Earnings Preview: 7 blue-chip shares you need to watch this week

Earnings season heats up this week with a number of big name shares including Transurban Group (ASX:TCL) and Rio Tinto Limited (ASX:RIO).

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The February reporting season kicked-off last week with the likes of Tabcorp Holdings Limited (ASX: TAH), Credit Corp Group Limited (ASX: CCP) and Navitas Limited (ASX: NVT) all reporting their first-half results.

This week will see some of the biggest names on the ASX report their results including:

Tuesday:

Transurban Group (ASX: TCL)

The shares have been under pressure as a result of rising bond yields over the past few months but investors can still expect the toll-road operator to deliver another strong operating result. The market will be paying close attention to toll revenue growth, underlying passenger growth and capital management initiatives.

Wednesday:

Carsales.Com Ltd (ASX: CAR)

The company's core domestic operations have been under pressure recently and this has seen the company shift its focus further towards expansion offshore. While Carsales is still a dominant player in the classifieds market, I would want to see double-digit earnings growth before being a buyer at the current share price.

Rio Tinto Limited (ASX: RIO)

Rio Tinto will announce its full-year FY16 results on Wednesday and the market will be expecting a pretty strong result thanks to the recent surge in iron ore prices. According to CommSec, the market will be looking for full-year NPAT of US$4.7 billion and a final dividend of US$1.28.

Thursday:

Suncorp Group Ltd (ASX: SUN)

Suncorp has already warned the market that its natural hazard claims costs will exceed its allowance for the first-half by $40 million but analysts are still expecting the diversified financials company to announce a cash profit of around $600 million. The shares have enjoyed a pretty nice run since November so shareholders will be hoping the company can meet expectations.

AMP Ltd (ASX: AMP)

AMP has been one of the few blue-chip shares that regularly fails to meet market expectations. Although the market is probably not expecting to see any significant improvement in overall group profitability, there will be a focus on its insurance division and whether progress has been made in turning this business around.

AGL Energy Limited (ASX: AGL)

Shares of the energy giant have surged since September after the company upgraded its profit guidance and announced a $596 million share buy-back. The shares are currently trading at 52-week highs and this means AGL Energy cannot afford to miss market expectations

Friday:

REA Group Limited (ASX: REA)

REA Group could potentially disappoint the market with its first-half earnings result as subdued property listing volumes in Sydney and Melbourne start to take their toll. While there is a good chance the market leader could still deliver some earnings growth, investors shouldn't expect it to be anywhere near historical growth levels.

Motley Fool contributor Christopher Georges has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. 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. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Bruce Jackson.

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