Next Week's Top Earnings on Deck (DNDN, JOE, COST, SPLS, BIG, KR, MRVL)

Next week looks like the wind-down of earnings season with the exception of the off-calendar quarter companies.  There are no DJIA components we saw on the calendar but there are several big stocks that can move their underlying sectors.  We are watching earning for Corporation (NASDAQ: DNDN), St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST), Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS), Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG), The Kroger Company (NYSE: KR), Marvell Technology Group, Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL). We have provided earnings estimates from Thomson Reuters, some general price and value data, and added color on each if applicable.

After the close on Tuesday we have Dendreon Corporation (NASDAQ: DNDN) and investors will be looking for its guidance more than its small numbers it has generated so far under a minimal production scale of Provenge.  The last 2011 guidance was promised to be very back-end loaded and that poses risks in case any delays come up for any reason at all.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of -$0.49 EPS and $24.68 million in revenues.  For the current quarter still ongoing, Thomson Reuters has estimates of -$0.59 EPS and $29.44 in revenues.  With shares around $33.50, its 52-week range is $25.78 to $57.67 and it closed out 2010 at $34.92.

St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE) is due after the close on Tuesday.  This will not be a market mover but the company is under fire from Bruce Berkowitz and there could be a huge shake-up down the road if the activists get their way.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of -$0.09 EPS and $24.3 million in revenues.  For the current quarter still ongoing, Thomson Reuters has estimates of -$0.06 EPS and $25.45 in revenues.  With shares around $27.60 , its 52-week range is $17.04 to $37.44 and it closed out 2010 at $21.85.

Wednesday morning we have Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST).  The bias should be for a positive report after seeing Target, Wal-Mart and others this last week.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.78 EPS and $20.52 billion in revenues.  For the current quarter still ongoing, Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.75 EPS and $19.37 in revenues.  With shares around $73.75, its 52-week range is $53.41 to $75.48 and it closed out 2010 at $72.01.

Also Wednesday morning is Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) in the office supplies retail space. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.40 EPS and $6.48 billion in revenues.  For the current quarter still ongoing, Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.33 EPS and $6.22 billion in revenues.  With shares around $20.85, its 52-week range is $17.45 to $26.00 and it closed out 2010 at $22.77.  Since shares are not close to a high and being down so far in 2010, the expectations may just be an “Easy Button” even if input costs are mentioned for pressuring margins ahead.

On Thursday morning will be Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) and this is no market mover but the company has itself reportedly up for sale.  M&A seekers will be watching closely here.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $1.38 EPS and $1.52 billion in revenues.  For the current quarter still ongoing, Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.71 EPS and $1.26 billion in revenues.  With shares around $40.25, its 52-week range is $27.82 to $42.27 and it closed out 2010 at $30.46.  If there is ANY doubt about a merger, there would seem that there is only one way for shares to go: South.  This one is up considerably and it is at a time when Dollar Stores are under margin pressure and that has to at some point bleed over to the clearance discounters which compete against dollar stores in the sub-Wal-Mart space.

Also on Thursday morning will be The Kroger Company (NYSE: KR).  Whether you want to talk about food stamps or talk about food inflation, all of the food producers have noted an inability to pass higher prices on to consumers.  If so, then Kroger won’t have avoided the same issues.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.44 EPS and $19.36 billion in revenues.  For the current quarter still ongoing, Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.64 EPS and $25.9 billion in revenues.  With shares around $22.95, its 52-week range is $19.08 to $24.14 and it closed out 2010 at $22.26.

After the close on Thursday we have Marvell Technology Group, Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL).  While being the last of the mobile chip winners, we’d look for secondary and tertiary moves possibly in NSM, QCOM, ARMH, and BRCM. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.42 EPS and $925.64 million in revenues.  For the current quarter still ongoing, Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.37 EPS and $891.94 million in revenues.  With shares around $18.85 after a 4% rise today, its 52-week range is $13.87 to $22.87 and it closed out 2010 at $18.55.  The expectations bias might have been more neutral if it was not for the big move back up Friday.

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JON C. OGG