How does INTT's earnings trend over 2024 suggest future performance?

Intest Corporation (INTT) demonstrates a challenging earnings trend in 2024, with several downward revisions and a general decline in expected earnings, suggesting a cautious outlook for the company's future performance. 1. **Q3 and Q4 2024 Earnings Forecasts**: Northland Capmk has lowered its Q3 2024 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for inTEST from $0.22 to $0.07. For Q4 2024, the estimate is $0.11 EPS. This indicates a significant decline in expected earnings compared to previous quarters. 2. **Q2 2024 Earnings Adjustment**: Similarly, Northland Capmk has reduced its Q2 2024 EPS estimates from $0.30 to $0.15. This adjustment reflects a decrease in expected earnings for this period as well. 3. **Q1 2024 Earnings Guidance**: inTEST provided EPS guidance of $0.10 for Q1 2024, which aligns with the consensus EPS estimate. However, this does not offset the downward trend observed in other quarters. 4. **Future Earnings Projections**: Looking ahead, Northland Capmk forecasts Q1 2025 EPS at $0.19, which is also below the previous quarter's estimate. This suggests that the expected earnings decline may continue into the first quarter of 2025. 5. **Consensus Estimate and Historical Performance**: The consensus EPS estimate for FY2024 is $0.76, which is lower than the previous year's earnings. This could indicate a challenging year for inTEST, with expectations of reduced profitability. 6. **Market Performance and Analyst Ratings**: The stock has received a "Hold" rating from multiple analysts, with a consensus price target of $13.00. This suggests a lack of strong confidence in inTEST's short-term performance, which could reflect the earnings trend. In conclusion, INTT's earnings trend over 2024 indicates a likely continuation of weakened performance in the near term, with a decline in earnings projected for the first quarter of 2025. The company's market capitalization, P/E ratio, and beta suggest a higher risk profile, which could be a consideration for investors looking for stability in their portfolios.