Monday
The holiday-shortened trading week kicks off with Nuance Communications (Nasdaq: NUAN), Focus Media (Nasdaq: FMCN), and Tyson Foods (NYSE: TSN) reporting.

Don't bother looking for a common theme here. Nuance specializes in speech-recognition solutions. Focus Media runs a fleet of billboards, elevator posters, and ad-supported monitors in China. Tyson Foods is poultry giant that probably wishes we'd be eating chicken on Thanksgiving.

Analysts expect Nuance to simply match last year's $0.32-per-share showing, but the pros see major bottom-line improvements at Focus Media and Tyson.

Tuesday
Hormel (NYSE: HRL) and Hillenbrand (NYSE: HI) check in on Tuesday. Hormel's been making Spam long before the name became synonymous with unwanted email. Hillenbrand's wares are probably even more unwelcome, since it's a leading maker of caskets and other funeral-related products.

Wednesday
Frontline (NYSE: FRO) sails in on Wednesday. The Bermuda-based oil-tanker specialist is expected to post a profit of $0.18 a share, reversing a loss during the same quarter a year earlier.

Thursday
All of the stateside exchanges are closed on Thursday for Thanksgiving. You probably won't notice, as you stuff yourself, watch football, and browse ad circulars for Friday morning doorbuster deals.

You can be grateful for all of that, I'm sure.

Friday
You shouldn't expect domestic companies to report earnings on an abridged trading day between a Thursday holiday and the weekend, so turn your attention overseas to Natuzzi (NYSE: NTZ). The Italian furniture maker reports as you raid the fridge for Thanksgiving leftovers.

Until next week, I remain,

Rick Munarriz