• Fed's Evans speaks on economic outlook: Wednesday, 1:30 PM
• Producer Price Index (Jan. 2009): Thursday, 8:30 AM
• Leading Economic Indicators Index (Jan. 2009): Thursday, 10:00 AM
• Philly Fed Outlook Survey (Feb. 2009): Thursday, 10:00 AM
• Fed's Lockhart speaks on the U.S. economy: Thursday, 1:15 PM
• Consumer Price Index (Jan. 2009): Friday, 8:30 AM

When it comes to earnings, the parade of lower profits is expected to continue this week even as the earnings crunch begins to wind down. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect Walmart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), CBS Corp. (NYSE: CBS), Deere & Co. (NYSE: DE), Whole Foods Market Inc. (NASDAQ: WFMI), OfficeMax Inc. (NYSE: OMX), Apache Corp. (NYSE: APA), Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE: HRL), Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU), Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (NYSE: RS), JCPenney Inc. (NYSE: JCP), Expedia Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE), and Lowe's Cos. Inc. (NYSE: LOW) to report smaller profits for the most recent quarter. Sprint Nextel Corp. (NASDAQ: S) and Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (NYSE: GT) are expected to have swung to net losses.

On the other hand, analysts are looking for modest earnings growth from Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ), Priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN), Comcast Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCSA), and Medtronic Inc. (NYSE: MDT). But who will be the week's the big winners? Which companies are worth a closer look? Here are a few:

Tampa-based Walter Industries Inc. (NYSE: WLT) is an energy and natural resources company that recently shed its underperforming homebuilding unit. For the fourth quarter, analysts expect to see a profit of $1.86 per share, 71.0% higher than a year ago, and revenue of $474.6 million, up 52.0%. For the full year, their forecast is $4.48 per share (+56.3%) on $1.5 billion (+21.4%). Walter has topped estimates in four to the past five quarters, by as much as 81.1%. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 86.0%, much better than the industry average, and the consensus recommendation of analysts is to buy WLT. The Motley Fool considers it a stock poised to pop. Its quarterly dividend increased to $0.10 per share in the past year, and its PE (ttm) is about 7.9. While the share price at $21.45 has risen 22.5% since the beginning of the year, shares are 53.4% lower than a year ago.

Pride International Inc. (NYSE: PDE), one of the world's largest drilling contractors, is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of $1.05 per share, 41.0% higher than a year ago, and revenue of $630.6 million, up 25.5% from a year ago. For the full year, their forecast is $3.64 per share on $2.3 billion, up from $2.66 per share on $2.0 billion. The Houston-based company beat earnings estimates in the past four quarters, by as much as 13.7%. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 10.3%, about the same as the S&P 500 but better than the industry average. The consensus recommendation remains to buy PDE. Its PE (ttm) is about 5.1. While the share price at $17.32 has risen 10.5% in the past three months, shares are 47.8% lower than a year ago.

Defense contractor Axsys Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: AXYS) is expected to report a fourth-quarter profit of $0.61 per share on revenue of $62.1 million, up from $0.36 per share on of $47.9 million in the same period of the previous year. For the full year, the forecast is for $2.30 per share on revenue of $243.6 million, up from $1.32 per share on revenue of $171.6 million. Axsys has topped estimates in the past five quarters, by 26.3% in the third quarter. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 18.7%, better than the S&P 500, and the consensus recommendation is to buy AXYS. JPMorgan has upgraded Axsys twice since the beginning of the year. The PE (ttm) is about 19.6. The share price fell to a 52-week low of $36.49 last week, and shares are 3.1% higher than a year ago.

Community Health Systems Inc. (NYSE: CYH), a health care provider primarily in rural areas, announced the acquisition of an Oregon medical center during the past quarter, and more recently an Arkansas hospital. Analysts are looking for fourth-quarter earnings that are 38.3% higher than a year ago, or $0.60 per share. Revenue is expected to total $2.8 billion (+11.7%). For the full year, the forecast is for earnings of $2.21 per share (+15.4%) on revenue of $11.0 billion (+54.5%). Though the Tennessee company has missed estimates in four to the past five quarters by pennies, the consensus recommendation is to buy CYH. A Goldman Sachs analyst included CYH on a list of most promising stocks. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 14.3%, which is better than the health care sector average and the S&P 500. The PE (ttm) is about 23.2. The share price has risen 36.6% since the beginning of the year to $19.91, but shares are still 34.5% lower than a year ago.

While Jim Cramer has said he's bullish on natural gas companies, in some recent Lightning Rounds he's pointed to Ultra Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: UPL) as a potential long-term play. Analysts are looking for a fourth-quarter profit of $0.48 per share and revenue of $243.5 million, compared to $0.30 per share and revenue of $161.9 million a year ago. For the full year, the forecast is for earnings of $2.65 per share (+52.5%) on $1.1 billion (+98.8%). Ultra has topped earnings estimates in the past three quarters. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 23.8%, much better than that of rivals EOG Resources Inc. (NYSE: EOG) and Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. (NYSE: COG). Analysts on average have recommended buying UPL for more than 90 days. Its PE (ttm) is about 15.9. The share price fell to multiyear low in December, and at $40.17 shares are now 47.4% lower than a year ago.

Rhode Island-based CVS Caremark Corp. (NYSE: CVS) is the largest pharmacy chain in the U.S. For the fourth quarter, analysts expect to see earnings of $0.69 per share and revenue of $23.3 billion, compared to $0.55 per share and revenue of $21.9 billion in the year-ago period. For the full year, they expect $2.44 per share on $86.8 billion, up from $1.92 per share on $76.3 billion. CVS profits have been in line with analysts' estimates in the past four quarters. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 13.2%, which is better than that of rival Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG). The consensus recommendation remains to buy CVS. A Goldman Sachs analyst included CVS on a list of most promising stocks. CVS recently increased its quarterly dividend, and its PE (ttm) is about 12.5. The $27.47 share price is marginally higher than its 52-week low and 31.0% lower than a year ago.

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.