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Week in Preview: FOMC Meeting, Retail Earnings

At the upcoming Federal Open Markets Committee meeting, some quantitative easing may be on the table, given slowing economic. Plus, what to expect for the earnings of retailers like Nordstrom and Macy's.

Northrop Grumman Earnings Preview: Impact of Budget Cuts

Northrop Grumman depends on government contracts for more than 90% of revenue, making talk of cutting the budget deficit a prickly subject. Here's how the defense contractor plans to stay in the game and how it will affect earnings.

Earnings Preview: High Hopes for Southwest, Chevron, Avon

The earnings crunch rolls on this coming week, and analysts are looking for strong quarterly results, especially from Avon, Broadcom, Chevron and Southwest Airlines. Motorola, Weyerhaueser and Sunoco are expected to revert to profit from losses in the same quarter last year.

Ford Earnings Preview: Sales and Profits Hit the Gas

Ford Motor is set to deliver strong earnings when it reports second-quarter results Friday. After disastrously low sales in 2009, the auto industry as a whole has been in recovery mode this year -- and Ford has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the revival.

Microsoft Earnings: Solid Growth on Tech Refresh

Microsoft is expected to report revenue Thursday of $15.3 billion on $61.7 billion in sales for the last year. Microsoft shares remain priced at about $25 per share, where they've hovered for the last three years, compared with Apple shares which have increased by over 60% over the last year.

PepsiCo Earnings Preview: Soda, Snack Icon Keeps Growing

PepsiCo will announce its second-quarter numbers on Tuesday, and analysts expect earnings per share of $1.07 to $1.10, up from $1.02 a year earlier. If they're right, it will mark a continuation of the company's stable period of success. But PepsiCo's management is thinking bigger.

Harley's Earnings Estimates Are All Over the Map

Analysts forecasts range from 26 cents per share to 56 cents. However, if the actual figure is anywhere within that range, it will be a marked improvement over last year's earnings of 8 cents per share in the same quarter.

The Earnings Season Crunch Is On

For better or worse, earnings season hits high gear this week. Here's a quick rundown of what analysts are expecting to see, as well as a closer look at three of the biggest anticipated earnings gainers: American Express, Texas Instruments and Apple.

Intel Is Poised to Set the Pace for Tech Earnings

Investors are looking for a strong showing from the bellwether chipmaker, which would offer further evidence that U.S. companies -- and tech firms in particular -- are continuing to emerge from the recession. Analysts expect Intel to come through.

Oil Company Earnings Preview: A Gusher of Profits

The fact that British oil giant BP's profits soared 135% in the first quarter bodes well for the slate of oil companies announcing earnings this week. Thanks to the steady rise in the price of oil over the past year, results from the oil majors should not disappoint.

Citi Earnings Preview: Bank Expected to Break Even

Citigroup's stock is up 40% in 2010, and up several-fold from its lows of early last year. So is the bank doing that much better? The world will get a glimpse on Monday, when the global bank will report its quarterly earnings. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect Citi to break even.

BofA Earnings Preview: All Eyes Are on Merrill

Analysts' expectations are modest: EPS of 9 cents, down from 44 cents in the year-ago period. But with rival JPMorgan Chase's profits buoyed by strong fixed-income trading, the pressure is on BofA's Merrill unit to deliver a robust performance.

Activision Blizzard Shoots Past Its Earnings Targets

Activision Blizzard posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results thanks to strong holiday sales of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 -- last year's best-selling video-game title. The company also initiated a dividend and announced a $1 billion share repurchase program.

Electronic Arts' Game Sales Lack Positive Motion

Although Electronic Arts' fundamentals look solid, analysts have not been upbeat about the games giant's upcoming results, citing a "low pick-up" in video game sales. At the end of November, total video games sales were $14.1 billion, down 12% from the same time a year ago.

Preview: AT&T to Ring Up Higher Profit

Venerable AT&T reports earnings Thursday before the market opens, and even though an in-line report is expected, iPhone-brandishing AT&T is more than ready for the new, mobile-connectivity age.

A Buzz-Filled Week for Apple

Here comes plenty of forward-looking Apple adoration that's likely to include the launch of its new tablet computer. But the week begins with a less thrilling but substantive look back: The company is set to report its numbers for the last quarter later on Monday.

Earnings Preview: Southwest and Continental

Southwest and Continental report quarterly earnings Thursday with investors keen to hear if the outfits will be adding back some capacity in 2010, an indication that the worst of the industry's downturn may be behind it.

Can AMD Keep Up the Positive Momentum?

On Thursday, chip-maker Advanced Micro Devices will step into the earnings spotlight. Analysts' expectations call for a loss of 15 cents per share, compared a loss of 69 cents per share a year ago. But even if AMD beats expectations, a sell-off may be in the cards.

Will JP Morgan Fall Short?

After posting three straight banner quarters, JP Morgan Chase is feeling the pressure to end the year on a rising note. But after what may have been a slower fourth quarter, some Wall Street analysts have dialed down their earnings expectations for the bank.

Intel Could Revive Earnings Season

The world's No. 1 chip maker will release its fourth-quarter earnings in a new format on Thursday, better to show Wall Street how it restructured to remain competitive during the recession.