Earnings Expectations for the Week of February 25

After Abercrombie & Fitch

, Nordstrom

and Walmart

all posted better-than-expected per-share earnings last week, the quarterly results from big retailers continue to roll out this week. Analysts on average expect that earnings from Home Depot

, Macy's

and Target

will be higher, relative to a year ago. But lower earnings are anticipated from Barnes & Noble

and Best Buy

.

Atlanta-based home improvement store operator Home Depot is expected to report Tuesday morning that for its fourth quarter it had a profit of $0.64 per share. That would be up from $0.50 per share in the same period of the previous year. And analysts on average expect quarterly revenues to total $17.69 billion, which would be more than 10 percent higher than a year ago. The full-year forecast calls for earnings per share (EPS) up about 19 percent year-over-year to $3.05 on revenues that are more than five percent higher to $74.20 billion. Rival Lowe's Companies

reports Monday morning, and analysts expect to see a year-over-year decline in fourth-quarter EPS and sales.

Fourth-quarter earnings from this Minneapolis-based big-box retailer are forecast to come to $1.48 per share in Wednesday morning's report, while revenues totaled $22.67 billion. In the same quarter of last year, the company beat EPS estimates when it posted $1.43 per share and $21.29 billion in revenues. Analysts on average expect to see $4.40 EPS on revenue of $73.12 billion for the full year. In the previous year, EPS were $4.27 while revenues totaled $69.86 billion. That EPS estimate, like the quarterly one, has slipped a bit in the past 60 days. Competitor Kohl's

is expected to post lower fourth-quarter and full-year EPS in its report Thursday morning.

Annual declines in per-share earnings of more than 25 percent are expected for Best Buy's fourth quarter and full fiscal year, to $1.53 and $2.49, respectively. However, the consensus EPS estimates for both periods have risen in the past 60 days. Revenues are forecast to have fallen year-over-year by about two percent to $16.32 billion for the quarter and less than two percent to $49.26 billion for the full year. Best Buy reports Thursday before the markets open. RadioShack

is expected to post net losses for its fourth quarter and full year on Tuesday.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2013, which included the holiday shopping season, Barnes & Noble is expected to post earnings of $0.54 per share, while revenues totaled $2.40 billion. In the same quarter of last year, the company reported smaller-than-expected EPS of $0.71 per share and $2.44 billion in sales. Note that the consensus EPS estimate has declined in the past 60 days from $0.76. Look for the earnings report Thursday before the opening bell.

In its report Tuesday morning, this Cincinnati-based department store operator is expected to report earnings of $1.99 per share for the fourth quarter and $3.41 per share for the full year. That would be up more than 14 percent and more than 15 percent, respectively. Macy's regularly exceeds the consensus quarterly EPS estimates. Quarterly revenues are forecast to total $9.30 billion, which would be more than six percent higher than a year ago. And the full-year revenues are expected to have risen less than five percent to $27.64 billion. J.C. Penney

, on the other hand, is expected to report net losses for both its fourth quarter and full year. It is scheduled to share its results late Wednesday.

Dollar Tree

, a discount variety store operator, is expected to report Wednesday morning that it saw a profit of $0.99 per share for its fiscal fourth quarter. That would be about 19 percent higher than in the same period in the previous year. But analysts have underestimated the retailer's EPS in the past eight quarters. Full-year earnings are also expected to be up about 19 percent year-over-year, to $2.50 per share. That consensus estimate has remained unchanged over the past 60 days. The revenue forecast calls for $2.23 billion for the quarter and $7.37 billion for the year. That would be up more than 14 percent and more than 11 percent, respectively, relative to last year.

Other retailers scheduled to report this week include AutoZone

, Chico's FAS

, Gap

, Limited Brands

and TJX Companies

. Analysts are looking for growth in quarterly earnings from each of them. Among other companies scheduled to share quarterly results this week are Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

, First Solar

, Priceline.com

and Tenet Healthcare

, which are expect to post earnings gains for the most recent quarter. EPS declines are anticipated from Deckers Outdoor

, DineEquity

and Salesforce.com

.