This Week's Top Earnings on Deck (CCL, DG, JEF, WAG, ADBE, JBL, SONC, GIS, PAYX, RHT, BBY, CAG, GME, DRI, ORCL, RIMM)

Earnings season is supposed to be over, but we have a packed week full of earnings due from off-calendar quarterly earnings reports.  We have compiled Thomson Reuters estimates and added color where applicable on the following earnings on the books: Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL); Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG); Jefferies Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF); Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG); Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE); Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL); Sonic Corporation (NASDAQ: SONC); General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS); Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYX); Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT); Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY); ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE: CAG); GameStop Corporation (NYSE: GME); Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI); Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ: ORCL); and Research-in-Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM)

Tuesday morning brings Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL). Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.19 EPS and $3.31 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.33 EPS and $3.51 billion in revenues.  With shares around $40.75, its 52-week range is $29.68 to $48.14.

Dollar General Corporation (NYSE: DG) also reports Tuesday morning.  Thomson Reuters has estimates for the dollar-store giant of $0.59 EPS and $3.52 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.50 EPS and $3.40 billion in revenues.  At $30.30, its 52-week range is $24.29 to $33.73.

Jefferies Group Inc. (NYSE: JEF) is due to report on Tuesday morning and it is one investors look at more closely now that it avoided much of the market malaise during the meltdown. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.36 EPS and $636.79 million in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.41 EPS and $671.1 million in revenues.  At $24.40, its 52-week range is $20.15 to $28.44.

Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) is due with its drug store earnings Tuesday morning. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.80 EPS and $18.39 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.63 EPS and $18.25 billion in revenues.  At $41.84, its 52-week range is $26.26 to $47.11.

On Tuesday afternoon comes a report from Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE). Thomson Reuters has estimates for the Flash and Acrobat maker of $0.57 EPS and $1.03 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.57 EPS and $1.04 billion in revenues.  At $32.39, the 52-week trading range is $25.45 to $37.30.

Jabil Circuit Inc. (NYSE: JBL) also reports on Tuesday after the close.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.51 EPS and $3.91 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.54 EPS and $4.04 billion in revenues.  AT $19.52. its 52-week range is $10.17 to $23.09.

Sonic Corporation (NASDAQ: SONC) reports earnings on Tuesday after the close and while it is not a sector-mover, it can be very volatile around earnings reports.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.03 EPS and $114.6 million in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.17 EPS and $143.19 million in revenues. At $9.18, its 52-week trading range is $7.28 to $13.11.

General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) reports earnings on Wednesday morning and we’ll get a taste of the food sector and how input costs are comparing to sell-thru price increases.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.56 EPS and $3.69 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.52 EPS and $3.66 billion in revenues.  At $37.07, the 52-week range is $33.11 to $38.98.

Paychex Inc. (NASDAQ: PAYX) reports earnings on Wednesday afternoon as another look in the company which acts as the outsourced HR department for small businesses.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.35 EPS and $528.11 million in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.33 EPS and $519.01 million in revenues. At $32.20, its 52-week range is $24.65 to $33.91.

Red Hat, Inc. (NYSE: RHT) is also due Wednesday after the close.  Thomson Reuters has estimates for the Linux-software maker of $0.22 EPS and $236.0 million in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.21 EPS and $244.57 million in revenues.  At $38.83, its 52-week trading range is $26.69 to $49.00.

Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) reports earnings before the open on Thursday.  Thomson Reuters has estimates for the technology and consumer electronics retailer of $1.85 EPS and $16.26 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.44 EPS and $11.03 billion in revenues.  Keep in mind that shares were hit after its earnings outlook and margins were under plan.  At $31.94, its 52-week trading range is $30.72 to $48.83.

ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE: CAG) reports on Thursday morning.  Thomson Reuters has estimates for the food giant of $0.47 EPS and $3.13 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.50 EPS and $3.18 billion in revenues. At $23.05, its 52-week range is $21.02 to $26.32.

GameStop Corporation (NYSE: GME) reports Thursday morning.  This can be very volatile around earnings and can influence the video game sector.  Keep in mind that this includes the Christmas and holiday sales data as well. Thomson Reuters has estimates of $1.56 EPS and $3.71 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.51 EPS and $2.18 billion in revenues. At $21.18, its 52-week trading range is $17.70 to $25.75.

Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE: DRI) reports Thursday after the close.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $1.05 EPS and $1.97 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $1.00 EPS and $1.99 billion in revenues.  At $46.56, its 52-week range is $37.08 to $50.84.

Oracle Corporation (NASDAQ: ORCL) is the big kahuna for earnings this week with Larry Ellison and friends reporting after the close on Thursday.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.49 EPS and $8.66 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.66 EPS and $10.49 billion in revenues.  At $31.42, the 52-week trading range for the enterprise software giant is $21.24 to $33.71.

Research-in-Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) reports earnings on Thursday after the close as well, but it will be a distant #2 behind Oracle in market impact even if the stock tends to be much more volatile around earnings than Oracle.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of $1.75 EPS and $5.63 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are $1.64 EPS and $5.62 billion in revenues.

As you can see, we have a very jammed up week for earnings.  Keep in mind that many companies are believed to be talking down the current quarter in guidance ahead due to the impacts seen from Japan this last week.

JON C. OGG