Satellite radio and questionable pairings will play bit parts in the week of news that's waiting to happen.
Monday
Don't even think about checking your stock quotes on Labor Day. We're heading into a short trading week, so relax and try not to get your signature barbecue sauce all over your charcoal briquettes.
Tuesday
Unlike the high-flying duo of XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ:XMSR) and Sirius (NASDAQ:SIRI), last month's IPO of WorldSpace (NASDAQ:WRSP) hasn't exactly gotten off the ground. The stock is now trading in the teens, fetching less than its filing price. That's a shame, because WorldSpace seems that it would have so much to offer, given its established presence as a global satellite radio broadcaster.
Then again, that may be part of the problem. The company has yet to gain any kind of traction as a premium satellite service, and potential terrorist ties frightened away some growth stock investors. That's why Tuesday's earnings report is so important. It will be the company's first appearance at the quarterly podium as a public company, and a fruitful showing may spark the interest that its first few weeks of trading have not been able to generate.
Wednesday
Bringing the term "hot coffee mod" into our colorful lexicon may have been Take-Two Interactive's (NASDAQ:TTWO) claim to fame this summer, but it's not the first time that the software developer has been labeled naughty. The company behind the wildly successful Grand Theft Auto franchise has drawn the ire of many vigilant parents because of the graphically violent premise of its games. As you can imagine, that's just the kind of endorsement that defiant teens live for. That helps explain why Take-Two's wares have been brisk sellers in the lucrative video game industry. Wednesday's earnings report should shed some light on how the company sees the critical holiday shopping season playing itself out for Take-Two -- and the sector as a whole.
Thursday
Many investors are still wondering whether Sears did the right thing when it merged with Kmart to form Sears Holdings (NASDAQ:SHLD) back in March. It's not as if Sears was doing well at the time. It's just that the only reason investors were starting to warm up to Kmart again was the value of its real estate.
That's why investors may be cynical when it comes to Sears' report on Thursday. There is also the reality that one of the worst-performing sectors in August was retail. With gas prices soaring, the market is right to assume that disposable income isn't going to be as disposable as it once was. Retailers would be a logical casualty, and even discount department-store giant Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) has been stung, hitting a fresh three-year low.
Friday
Once a lumber dealer, Forest City Enterprises (NYSE:FCEA) is still reaping financial rewards from working the land. The difference is that, these days, the company doesn't break a sweat as a real estate developer. With the real estate sector's boom, Forest City has fared well in recent years. Its share price has tripled over the past three years, and the company issued a 2-for-1 stock split earlier this summer. Will its Friday report please investors? If not, don't forget to yell out "Timber!"
Want to learn more about the companies waiting to report earnings this week? Check out:
Until next week, I remain,
Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz is a Sirius subscriber, but he does not own shares in any of the companies mentioned in this story. T he Fool has a disclosure policy. He is also part of the Rule Breakers newsletter research team, seeking out tomorrow's ultimate growth stocks a day early.
