This Week's Top Earnings on Deck (AZO, TECD, DNDN, JOE, COST, SPLS, GPRE, BIG, KR, MRVL, SLW)

Earnings season may be winding down but there are still sector-moving companies due to report earnings this week.  We will be watching earnings for AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO), Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ: TECD), Dendreon 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), and Silver Wheaton Corp. (NYSE: SLW).

By time and date, we have included earnings estimates from Thomson Reuters, added in color on each, and have shown some general price and value data if applicable.

AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) reports Tuesday morning and Thomson Reuters has estimates for the auto-parts supplier of $3.05 EPS and $1.63 billion in revenue; estimates for the current quarter are $4.85 EPS and $1.91 billion in revenues.  With shares trading around $256.00, the 52-week trading range is $162.57 to $276.00.

Tech Data Corporation (NASDAQ: TECD) will offer some keen insight on the warehousing of and the delivery trends of the world’s technology purchases.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $1.43 EPS and $6.87 billion in revenues.  With shares around $50.00, its 52-week trading range is $34.82 to $51.37.

Dendreon Corporation (NASDAQ: DNDN) reports after the close on Tuesday.  Our take is that investors will be looking for guidance over real results as there are still small numbers generated so far due to what is a minimal production scale of Provenge.  Prior 2011 guidance was promised to be very back-end loaded and that poses risks if there are any delays as it ramps up capacity. Another outstanding issue is the reimbursement rates and the use of on-label versus off-label use.  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 $33.70, 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 and it has canceled its conference call now that the CEO just stepped down and the company has brought back in Bruce Berkowitz and three new directors in an activist investor raid. 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 $27.80, its 52-week range is $17.04 to $37.44 and it closed out 2010 at $21.85.

Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) is due with its earnings Wednesday morning and we have a positive bias after seeing Target, Wal-Mart and others this last week.  Just watch out for what is a premium valuation.  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 $74.50, its 52-week range is $53.41 to $75.48 and it closed out 2010 at $72.01.

Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) also reports Wednesday morning and will offer insight into 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 $21.00, its 52-week range is $17.45 to $26.00 and it closed out 2010 at $22.77.  We see expectations being muted and not overly demanding here for a major upside being necessary due to where its shares are trading now.

Green Plains Renewable Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ: GPRE) is not a market mover but is one to watch around its earnings.  Its results are due Wednesday after the close of trading.  With shares around $12.35, its 52-week range is $8.12 to $17.75.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.36 EPS and $651.98 million in revenues.

Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) reports earnings on Thursday morning.  The company is not a market mover but the company is under focus and interest because it has itself reportedly up for sale. 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 $40.70, its 52-week range is $27.82 to $42.27 and it closed out 2010 at $30.46. We would remind investors that there is a huge built-in premium for an M&A possibility and any caution or concern over this would likely hit shares.

The Kroger Company (NYSE: KR) is due with its earnings on Thursday morning. 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. All of the food producers have noted an inability to pass higher prices on to consumers.

Marvell Technology Group, Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL) saw a move lower Monday after a big gain on Friday, making the pre-earnings analysis that much more difficult for this week.  The mobile chip designer is due with its earnings after the close on Thursday.  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 $19.00, its 52-week range is $13.87 to $22.87 and it closed out 2010 at $18.55. This is effectively the last of the mobile chip winners, but it would not be shocking at all to see secondary or tertiary moves possibly in ADI, NSM, QCOM, ARMH, and BRCM.

Silver Wheaton Corp. (NYSE: SLW) has had one great year and its earnings are due Thursday after the close of trading.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.30 EPS and $151.78 million in revenues. With shares around $42.00, its 52-week trading range is $14.71 to $42.34.

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JON C. OGG