The Fool's Look Ahead

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Next week is almost here. What's on the calendar?

Monday
The new trading week kicks off with Apollo Group (Nasdaq: APOL) heading to the front of the class. The online educator is expected to earn $1.12 a share for its fiscal third quarter, 32% ahead of last year's profits. Web-based postsecondary education providers continue to grow, as job-seekers try to earn degrees and brush up on new skills in a more affordable manner than simply enrolling in the local university.

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) also reports. This is the accounting giant's most important quarter -- the one blessed with the April 15 tax-filing deadline -- and Wall Street is projecting a profit of $2.05 a share for the period.

Tuesday
Companies reporting results Tuesday include Midwest REIT Investors Real Estate Trust (Nasdaq: IRET) and Quebec City's EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering (Nasdaq: EXFO).

EXFO specializes in test and service assurance solutions for the telecommunications industry. Analysts see the company posting a small loss, reversing a gain from the year-ago quarter.

Wednesday
Breakfast giant General Mills (NYSE: GIS) will be up nice and early for its Wednesday morning earnings report. It's one of the few companies that forecasters see delivering healthier financials. It earned $0.73 a share during the same quarter a year ago. Mr. Market's profit target for General Mills this time around is $0.80 a share.

Thursday
Methode Electronics (NYSE: MEI) should close out the holiday-shortened trading week with a quarterly loss. It happens. Methode posted a loss three months ago, too. Methode was profitable before then, but analysts see the red ink sticking around in the near term.

Friday
The markets will close Friday, in observation of Independence Day. Relax. Fire up the grill. Enjoy the fireworks displays on Saturday. It is summer, after all.

Until next week, I remain,

Rick Munarriz