Earnings Preview: XOM, CVX, NOV, MRK, TSN, MAT, BEAM

Friday is another big day in the earnings calendar, especially for the oil and gas industry. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), now the most valuable company in the world, will report its earnings for the last three months of 2012 alongside Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX). National-Oilwell Varco, Inc. (NYSE:NOV), a related company will also report.

Outside of the oil industry, a spirits company BEAM Inc. (NYSE:BEAM), a toy company Mattel Inc. (NASDAQ:MAT), a food producer Tyson Foods Inc. (NYSE:TSN) and a pharmaceuticals company Merck & Co. Inc. (NYSE:MRK) will also report.

The reports will...