Earnings Watch For April 24 (MMM, CAT, VZ, AMZN, MSFT, SBUX)

(RTTNews) - 3M Co. (MMM) is scheduled to report its first quarter results before the markets open. The diversified technology company is expected to record earnings of $1.80 per share, higher than the $1.61 per share reported a last year, while quarterly revenues are anticipated to increase to $7.96 billion from $7.63 billion in the prior year. The shares closed Wednesday at $137.99. (52-wk H/L $140.43/$102.89)

Earth-moving equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) is due to report its first quarter results before the opening bell. The earnings of the company are expected to decline to $1.24 per share from the year-ago quarter's $1.31 per share. Further, the company is anticipated to report revenues of $13.14 billion, down from $13.21 billion in the prior-year quarter. The stock closed Wednesday at $103.38. (52-wk H/L $104.62/$80.86)

Software giant Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) will post its third quarter results after the markets close. The Redmond, Washington-based company's earnings are expected to be at $0.63 per share, a decline from the $0.72 per share reported last year, whereas revenues are anticipated to decrease to $20.39 billion from the prior year's $20.49 billion. MSFT closed Wednesday's regular trading at $39.69. (52-wk H/L $41.66/$30.60)

Coffee retailer Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) is slated to post its second-quarter results after the markets close. The Seattle, Washington-based company earnings are expected to grow to $0.56 per share from the prior year's $0.51 per share. Revenues are projected to climb to $3.95 billion from $3.56 billion a year earlier. The shares of Starbucks closed Wednesday's regular trading at $70.39. (52-wk H/L $82.50/$59.13)

Telecommunications giant Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) is expected to report first quarter results before the market opens. The earnings of the company are expected to rise to $0.87 per share from $0.68 per share reported a year ago. Quarterly revenues are anticipated at $30.70 billion, up from $29.42 billion reported a year earlier. The stock closed Wednesday's regular trading at $47.43. (52-wk H/L $54.31/$45.08)

Online retailer Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) is scheduled to report first quarter results. The earnings of the company are expected to increase to $0.23 per share from $0.18 per share reported a year ago. Also, the company is anticipated to generate revenues of $19.43 billion, higher than the $16.07 billion in the prior-year quarter. The company's shares closed Wednesday's session at $324.58. (52-wk H/L $408.06/$245.75)

Aetna (AET), Altria Group Inc. (MO), CMS Energy Corp. (CMS), Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc (CCE), D R Horton Inc. (DHI), Eli Lilly (LLY), Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold Inc (FCX), General Motors (GM), PulteGroup, Inc. (PHM), Quest Diagnostics (DGX), Raytheon Co (RTN), Sirius XM Radio Inc. (SIRI), Southwest Airlines Inc. (LUV), Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc (HOT), United Parcel Service (UPS), United Continental Holdings (UAL), Baidu Inc. (BIDU), KLA-Tencor Corp. (KLAC), Maxim Integrated Products Inc. (MXIM), NetGear Inc. (NTGR), Pandora Media (P)and Swift Transportation Co Inc (SWFT) are also scheduled to report their results.