There's never a dull week on Wall Street. Let's go over some of the news that will shape the week to come.
Monday
Herbalife (HLF 2.83%) has been busy this past week. The stock took a hit when Bill Ackman promised to expose the distribution of nutritional products as a pyramid scheme. He has been vocally short the stock since late 2012. However, Herbalife shares soared the day after Ackman's presentation didn't offer up the smoking gun that some were expecting.
Herbalife reports quarterly results on Monday, giving it the perfect opportunity to counter Ackman's latest allegations.
Tuesday
Sirius XM Radio (SIRI 1.29%) has a monopoly on satellite radio, but a growing number of connected cars and tech giants snapping up streaming applications are making things interesting. Sirius XM's still growing at a reasonable clip in this climate, and improving margins are giving it greater flexibility to return money to its shareholders in the form of stock buybacks. Sirius XM's board has authorized $6 billion in repurchases over the past two years.
Sirius XM reports on Tuesday morning. The market's hoping that it will revise some aspects of its guidance higher, as it has done through many quarters over the past few years.
Wednesday
SodaStream (SODA) finally showed signs of life on Thursday on takeover speculation. Bloomberg News reported that the company whose beverage maker that turns still water into flavored soft drinks is in talks with a private-equity firm to get taken out at $40 a share. That would be a level a little more than half of last year's highs, but SodaStream has been hit with operational hiccups in recent quarters.
We'll get a fresh snapshot on SodaStream come Wednesday. Analysts see another period of margin contraction on slowing top-line growth. The world's two soda giants, PepsiCo and Coca-Cola, have posted flat growth in carbonated beverages, but SodaStream should continue to grow its global reach despite the challenges as we work our way down the profit-slurping income statement.
Thursday
One of last year's hottest industries, 3-D printing, has been one of this year's biggest laggards. The potential of 3-D printing is evident, but expensive machines and slow printing have limited its actual use. 3D Systems (DDD -1.97%) reports on Thursday, and as one of the industry's two biggest players, it will give us a good read on the demand for 3-D products.
Friday
The last day of the trading week is typically a quiet one, but that's not the case during earnings season. Several companies will be reporting on Friday morning, including Catamaran (CTRX.DL). Pharmacy benefits management has proved to be a steady niche for investors, despite the ups and downs of health-care reform.
