two cents on revenue of $218 million.

AOL Inc. (AOL) and LinkedIn Corp. (LNKD) are also expected to report results next week.

 
   General Motors 

GM is expected to report Thursday its first quarterly results since the company appointed Mary Barra as chief executive. In an interview with the Journal last week, Ms. Barra said the company has "momentum" as the car maker pushes to beef up margins and market share. Analysts are looking for earnings of 86 cents a share and a revenue increase of 4%.

 
  Other Notable Companies Expected to Report 

Yum Brands Inc. (YUM), Clorox Co. (CLX), Michael Kors Holdings Ltd. (KORS), Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR), Kellogg Co. (K), Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) and Post Holdings Inc. (POST) are all also expected to post earnings next week.

Write to Michael Calia at [e-mail]

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