The Fool's Look Ahead

Monday
The abridged trading week kicks off with Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) hammering home its latest quarterly financials. If Home Depot's (NYSE: HD) disappointing report a few days ago is any indication, investors don't have a whole lot to look forward to when it comes to the country's second-largest home-improvement superstore chain. Analysts expect a small decline in profitability.

If you want more upbeat news, the market is looking to get that out of Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ). The company's transformation into a market darling continues. Revenues have been inching up slightly at HP, but the real head-turner is the thicker margins that result in healthier bottom-line gains. For the quarter, Wall Street expects earnings to climb 21% higher to hit $0.82 a share.

Tuesday
If you're in the mood for an organic Thanksgiving, I see that Whole Foods Market (Nasdaq: WFMI) is offering a dinner featuring naturally raised, roasted turkey for $99.99. That's pricey, but are shares of Whole Foods just as expensive? We'll find out on Tuesday, when the company reports. Now that the company has put its Rahodeb fiasco to rest and completed its Wild Oats acquisition, we can begin to assess what the company is actually worth. Tuesday's report will help us on that front, especially with a little insight when it comes to how the integration of Wild Oats is going.

Wednesday
Heading into the start of the holiday shopping season, we get a few retailers stepping up to the quarterly podium. Gap (NYSE: GPS) and Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF) will report. Like most specialty retailers, it will be more important to hear what the companies say about how the current holiday quarter is shaping up than how the previous quarter went.  

Thursday
Eat. Digest. Watch football. Be grateful. The market's closed. The same can't be said about my appetite.

Friday
Shoppers will flock to the mall, as some of the best deals of the year can be had in the wee hours. Even Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is committed to blowout door-buster specials this time around. Since opinions are mixed as to how the holiday shopping season will play itself out, Friday will set the tone. Be careful -- and patient -- out there.

Until next week, I remain,

Rick Munarriz