High Hopes For Ford, McDonald's and Procter & Gamble Earnings?

With investors and traders looking for any good news to signal that the retreating markets have found a bottom, there has been little to hang their hopes on in the fourth-quarter

reports thus far. Among the many companies set to share their latest quarterly results this week, some consumer favorites and sector leaders may offer a ray of hope. Wall Street analysts are looking for at least some year-over-year earnings growth from

,

and

. Below is a quick look at what is expected from these three reports, as well as a peek at some others.

In its report early Thursday, the big three automaker is expected to report that fourth-quarter earnings per share (EPS) came to $0.48, according to 84 Estimize respondents. That would be up from the $0.26 per share in the year-ago period. Note that Estimize overestimated EPS in the previous quarter. The Estimize consensus sees revenue totaling $35.97 billion for the quarter. That is more pessimistic than the more than 7 percent year-on-year rise to $36.32 billion predicted by Wall Street, which also sees full-year revenue up marginally to $139.16 billion, but EPS surging more than 31 percent to $1.69.

The Wall Street forecast calls for this fast-food giant to post fourth-quarter EPS of $1.23 (a dime higher than a year ago) and for revenue to have fallen more than 5 percent to $6.22 billion. Their full-year estimates are $4.88 per share (up marginally) on $25.29 billion (down almost 8 percent). The 94 Estimize respondents see things a little differently: EPS of $1.25 and revenue of $6.27 billion for the three months that ended in December. Note that EPS and revenue topped the Estimize forecasts in the past two periods. McDonald's will share its latest results before Monday's opening bell.

The consensus of 25 estimates from Estimize indicates that fiscal second-quarter results from this consumer staples giant will be $0.99 in EPS on revenue of $17.02 billion when it reports early Tuesday. That would compare to the $0.95 per share and $20.16 billion posted in the year-ago period. The Wall Street analysts are a bit more pessimistic, pegging earnings for the quarter at $0.98 per share (unchanged in the past 60 days) and revenue at $16.94 billion. Note that revenue has fallen short of Wall Street expectations in recent quarters, but EPS beat the forecast back in the third quarter.

Other consumer favorites that Wall Street analysts expect to show earnings growth this week include Altria, Apple, Electronic Arts, Hershey, Kimberly-Clark, Newell Rubbermaid, Stanley Black & Decker, Under Armour and Whirlpool. EPS at Microsoft will be the same as a year ago, if the consensus forecasts are correct. And earnings declines are predicted for Coach, Colgate-Palmolive, Fiat Chrysler, Harley-Davidson and Time Warner Cable. Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following

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