Earnings on Tap pre Thanksgiving

As we close out the earnings season we have some interesting reports coming down the pike

Tomorrow, long suffering Blue Coat Systems (BCSI) reports before the market opens. Blue Coat has been battered by over the top expectations in Riverbed Technology (RVBD) and Cisco (CSCO) indicating there are slowdowns in the enterprise spending in sectors such as financial. All the time Blue Coat Systems has not said one negative thing but its stock has lost nearly 40% of its value just by association. The stock has stabilized with $32 as a floor; I expect good results but guidance is key. Any whisper of slowdown due to US economy blah blah will make scared investors flee. An over reaction but its hard to argue with emotional people. I still like Blue Coat and at these levels Riverbed Technology is also finally a good value for its growth rate. These names should be reaching 'washed out' levels.

Also tomorrow are 2 favored retailers, Gamespot (GME) on the video game side and Dicks Sporting Goods (DKS). Considering they are retailers, both stocks have held up reasonably well. I think Gamespot is the safer stock as video games seem to be in a "no way to it slow it down" niche, whereas I could see some slowdown in sporting goods, along with the economy.

Target (TGT), Whole Foods (WFMI), and Office Depot (ODP) also report tomorrow - can't expect much good from these, but if the stocks bounce we might finally have a near term bottom. Nordstrom (JWN) reported "ok" numbers and "ok" guidance tonight and is up 10% afterhours; so it doesn't take much. Again, I think the consumer has weakened, and will continue to weaken but these stocks have gone from pricing no ill effect to the consumer a few quarters ago to "the end of days is near" scenario. We will still spend this Christmas... just not quite at heady rates of the past.

A couple of interesting smaller Chinese stocks also report tomorrow - will be interested to see how they do and more importantly if the market is ready to buy back the smaller Chinese fare that it's been regurgitating out at an alarming rate - Focus Media (FMCN), China Medical (CMED), and Home Inns and Hotel (HMIN) [Edit: FMCN reported tonight in fact]

Oh yeh, homebuilder DR Horton (DHI) also reports tomorrow. Prediction? hah - too easy.

Wednesday all that looks interesting is Trina Solar (TSL) and Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) on the speciality retailer side. ANF actually has held up well; as long as $140 jeans and $45 shirts are cool this stock continues to do well.... year after year.