It's October, so which companies will be bringing the tricks and which ones will be bagging the treats? More earnings are on the way.
Monday
Economists tapping the snooze bar on their bedside alarm clocks will be up early to hear how factory orders stacked up in this country for the month of August. It's an important gauge given the fact that manufacturing demand is often an early indicator of consumer confidence in the economy. Unimpressed? You can always go back to sleep, but then your cereal bowl brimming with Data Krispies will get all soggy.
Tuesday
There are three ways to approach fast-food specialist Yum! Brands
The final way to approach Yum! Brands is from above. Things will look different from there as the company behind Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and KFC oversees a quick-service dining empire spanning 33,000 locations worldwide. Yes, that's more than units McDonald's
Wednesday
Better crops through science? Monsanto
Thursday
The monthly chain-store sales data will be released today, giving us a chance to reflect on the winners and the losers of the back-to-school shopping season. While the trend is likely to echo this summer's showings with specialty retailers like Aeropostaleflying high and others like Hot Topicturning up cold, there's a reason why we count those beans every month. Anything can happen in the fickle world of mall fashion.
On the earnings front, while I may never understand why folks need to buy Froot Loops by the barrel or pickled eggs by the truckload, buying in bulk is big business and Costco Wholesale
Friday
What is the world's most valuable company? No, it's no longer Microsoft
Until next week I remain,
Rick Aristotle Munarriz
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz thinks that Yum! is a dumb name for a fast-food giant, but then again, he also thinks that "finger lickin' good" isn't a very savory pitch to move fried chicken. He doesn't own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this article.