Earnings Expectations for the Week of September 3

Things will be quiet on the earnings front again this holiday-shortened week. The most prominent quarterly reports on the schedule are those from Campbell Soup CPB, which is expected to post a year-over-year earnings per share (EPS) decline and flat earnings Tuesday morning, and Kroger KR, which is expected to say Friday that it saw moderate growth in EPS and sales. Also, a seasonal net loss is expected from H&R Block HRB. Here is a quick run-down of some companies that analysts anticipate will report this week that they had positive results for the most recent quarter. Cooper Companies COO. Analysts on average expect this medical device maker to report Thursday afternoon that its per-share earnings gained nearly 11 percent to $1.29 and revenue rose more than four percent year-over-year to $367.6 million. That EPS estimate is unchanged over the past 60 days. Dollar General DG. The consensus forecast calls for EPS up more than 18 percent year-over-year to $0.64 and sales up more than 10 percent to $3.9 billion. Analysts have underestimated EPS from this discount retailer in the past four quarters. Dollar General reports Thursday before the markets open. Hovnanian Enterprises HOV. This New Jersey-based homebuilder is expected to post a narrower net loss of $0.12 per share as revenues surged more than 35 percent from the year-ago period to $386.2 million. Note that Hovnanian reported a surprise profit in the previous quarter. It is scheduled to share its results on Thursday. Men's Wearhouse MW. The consensus forecast calls for earnings and revenue to be marginally higher than a year ago to $1.12 per share on $663.9 million. The Houston-based specialty retailer fell short of analysts' consensus EPS estimates in the previous quarter. The company is scheduled to share its results Wednesday afternoon. VeriFone Systems PAY. Analysts on average anticipate this electronic payment company will say Wednesday afternoon that its most recent EPS were 30 percent higher year-over-year to $0.70 and revenue rose about 57 percent to $498.3 million. VeriFone regularly exceeds consensus EPS estimates. Ulta Salon, Cosmetics and Fragrance ULTA. The consensus forecast calls for EPS to have grown more than 25 percent from a year ago to $0.51. This purveyor of salon products and services regularly tops consensus EPS estimates. Sales are expected to total $ 473.8 million, or more than 20 percent higher year-over-year. Look for its report Thursday after the closing bell. In addition, Brady Corp. BRC, Delta Apparel DLA, Korn/Ferry International KFY, Layne Christensen LAYN and Smithfield Foods SFD are expected to report this week that their most recent per-share earnings declined compared to the year-ago period, and Navistar International NAV is predicted to have swung to a net loss. The relative quiet on the earnings front will continue the following week, though Analogic ALOG, Casey's General Stores CASY, John Wiley JW, Pall Corp. PLL, Pier 1 Imports PIR and United Natural Foods UNFI are scheduled to share their most recent quarterly results.