More Retailers Report Earnings As Holiday Shopping Gets Underway

• Earnings from retailers highlight the week again.
• Expectations are low particularly for Sears, but better for some others.
• Canadian banks are also on tap to share their most recent results.

As we enter the heart of the holiday shopping season, more prominent retailers are on deck to share their results for their most recent quarters. Wall Street analysts are looking for modest to solid growth on the top and bottom lines from American Eagle Outfitters AEO, Dollar General Corp. DG and Kroger Co KR. Likely no surprise, but the story is very different for struggling Sears Holdings Corp SHLD, when it takes its turn in the earnings spotlight this week. Here is a quick look at what is expected from these reports and a peek at some of the week's other most anticipated quarterly results. See also: These Brands Just Went All-Out On Black Friday Promotions

American Eagle Outfitters

In its report early Wednesday, this shopping mall standby is expected to report that its earnings per share (EPS) came to $0.34 for the period that ended in October, according the consensus of 31 Estimize estimates. That would be up from the $0.22 reported in the year-ago period. Revenue is expected to total $927.19 million for the fiscal third quarter, which would be more than 8 percent higher, relative to the same period of last year. Note that both Wall Street and Estimize underestimated revenue and earnings back in the second quarter.

Dollar General

This Tennessee-based discount retailer will post EPS of $0.87 for its fiscal third quarter, if Estimize's consensus forecast is accurate. That would be up from $0.79 in the year-ago period. The Wall Street consensus EPS forecast is the same, and that estimate is unchanged in the past 60 days. The 10 Estimize survey respondents see revenue for the three months that ended in October at about $5.08 billion. That likewise is about the same as the Wall Street expectations. Watch for Dollar General to reveal its latest financial results before Thursday's regular trading session commences.

Kroger

When this leading supermarket operator shares its results first thing Thursday, the consensus of 20 Estimize estimates is that it will show a profit of $0.41 per share. That would compare to the $0.35 EPS in the same period of last year, as well as the $0.39 expected by Wall Street analysts. Revenue for the three months that ended in October will be $25.26 billion, or a little over 1% higher year over year, if Estimize is correct. Estimates from both Wall Street and Estimize were in line with posted revenue in the previous quarter, though they both underestimated per-share earnings.

Sears

The fiscal third-quarter forecast for the operator of Sears and Kmart stores calls for a net loss that is the same as in the year-ago period, or $2.84, according to Wall Street analysts. Also, revenue is expected to have plunged more than 23 percent to $5.51 billion for the period. Note that net losses were smaller than expected in three of the past four periods. Yet a deeper loss is projected for the current quarter, the holiday shopping period, relative to the same period of last year. Sears is scheduled to release its latest results Thursday before the opening bell. See also: ESPN Layoffs, And Potential Star Wars Overload, Is Hurting Disney

And Others

Elsewhere, at least some growth in earnings is coming from Ascena Retail, Avago Technologies, Bank of Montreal, Bank of Nova Scotia, Big Lots, Brown-Forman, Express, Five Below, Royal Bank of Canada, Toronto-Dominion Bank and Ulta Beauty this week, if Wall Street analysts are correct. However, the consensus forecasts call for declining earnings when Hovnanian Enterprises, Medtronic and PVH share their latest results. A net loss for the quarter is expected from Aeropostale, Barnes & Noble, 58.com, UTi Worldwide and Yingli Green Energy. Watch for upcoming reports from Costco Wholesale, H&R Block, Lululemon Athletica and more. Keep up with all the latest breaking news and trading ideas by following Benzinga on Twitter.