Watches of Switzerland 

Watches investors are looking for another robust update from the specialist retailer

A third quarter update (9 February) from Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) provides a window to see if the luxury watch retailer continued to trade positively over Christmas and New Year. On 14 December the Rolex-to-Breitling purveyor, which benefits from pricing power and longstanding brand partnerships and which has momentum in the US, reported a 31% jump in first half sales to £765 million. Watches of Switzerland also reiterated full year guidance citing ongoing ‘strong demand’ for high-end timepieces and jewellery, while CEO Brian Duffy highlighted an ‘encouraging ongoing improvement in airport business’. Luxury goods groups have hitherto proven immune from cost-of-living pressures given well-heeled customers have the means to splash the cash
on prestige products. These include Rolex and other collectable watches, which history suggests can appreciate in value.

AstraZeneca

UK market's largest firm has a recent record of outperforming

The UK’s largest listed company AstraZeneca (AZN) is due to report fourth quarter and full year results on 9 February and if the past is a good guide, it has a good chance of beating estimates.

According to Nasdaq.com the firm’s quarterly earnings have consistently come out ahead of analysts’ forecasts by around 10% over the past four quarters.

Analysts are looking for $0.71 of earnings per share, down from $0.84 per share reported a year ago.

Walt Disney

Returning CEO Bob Iger has plenty to prove

This a momentous year for Walt Disney (DIS:NYSE) as it turns 100 years old.

However, investors fear the firm is losing its appeal with audiences as households swap cable TV for streaming services and children swap cartoons for online gaming.

Analysts at US bank Wells Fargo expect chief executive Bob Iger to ‘come out swinging’ with a revamped strategy for Disney’s own streaming service, which remains loss-making, when the firm releases its first-quarter earnings on 8 February.

As well as reanimating the brand, Iger, who ran Disney from 2005 to 2020, has to fend off demands from Trian Management founder Nelson Peltz for a seat on the board of directors.

One thing the results are sure not to be is dull.

Take-Two Interactive Software 

Investors will be looking for signs that the gaming market has stabilised

Expectations for third quarter earnings on 6 February have come down dramatically at Grand Theft Auto game maker Take-Two Interactive Software (TTWO:NASDAQ).

In November 2022 the company downgraded full-year revenue guidance to the end of March by around 8% to between $5.4 billion and $5.5 billion as the post-pandemic video gaming hangover continues.

For the upcoming quarter analysts have penciled in a 3% drop in revenues to $1.46 billion while adjusted earnings per share are expected to fall 33% to $0.88.

UK UPDATES OVER THE NEXT 7 DAYS

FULL-YEAR RESULTS

7 February: BP, Kosmos

8 February: Hardide, Smurfit Kappa

HALF-YEAR RESULTS

7 February: Alumasc, Feedback, Genus, Mattioli Woods

8 February: Ashmore, Barratt Developments, CAP-XX

9 February: AstraZeneca, Redrow, Unilever

TRADING UPDATES

6 February: Darktrace

7 February: SSE, Syncona

8 February: Severn Trent

9 February: Bellway, Compass, Watches of Switzerland

US UPDATES OVER THE NEXT 7 DAYS

QUARTERLY RESULTS

3 February: Aon, Cigna, Regeneron Pharma

6 February: Activision Blizzard, Pinterest, Take-Two Interactive Software

7 February: Chipotle Mexican Grill, Gilead Sciences, Illumina, Vertex

8 February: CME, CVS Health, Uber, Walt Disney

9 February: AbbVie, PayPal, PepsiCo, Philip Morris International  

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