The Fool's Look Ahead

Monday
The new trading week starts with a pop star -- Jones Soda (Nasdaq: JSDA  ) -- hoping to produce carbonated results. It won't be easy. The premium soda bottler has been more flat than fizzy lately, missing Wall Street's expectations in each of the past three quarters. However, I believe in the Rule Breakers recommendation, given its potential to grow in shelf space and venues, and last year's expansion into canned beverages. Even its 24c vitamin water is starting to make the rounds.

Tuesday
Take-Two Interactive (Nasdaq: TTWO  ) -- another Rule Breakers stock pick -- pulls up on Tuesday. The company behind the Grand Theft Auto and BioShock video games has been making waves lately after turning down a pair of buyout offers from Electronic Arts (Nasdaq: ERTS  ) .

So, sidestep the likely poor quarterly report. The two keys to the conference call are any kind of visibility on the buyout front and how next month's rollout of Grand Theft Auto IV is shaping up.

Wednesday
It will be retailers on parade come Wednesday. Several specialty shops will be chiming in with their quarterly financials. Hot Topic (Nasdaq: HOTT  ) is one that is looking to bounce back. The haven for Goths and alternative music fans has been roughed up in recent years, but analysts are looking for earnings to improve by 30% to $0.26 a share for the period.

Kid apparel chain Gymboree (Nasdaq: GYMB  ) has been back for a few years now, and Wall Street is looking for a 13% improvement on the bottom line.

Thursday
Autobytel.com (Nasdaq: ABTL  ) pulls over on Thursday. The provider of car buyer leads for auto showrooms has struggled lately. It has posted losses in six of its past seven quarters. The pros don't expect Thursday to be any different, looking for Autobytel to drive in with a $0.18-a-share loss.

Friday
It's time to wrap up the trading week with Ann Taylor (NYSE: ANN  ) at the register. Most apparel retailers live and die during the seasonally potent holiday quarter, but not Ann Taylor. Its specialty in classy workforce duds for ladies makes it profitable year-round. The holiday quarter isn't even its traditionally strongest quarter.

Until next week, I remain,

Rick Munarriz