Earnings Preview: Pfizer

Pfizer (PFE) is expected to report Q1 earnings before market open Thursday, with a conference call scheduled Thursday, April 17, at 10:00 am ET.

Guidance

Analysts are looking for a profit of 66c on revenue of $12B. The consensus range is 59c to 72c for EPS, and revenue of $11.65B to $12.55B, according to First Call. Possible EPS drivers include increased international sales of Lyrica and Lipitor in conjunction with a weakened dollar. Other aids to the bottom line could include Pfizer's aggressive cost cutting and the company increasing wholesale prices by nearly 9% in 2007 on its best selling medicines. Possible negatives to EPS could include generic competition and weaker Lipitor prescriptions, which account for 25% of FY08 revenue.

Analyst View

In February, Goldman Sachs upgraded the U.S. major pharmaceuticals sector, with Pfizer being one of their top picks to Attractive.