Soup cans, stores, and stones will color in the week that lies ahead.
Monday
The trading week kicks off with Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB) delivering its quarterly results. Analysts see the food giant earning $0.51 a share, just ahead of the $0.48 a share it rang up a year ago.
Tuesday
Medtronic (NYSE: MDT) checks in for its quarterly physical. The maker of pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, and several other life-altering devices is expected to show slight improvement on the bottom line.
Wednesday
American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) and Dress Barn (Nasdaq: DBRN) are the headliners on a day loaded with retailer earnings reports. American Eagle and Dress Barn serve entirely different clients, but both chains are expected to post dramatic improvement in their year-over-year profitability.
Investors looking for a break from the mall shopping can check out Solarfun (Nasdaq: SOLF). The Chinese maker of photovoltaic cells is looking brighter, and not just because it's a reasonable play on solar energy. Wall Street is targeting net income of $0.19 a share for the company's latest quarter.
Thursday
Jewelers will be behind the display case as Tiffany (NYSE: TIF) and Signet (NYSE: SIG) report. The pros expect solid earnings growth from both high-end jewelers. Solid showings would confirm that consumers aren't as reluctant as they were a year ago to fork over money for big-ticket jewelry items.
Friday
The trading week usually ends quietly, and it's going to be eerily silent. With Memorial Day waiting on the other end of the holiday weekend, you can bet on traders heading out as early as possible. Companies avoid scheduling quarterly conference calls before long weekends.
Until next week, I remain,
