The Fool's Look Ahead

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Monday
We start off with DST Systems (NYSE: DST) checking in. Analysts expect the provider of information processing and software for the mutual fund and health-care industries to post a 10% gain in fourth-quarter profits. The company hasn't topped income expectations since the first quarter, so keep your optimism in check.

Tuesday
If it's Tuesday, it must be Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL). Get over the lack of Macworld fireworks: Apple has done nothing but trounce Wall Street estimates over the past five years. Until it's proven mortal, you can expect Apple to once again humble the pros, because it was probably responsible for the sale of a ton of Macs, iPods, iPhones, and mock black turtlenecks. 

Wednesday
You know that you're in the middle of a big earnings week when you find both eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY) and Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX) reporting on the same day. Will eBay finally see a gain in year-over-year auction listings? Will Netflix continue to tack on subscribers at the expense of retreating rivals?

Thursday
Discount broker E*Trade (Nasdaq: ETFC) reports on this day, after its peers posted healthy quarterly results this past week. Even if E*Trade has lost some retail brokerage accounts from worried clients who fear that mortgage-related asset fire sales will affect the retail brokerage side, those who have stuck it out are probably trading more. We certainly saw that at the other leading discounters like TD AMERITRADE (Nasdaq: AMTD), so that should be a silver lining to what has otherwise been a very ugly year for E*Trade.

Friday
Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) pulls up, no doubt hoping to give motorcycle fans a good ride. It's hasn't been much of a ride lately, though. Harley's stock has shed nearly half its value over the past year. Can you believe that a rebel like Harley is trading at just 10 times earnings? That's certainly a more attractive price than some of its high-end rides.

Until next week, I remain,

Rick Munarriz

For more Foolish looks ahead:

• The Best Stocks for 2008
• The Worst Stocks for 2008
• The 10 Best Stocks You Might Actually Buy