Let’s just say that third-quarter earnings from IBM (IBM) and Google (GOOG) didn’t exactly get tech earnings season off on the right foot. IBM missed their revenue number by about $1 billion, and results from Google also came in well below expectations.

KEY EARNINGS AHEAD
Now, it’s up to up Facebook (FB), Apple (AAPL) and Amazon.com (AMZN) to save the day and lift the tech sector out its recent malaise. I’m trying to stay optimistic, but judging by recent price and volume trends in each stock, they may not be up to the task.

FACEBOOK NUMBERS
Facebook reports Tuesday after the close. Headed into Monday, the stock was 58% off its all-time high of $45. It’s still a high-multiple stock, however, selling at 66 times trailing earnings and 31 times forward earnings so it will be held to a high standard. Third-quarter profit is expected to be flat from a year ago at $0.11 a share. Sales are seen rising 29% to $1.23 billion; solid top-line growth, but if sales come in as expected, it would mark the fifth straight quarter of decelerating sales growth.

QUESTIONS ABOUT APPLE
While uncertainty is alive and well in Facebook, it’s also rampant in Apple as Wall Street frets about future growth. Is Apple the same company without Steve Jobs? Is the iPhone market starting to get saturated? How much will the iPod Mini cannibalize sales of the regular iPod? What will Apple’s next new product be and will it be a growth driver going forward? A lot of questions with no answers at this point.

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THURSDAY EARNINGS
Apple reports Thursday after the close. The consensus estimate calls for profit of $8.85 a share, up 26% from a year ago with sales up 28% to $36.2 billion.
Shares of Apple remain under distribution. It might look like it is on sale here, but I’m not interested in owning it now — not now when big investors are selling.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Finally, selling pressure has been building in Amazon.com ahead of its earnings report Thursday after the close. It tried to rally back above its 50-day SMA last week but was turned away. The consensus estimate calls for a loss of $0.08 a share, but sales are seen rising 28% to $13.9 billion.

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[Late last week saw rocky stock market action. Do you think a top is forming? Is it time to book some profits and build up cash? Let us know your thoughts.]