While the earnings crunch may be over, quarterly reports continue to trickle in this coming week. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters anticipate reports of lower earnings from the likes of Boston Beer Co. Inc. (NYSE: SAM), American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO), Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS), Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE: MTN), and Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS). Also, National Semiconductor Corp. (NYSE: NSM), Smithfield Foods Inc. (NYSE: SFD), and J. Crew Group Inc. (NYSE: JCG), Men's Wearhouse Inc. (NYSE: MW) are expected to have swung to losses.

Of course, some companies are expected to report earnings growth this week, including Hot Topic Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTT), Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE: ARO), Gymboree Corp. (NASDAQ: GYMB), and Ferrellgas Partners (NYSE: FGP). The following companies are expected to be among the biggest earnings gainers this week, and may be worth a closer look.

In its fiscal second quarter, San Francisco-based Diamond Foods Inc. (NASDAQ: DMND) saw growth in its main distribution channels, prompting the nut and snack producer to raise its earnings guidance as the quarter ended January 31. Analysts expect to see a profit for the quarter of $0.31 per share, 45.2% higher than in the same period of the previous year, and $1.32 per share for the full year, up 31.1% from a year ago, which is in line with that revised guidance. Revenue for the quarter is expected to come to $154.2 million, (+15.2%), and for the full year $605.7 million (+14.0%). Diamond Foods has topped earnings estimates in recent quarters, by a nickel per share in the first quarter. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 10.0%, which is a little better than the S&P 500, and the forward PE estimate is 15.00, which is a better than the industry average. The consensus recommendation of analysts is to buy DMND; Zacks recently called DMND as a powerful buy. The share price has fallen 15.7% in the past three months to $21.11. Diamond's quarterly dividend of $0.045 per common share has remained unchanged for more than a year.

Israeli aerospace/defense company Elbit Systems Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESLT) is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of $0.95 per share, 21.1% higher than a year ago, and revenue of $694.8 million, up 17.6%. For the full year, the forecast is $3.29 per share (+27.4%) on $2.6 billion (+33.0%). Elbit Systems beat earnings estimates in the past five quarters, by as much as 33.9%. The EPS growth forecast for the year is 19.8%, which is much better than the industry average, and both the trailing PE ratio and forward PE ratio estimate are about 11.0, also higher than the industry average. Elbit Systems recently completed the acquisition of an Israeli satellite communications company, as well as saw a management shakeup. The share price has fallen 12.0% since the beginning of the year to $40.90 but is still 25.7% lower than it was a year ago.

American Oriental Bioengineering Inc. (NYSE: AOB), a leading Chinese specialty pharmaceutical and health care company, purchased property in Beijing for new headquarters during the most recent quarter. Analysts expect to see fourth-quarter earnings of $0.25 per share on revenue of $88.1 million, compared to $0.20 per share on revenue of $57.3 million in the same period of the previous year. For the full year, analysts are looking for earnings of $0.75 per share on sales of $256.5 million, compared to $0.61 per share and $160.5 million in the previous year. American Oriental's per-share earnings were within a penny of estimates in recent quarters. The long-term EPS growth forecast of 19.0%, but the forward PE ratio forecast is only about 3.9. The consensus recommend of five analysts remains to buy AOB. The Motley Fool thinks AOB is a bargain and Zack's recently recommended it as well. The share price fell to a 52-week low of $3.29 last week and is 57.1% lower than it was a year ago.

During its fourth quarter, American Public Education Inc. (NASDAQ: APEI) issued a public offering of common stock. The West Virginia-based company, which offers online postsecondary education to those in the military and law enforcement, is expected to post a profit of $0.23 per share on revenue of $31.0 million, compared to $0.19 per share on revenue of $21.2 million in the same period of the previous year. For the full year, analysts are looking for earnings of $0.82 per share on sales of $106.6 million, compared to $0.64 per share and $69.1 million in the previous year. American Public Education topped earnings estimates in recent quarters. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 36,7%, which is better than that of rival Apollo Group Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL). Analysts, on average, recommend buying APEI. The Motley Fool considers it a stock to buy right now, and Jim Cramer recently preferred it over Apollo and other rivals. American Public's share price has fallen 11.9% in the past three months to $37.19 but is 26.1% higher than a year ago.

Health care provider LHC Group Inc. (NASDAQ: LHCG) announced an acquisition and a joint venture during its fourth quarter, and Wall Street is looking for earnings of $0.46 per share on revenue of $101.9 million for the quarter. That compares to $0.39 per share on $81.3 million in the year-ago period. For the full year, analysts expect earnings of $1.57 per share on revenue of $373.7 million, compared to $1.47 per share and $298.0 million in the previous year. LHC has topped estimates in the past four quarters, by as much 23.3%. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 18.3%, and the consensus recommendation remains buy LHCG, though the Motley Fool sees some risk in the sector. The share price has fall 49.7% to $17.16 in the past three months, but it is 3.4% higher than it was a year ago.

Analysts don't expect Ft. Lauderdale's Mako Surgical Corp. (NASDAQ: MAKO) to report a profit for the fourth quarter, but rather to have narrowed its net loss from $4.53 per share a year ago to $0.44 per share. Revenue for the quarter is expected to have risen 113.9% from a year ago to $0.89 million. For the full year, the net loss is expected to come to $2.36 per share, compared to $14.74 per share loss a year ago, on revenue of $2.9 million (+283.5%). Though the medical device maker, which announced a common stock offering in the most recent quarter, posted deeper than expected losses in two of the past three quarters, the long-term EPS growth forecast is 40.0% and the consensus recommendation of six analysts is to buy MAKO. The share price has fallen 6.6% to $6.81 in the past three months, and is 31.9% lower than it was a year ago.

IMAX Corp. (NASDAQ: IMAX), Jones Soda Co. (NASDAQ: JSDA), and homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: HOV) are also expected to have narrowed their losses in the most recent quarter.

Also, Analog Devices Inc. (NYSE: ADI), Applied Materials Inc. (NASDAQ: AMAT), and Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) are holding shareholder meetings this week, and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) is holding an analyst meeting. And the Raymond James Institutional Investors Conference is being held this week in Orlando, Fla., and will include presentations by, among others, Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL), Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE: WHR), Qwest Communications International Inc. (NYSE: Q), Marvel Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: MVL), Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET), CVS Caremark Corp. (NYSE: CVS), Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW), and Marriott International Inc. (NYSE: MAR).

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