Those who have been following the ongoing "revenue recession [5]" will hardly be surprised that in the trifecta of major corporate earnings releases hitting the tape after the close, there were precisely zero revenue beats. To wit:
- INTC: Revenue misses $12.81bn, Exp. $12.89 bn, cuts guidance.
- EBAY: Revenue misses $3.88bn, Exp. $3.89bn, sees earnings and revenue on lower end of guidance.
- IBM: Revenue misses $24.92 bn vs $25.34 bn; But since this is the largest component of the DJIA, leaving it there may lead to unpleasant consequences for tomorrow's Dow, the company had to inject a mega dose of hopium and boosted its forecast.
Since EPS is the most easily fudgable number in existence (just look at BAC's "non MTM" EPS today [6]), all companies beat on the bottom line. Without looking we will assume that at least 2 out of the 3 are trading higher after hours. And if not, all the three companies need to do to make the algos forget about the top-line non-growth reality is take a page from the YHOO book, hold a very "edgy" video conference call, and see their stocks up 10% tomorrow.
Of course, everyone will ignore that the relentless decline in revenues is merely a function of depressed CapEx spending, a tapped out consumer, a crash in EM demand, and major FX headwinds, and blame it all on the [hot|cold] weather.
In the meantime, look for FASB petitions to make EPS equal to revenues as quite soon companies will run out of above the line items to fudge.