Earnings of others offer insight

Target isn’t scheduled to report its fourth-quarter financial results until Feb. 24, but a large number of consumer packaged goods companies are out this week with results that will offer insight into the consumer spending climate well in advance of when Target reveals its numbers.

On Monday, McDonald’s, Tyson Foods and Kimberly-Clark offered a mixed bag of results. McDonald’s produced a 5% same-store sales gain at its U.S. units, although total sales declined 3% to nearly $5.6 billion for the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2008. Profits increased to 87 cents a share from 73 cents a share, excluding prior-year, one-time benefits of 33 cents.

Tyson Foods did not fare as well, as the world’s largest producer of poultry, beef and pork reported a worse-than-expected loss of $112 million, or 30 cents a share, on revenues that increased slightly to $6.5 billion during the company’s first quarter ended Dec. 27. The losses were due primarily to higher feed costs in the company’s chicken business.

Meanwhile, Kimberly-Clark saw its sales decline 3.4% to $4.6 billion, and earnings of $1.01 for the quarter ended Dec. 31, fell short of the company’s guidance, as North American consumers reigned in spending on diapers and personal care products.

More color on the state of the U.S. consumer comes Jan. 27, when Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hershey and Delta Airlines report results. Hanesbrands and Starbucks are scheduled to report on Jan. 28, followed by 3M, Amazon.com, Colgate-Palmolive, Ford Motor Co. and Newell Rubbermaid on Jan. 29. Last up on Jan. 30 is Procter & Gamble.