Going into this afternoon’s earnings report, analysts had been expecting to see Alcoa post earnings of $0.22 per share, but were disappointed to see earnings come in under expectations at $0.15 per share.

Despite missing its earnings estimate, the company was able to post better than expected revenues for the quarter of $6.4 billion, above the $6.2 billion that analysts had been expecting to see.

Alcoa’s CEO, Klaus Kleinfeld, blamed the lower than expected earnings numbers on falling aluminum prices, and uncertainty in Europe, which resulted in a tough environment for the company. Despite the lower than expected earnings, the company did maintain its growth forecast for the remainder of the year.

Since Alcoa is the first major company to report earnings, and since it makes aluminum for a wide variety of industries, it is viewed as a bellwether stock, and investors tend to place a lot of importance on its earnings reports. Just because Alcoa disappointed this afternoon does not necessarily mean that the rest of the earnings season is going to be weak, but it definitely does not paint a pretty picture either. We will get a better idea of what to expect during the remainder of the earnings season later this week with JP Morgan and Google report their quarterly numbers.

The stock was up a little over 2% in today’s session, but has dropped 4.2% in after hours trading.

Going into last night’s first quarter earnings report, analysts had been expecting to see Alcoa report earnings of $0.27 per share, on revenues of $6.3 billion.

Alcoa kicked off the earnings season by posting better than expected earnings of $0.28 per share, but revenues disappointed at just $6 billion.

The company reaffirmed its view of global aluminum demand in 2011 of 12%.

The stock is trading down 4.3% in premarket trading.

• DuPont (DD) : DuPont is going to be reporting its first quarter numbers tomorrow. Analysts have forecast earnings of $1.06, verses $0.54 during the same period last year. The company will be announcing earnings before the market opens in the morning. The stock is trading down 0.9% today to $40.57.
• Xilinx (XLNX) : Xilinx is due to report fiscal fourth quarter numbers tomorrow, and analysts forecasts are for $0.45 per share. During the same period last year the company had earnings of $0.20 per share. The stock is trading down 1.4% today to $26.83. Earnings will be released after the market closes tomorrow.
• Sprint Nextel (S) : Sprint is expected to post a loss of $0.17 for its first quarter tomorrow before the market opens. During the same period last year the company had a loss of $0.21. The stock is trading down 0.8% today to $4.20.
• General Dynamics (GD) : General Dynamics will report its first quarter numbers tomorrow before the market opens, and Wall Street is expecting to see the company post $1.51 per share. During the same period last year the company had earnings of $1.54 per share. The stock is trading down 0.4% today to $78.33.

• McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) : McDonald’s is going to be reporting its first quarter numbers tomorrow with analysts forecasting $0.96 per share, verses $0.83 during the same period last year. The company will be reporting its Q1 numbers before the market opens in the morning.
• The Boeing Company (BA) : Boeing is due to report its Q1 results tomorrow, and Wall Street has forecast earnings of $0.64 per share, verse $0.87 during the same period last year. Boeing earnings will be released before the market opens tomorrow.
• Amgen (AMGN) : Amgen will be reporting first quarter numbers tomorrow after the market closes. Analysts have forecast earnings of $1.24 per share, verses $1.08 during the same period last year.
• Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) : Qualcomm is going to be reporting fiscal Q2 earnings tomorrow, and analysts are forecasting $0.57 per share. During the same period last year the company had earnings of $0.41, and will be reporting after the market closes Wednesday.

• Coca Cola (KO) : Coca Cola will be reporting first quarter numbers tomorrow, and analysts have forecast $0.74 per share. During the same period last year Coca Cola had earnings of $0.65.
• Apple Computer (AAPL) : Apple is going to report fiscal second quarter numbers tomorrow, and analysts have forecast earnings of $2.43 per share, compared with $1.33 it earned during the same period last year.
• Altera Corp (ALTR) : Altera is due to reporting Q1 numbers, with Wall Street forecasts calling for $0.40 per share. For the same period last year the company had earnings of $0.15.
• State Street (STT) : State Street is going to report Q1 earnings tomorrow. Analysts have forecast $0.75 per share, verse $1.04 during the same period last year.

you can find a complete listing of upcoming and historic earnings reports on earnings.com

• Google Inc. (GOOG) : Google will be reporting its first quarter numbers tomorrow after the market closes. Wall Street has forecast earnings of $6.57 per share. For the same period last year the company had earnings of $5.16. GOOG was up 0.38% on the day to $589.00. The company will report earnings after the market close.
• Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) : AMD will be releasing its first quarter results tomorrow, and analysts have forecast the company to report a loss of $0.07 per share. During the same period last year the company reported a loss of $0.66. The stock traded up 3.4% on the day to $9.89. The company will report earnings after the market close.
• Bank of America Corporation (BAC) : Bank of America will be reporting its first quarter results on Friday with analyst forecasting $0.09 a share. For the same period last year the company had earnings of $0.44. The company will be reporting before the market opens on Friday.
• General Electric (GE) : General Electric will be reporting its first quarter results on Friday. Wall Street analysts have forecast earnings of $0.16, compared with $0.26 during the same period last year. The company will be reporting before the market opens Friday.

Wal Mart will be reporting its fourth quarter numbers, with analysts expecting to see the retail giant post earnings of $1.12 per share. During the same period last year the company had earnings of $1.03 per share. The numbers will be coming out before the market opens in the morning.

Dell Computer is going to be reporting its fourth quarter numbers tomorrow afternoon following the market close. Analysts are forecasting the company to report earnings of 27 cents per share, slightly lower than the 29 cents a share that it reported during the same period last year. The company last reported earnings back on November 19 when it was unable to match analyst estimates.