Seafare and software will lead the way in the week of earnings that lies ahead. Let's take a closer look.
MondayIf you like the idea of cruising toward great earnings reports -- and midnight dessert buffets don't offend you -- tune into Carnival's
That's something that Rule Breakers newsletter subscribers know all too well. Steiner Leisure
If you listen to Elvis Costello's "Alison" and you hear it as "Ellison," you're probably addicted to Oracle
Barely burping after Oracle swallowed PeopleSoft, Ellison has his company's sights set on a hostile takeover of Retek, especially if it can wrestle it away from rival SAP
Oh, Ellison, your aim is true.
WednesdayIs it fate that brings GameStop
Don't wait up for a stellar showing. If you look really hard, you may make out the Grinch in the background. That's because the company already warned that it had a problem keeping its hardware stocked at its stores. That's something that Dave Marino-Nachison was able to deduce by pointing out how inventory levels were falling at GameStop even as its store count was rising.
That's why it will be important to tune in to the company's conference call to make sure that GameStop's stores are well-stocked with Sony PSPs for Thursday's launch. Sony is shipping a million units, and while Gamestop wouldn't mind selling the higher-margin software titles, it doesn't help if folks are going elsewhere to buy the hardware.
Thursday
You may not be familiar with Darden Restaurants
Comps fell at its flagship Red Lobster chain back in January, but that wasn't as bad as it seems. It was the price the company had to pay for backing off its all-you-can-eat shrimp and crab promotions that were drawing in hungry diners but obliterating profit margins. The company's bean counters got to feeling a little crabby.
FridayGive your itchy trading finger a rest. The market will be closed in observance of Good Friday.
Want to learn more about the companies waiting to report earnings this week? Check out:
- Steiner Is Finer
- Oracle the Spoiler Again
- Sony's New Contender
- Digging Into Gamestop
- Red Lobster's Eating Disorder
Until next week, I remain,
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz hopes that corruptible companies don't take another Elvis Costello song to heart -- like "Pump It Up" or "Everyday I Write the Book." He does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this story.The Fool has a disclosure policy. He is also part of theRule Breakersnewsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early.