Four Companies Set to Report Q4 Earnings on January 7: Which Valuations Stand Out?

On January 7, 2026, investors will be watching four earnings releases before market open, each presenting a different valuation story. Albertsons Companies (ACI) leads the consumer sector with a notably compressed valuation at just 8.59x forward PE—significantly below the retail industry average of 23.80x. The grocery giant’s consensus EPS estimate sits at $0.63, down 7.35% year-over-year, yet the company has maintained an impressive track record of beating quarterly expectations throughout 2025, with its third quarter beating estimates by as much as 16.67%.

MSC Industrial Direct (MSM), the industrial distributor, presents a contrasting profile. Trading at 20.14x forward PE relative to a sector average of 64.50x, MSM appears relatively attractive within its industry peer group. Analysts project EPS of $0.95 for the November-ending quarter, reflecting a 10.47% increase from the prior year—a rare acceleration amid the group. MSM has also consistently exceeded analyst expectations, with the strongest beat of 5.83% recorded in Q3.

In the uniform services sector, Unifirst Corporation (UNF) trades at a 22.95% premium to its industry valuation (27.95x vs. 22.70x), suggesting the market prices in higher growth expectations. However, consensus EPS of $2.05 represents a 14.58% decline year-over-year, creating a divergence between valuation and near-term fundamentals. Like its peers, UNF has exceeded expectations consistently, with a 6.05% beat in Q3.

Apogee Enterprises (APOG), the glass products manufacturer, carries a marginally elevated valuation at 10.07x PE versus its 9.80x industry median. The company’s $1.03 consensus EPS forecast signals a 13.45% contraction, and notably, APOG stumbled in Q1 2025, missing estimates by 1.11%—breaking an otherwise positive earnings trend.

The divergence in these valuations and growth trajectories highlights how differently the market is pricing these four industrials and consumer names ahead of their January earnings reveals.