Dell will highlight a handful of tech company results this week. Also reporting earnings will be food giants Smucker and Campbell Soup, also Marriott and other members of the lodging and hospitality industry, and the first of a long string of results from retailers.
It should be pretty quiet on the economic calendar this week, with only a few national reports due out. But iconic companies Walt Disney, Coca-Cola and Hasbro, among others, are scheduled to report quarterly results.
Wall Street's consensus sees the S&P 500 tacking on an 11% gain over the next 12 months -- with lots of ups and downs along the way. That has us inclined to play defense, with an eye toward bargain stocks paying generous, sustainable dividends. Here are our top 11 picks for 2011.
Among today's top online stories for investors are the best dividend stocks for a tough environment, a deep value analysis of Dr Pepper, China's one-child policy, and a somewhat bullish take on yesterday's dismal housing news.