Pop the Champagne -- Earnings Season Is Here

For investors, the seasons aren't marked by the changing leaves or first snowfall; earnings season is kicked off every three months by aluminum maker Alcoa . Today, after the closing bell, Alcoa opens first-quarter earnings season, and investors are approaching it with skepticism today. Stocks dropped in early trading, but as of 3:15 p.m. EDT the Dow JonesIndustrial Average is up a meager six points, while the S&P 500 has gained 0.29%.

Alcoa is always the first major company to report quarterly earnings, and it's viewed as a bellwether for the rest of the season. Analysts are expecting Alcoa to report $5.89 billion in revenue and an $0.08 per-share profit. An earnings beat would have investors in a good mood tomorrow, and a miss would have them singing the blues. Beyond the numbers, be on the lookout for management's comments about future demand, because investors are always looking for clues about what the next earnings season will look like.

Johnson & Johnson dropped 1.5% to lead the decliners today. The stock was downgraded by analysts at JPMorgan Chase -- though, ironically, they also increased their price target from $77 to $83. Analysts can have a short-term impact on stocks, but the market won't care about this rating for long, and I would pay more attention to Johnson & Johnson's earnings release next week than I would to this rating.

Coca-Cola jumped 1.7% today after Wells Fargo said energy drinks would help grow the beverage industry overall. Growth of the beverage industry is great, but Coca-Cola has had a hard time gaining significant market share, so it may miss out on some of that upside. Next week, Coke will release first-quarter earnings, so we'll learn more about beverage growth and what Coke is going to do about the energy craze.

Coca-Cola's wide moat has helped provide its shareholders with superior gains in the past, but the company faces some new threats to its continued market dominance. The Motley Fool recently compiled a premium research report containing everything you need to know about Coca-Cola. If you own or are considering buying shares in the company, you'll want to click here now and get started!

The article Pop the Champagne -- Earnings Season Is Here originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Travis Hoium has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Coca-Cola, Johnson & Johnson, and Wells Fargo. The Motley Fool owns shares of Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase & Co., and Wells Fargo. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

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