The week in preview: High hopes for solar, not so much for home improvement

Home improvement superstores Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) and Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) are also scheduled to report their third-quarter results this week, but expectations are lower as these rivals continue to face the housing slump and the lackluster retail sales environment. Analysts estimate that Home Depot's profits will be 33.9% lower than a year ago, or $0.39 per share on revenue of $17.7 billion (-6.4%), and that Lowe's profits will be 34.9% lower, or $0.28 per share on revenue of $11.6 billion (+0.5%). These companies have mostly beat expectations in the past few quarters, and the consensus recommendation is to buy each of them. Shares of both companies have risen marginally from 52-week lows back in October. The share price of Home Depot is 29.3% lower than a year ago, and 26.6% lower for Lowe's.

Here's a look at what Wall Street is expecting from other various retailers scheduled to report this week:

• The Pantry Inc. (NASDAQ: PTRY): $0.78 per share (+59.0%) on revenues of $2.5 billion (+24.3%)
• Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCE): $0.84 per share (+41.7%) on revenues of $450.6 million (-23.4%)
• BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ): $0.46 per share (+23.9%) on revenues of $2.5 billion (+12.8%)
• The Buckle Inc. (NYSE: BKE): $0.63 per share (+23.8%) on revenues of $209.5 million (+25.0%)
• Ross Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: ROST): $0.43 per share (+16.3%) on revenues of $1.6 billion (+7.4%)
• PetSmart Inc. (NASDAQ: PETM): $0.26 per share (+15.4%) on revenues of $1.3 billion (+11.9%)
• Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL): $0.25 per share (+16.0%) on revenues of $1.4 billion (-0.6%)
• Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS): $0.34 per share (+11.8%) on revenues of $3.6 billion (-7.1%)
• Gymboree Corp. (NASDAQ: GYMB): $1.03 per share (+11.7%) on revenues of $269.6 million (+7.5%)
• Gamestop Corp. (NYSE: GME): $0.37 per share (+10.8%) on revenues of $1.8 billion (+13.4%)
• Jack in the Box Inc. (NYSE: JBX): $0.45 per share (+4.4%) on revenues of $689.9 million (+1.7%)
• Shoe Carnival Inc. (NASDAQ: SCVL): $0.32 per share (-3.0%) on revenues of $179.6 million (+3.3%)
• Dress Barn Inc. (NASDAQ: DBRN): $0.27 per share (-10.0%) on revenues of $370.4 million (+1.8%)
• Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT): $0.49 per share (-12.5%) on revenues of $15.2 billion (+2.8%)
• Zumiez Inc. (NASDAQ: ZUMZ): $0.23 per share (-17.9%) on revenues of $111.7 million (+7.3%)
• Tween Brands Inc. (NYSE: TWB): $0.18 per share (-60.9%) on revenues of $263.7 million (+1.1%)
• Men's Wearhouse Inc. (NYSE: MW): $0.25 per share (-63.8%) on revenues of $478.0 million (-6.7%)
• Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. (NASDAQ: PSUN): $0.01 per share (-95.8%) on revenues of $320.7 million (-6.2%)
• AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (NYSE: ANN): $0.01 per share (-98.5%) on revenues of $531.9 million (-11.5%)

Limited Brands Inc. (NYSE: LTD) is expected to have broken even ($0.00 per share), and Saks Inc. (NYSE: SKS) is expected to have swung to a loss of $0.03 per share in the most recent quarter. Among retailers expected to post deeper losses are Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS), Bon-Ton Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: BONT), Cost Plus Inc. (NASDAQ: CPWM), Stein Mart Inc. (NASDAQ: SMRT), and Trans World Entertainment Corp. (NASDAQ: TWMC).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.