"Consumer Reports" Study a Warning Before iRobot Earnings?

The dream of never having to vacuum again feels all too real when you look at advertisements for iRobot's (NASDAQ: IRBT) Roomba floor-cleaning robot, but Consumer Reports has a bone to pick with these friendly looking floor cleaners.

Roomba 780: Courtesy of iRobot Corp.

The prestigious reviewer recently characterized the robotic vacuums as "expensive novelties." This is the last type of product review you'd like to hear as an investor in iRobot, and it comes on the back of competitor Neato Robotics winning several head-to-head robot vacuum reviews.

What's really interesting is the disagreement between consumer reviews and Consumer Reports. A quick look at Amazon.com or Bed Bath & Beyond shows the robotic vacuums performing admirably and collecting four- to five-star reviews across the board.

In the video below, Motley Fool analyst Blake Bos goes over these mixed signals, and tells investors what they should watch for before the company reports earnings after markets close on Tuesday.

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The article "Consumer Reports" Study a Warning Before iRobot Earnings? originally appeared on Fool.com.

Blake Bos has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Amazon.com, Bed Bath & Beyond, and iRobot. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com. 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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