Lululemon Athletica

High-end yoga retailer lululemon athletica has been offering tote bags emblazoned with the phrase "Who is John Galt?" Apparently, the answer is: Someone yoga practitioners are ready to boycott. Seems Ayn Rand's selfish Objectivism doesn't mix well with lululemon's customer base.

The upscale retailer of fashionable fitness apparel came through with another monster quarter this morning. Net revenue soared 39% to $212.3 million, backed by strong consumer-direct sales, brisk expansion, and a stunning 20% spike in comparable-store sales. Earnings grew even faster, climbing 76% to $38.4 million.

There's never a dull moment on Wall Street -- now more than ever! From homebuilder earnings to yoga pants to Netflix's stock, here are a few items that will help shape the week ahead.

Athleta, a women's sportswear merchant that the Gap bought in 2008, opened its first two East Coast stores in New York this week. At a time when 200 Gap stores are closing, Athleta is sprinting toward its goal of 50 stores by 2013. But can it beat out its fast-growing competitors?

Yoga and fitness apparel specialist lululemon athletica has earned the awe of stock watchers and customers alike. While the general market has gained a respectable 5% in 2011, lululemon is up more than 70%. Looking five to 10 years down the road, this could become one of the world's great athletic brands.

Amid all the chain-store carnage, some smaller merchants are trying to attract shoppers with new concepts, from textbook rentals to made-to-order pants. And many are finding success in a bruising economic environment.

Shares in Lululemon Athletica rallied sharply Friday after the maker of yoga-inspired athletic apparel reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and raised its full-year outlook.