The Fool Looks Ahead

Monday
If investors see red as we kick off the new trading week, it may be signature red mailers from Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX). Now with more than 5 million subscribers to its DVD rental-by-mail service, earnings are expected to dip to $0.13 a share for the September quarter after a $0.20 per-share showing a year ago.

Don't get down on this popular Motley Fool Stock Advisor recommendation just for that, though. Netflix has beaten analyst estimates in eight consecutive quarters, and even the threat of video on demand seems further away than most think, given the lukewarm response to nascent services like Amazon.com's (NASDAQ:AMZN) Unbox. It won't be until Netflix's next quarterly report that it spells out its video-on-demand intentions (though I did sneak an unintentional peek during an unguarded moment last month), but you never know what kind of nuggets will fly during Monday afternoon's conference call.

Tuesday
Speaking of Unbox, Amazon will be reporting on Tuesday. Its actual financials may take a backseat to the company's comments on the upcoming holiday season and its initial impression when it comes to the Unbox rollout.

This doesn't mean that we can completely ignore the actual third-quarter numbers. However, the company has been consistently profitable since the summer of 2002. It's not as if the public is sitting on pins and needles to see whether this Motley Fool Stock Advisor selection will come undone. If there's any kind of surprise, it will come from new features like Unbox and the telltale weight of the key fourth-quarter showing.

Wednesday
What's brewing over at Anheuser-Busch (NYSE:BUD)? Wednesday will pour out that answer. The company behind Michelob and Budweiser (hence, the ticker) is also an Inside Value stock pick. The company has been a steady performer in the past. Investors have been spoiled by annual dividend hikes, too. You've got to love that ticker symbol, bud.

Thursday
OK, so now that the Windows Vista release appears to be on track, can we get started with analyzing Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT)? We'll have the ideal opportunity once the world's largest software company comes through with its quarterly report on Thursday. The Inside Value recommendation has been hitting fresh 52-week highs lately, but it's still trading well below its all-time peak.

Friday
Even though Fridays are usually quiet on the earnings front, that doesn't apply during earnings season. The Friday report that I'll be watching out for is Chevron (NYSE:CVX). Shareholders loved the gas and oil stocks when prices at the pump were out of control, but how's the company doing now that prices are coming back down? Tune in come Friday. It'll be a gas.

Until next week, I remain,

Rick Munarriz

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Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz recommends windshield wiper fluid when trying to look forward. He does own shares in Netflix. Rick is also part of the Rule Breakers newsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early. The Fool has a disclosure policy.