I want to own Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) again. But I haven't gotten the kind of dip I've been looking for. One could argue I should therefore ignore looking for dips and simply buy the stock and dollar-cost-average the position.

I can't argue with such logic, but I had my heart set on a quick trade. Now that we're on the verge of the next earnings report from the software company, I'm particularly thinking about taking on some shares. In fact, I'm so eager to send in a buy order right now. What's stopping me?

Family Dollar Stores (FDO), a discount chain whose colleagues include Dollar Tree (DLTR) and Wal-Mart (WMT), is set to report second-quarter earnings on Wednesday. The question is, should a trader open a position before the numbers?

This is a really difficult one. According to Trey Thoelcke's data summary, analysts are expecting very good things from the retailer. Earnings may rise over 20% to 78 cents per share, while sales could increase just under 5%. Another positive element is the dividend payout: it was raised in January by 14.8%. You've got to take that as a sign of confidence on the part of the management team, right?

Tech giant Oracle Corp. (ORCL) will be reporting its fiscal third quarter numbers Thursday after the market close, and analysts are looking for a strong quarter from the company.

The company is expected to report earnings of 38 cents per share. During the same period last year, the company had earnings of 35 cents a share.

The earnings season is winding down, but there are still many big name companies due to report, and tomorrow features grocer giant Kroger Co. (KR). Kroger will be reporting its fourth quarter numbers before the market opens.

Going into tomorrow's earnings report, analysts expect Kroger to earn $0.34 per share. Should the company match analyst estimates it would mark a 34% drop from the 53 cents it earned during the same period last year.

Kohl's (KSS - option chain) shares are pretty much flat so far today ahead of the company's fourth quarter earnings report, which is scheduled for tomorrow morning before the market opens. Analysts are forecasting earnings of $1.37 per share, versus $1.10 during the same period last year. Kohl's has beaten estimates for 19 consecutive quarters and if that streak continues tomorrow, traders will probably be pleased. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on KSS.

KSS opened this morning at $51.15. So far today the stock has hit a low of $50.50 and a high of $51.25. As of 12:45, KSS is trading at $51.06 up 13 cents (0.3%). The chart for KSS looks bullish and S&P gives KSS a positive 4 STARS (out of 5) buy ranking.

NVIDIA (NVDA - option chain) shares are down so far today ahead of the company's earnings announcement. NVDA will be reporting its fourth quarter numbers following the market close today, with analysts forecasting earnings of 20 cents per share. During the same period last year the company had a loss of 18 cents per share, but earnings have been steadily climbing since that point. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on NVDA.

NVDA opened this morning at $17.89. So far today the stock has hit a low of $17.32 and a high of $17.90. As of 12:10, NVDA is trading at $17.38 down 29 cents(1.6%). The chart for NVDA looks neutral and S&P gives NVDA a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Grocer giant Whole Foods (WFMI) reported its first quarter results Tuesday, easily beating out analyst estimates for the quarter.

As we noted in our earnings preview for Whole Foods, analysts had forecast that the company would be announcing that it earned 26 cents per share during the quarter. Actual results were much stronger, at a reported 32 cents per share.

During the same period last year the company had earnings of 20 cents per share.

I love the media sector, so Tuesday, February 9, will be an exciting day for me. After the market finishes its trading activities, we'll get reports from two entertainment companies: one's a big player in Hollywood, while the other would like to be just as big someday.

Let's start with the big gun. The Walt Disney Corporation (DIS) has first-quarter numbers all set to go, and investors are hoping for an unambiguous beat on the bottom line. The call is for net income to fall somewhere around 39 cents per share, according to Earnings.com. Kind of lousy, considering the Mouse made 41 cents per share in last year's Q1.

A big player in the tech sector is ready to report today. Google (GOOG) will publish Q4 results later this afternoon. Traders and investors alike get super excited when the search behemoth tells the world how it's doing.

I think the company will show that it's doing quite well. According to Earnings.com, expectations peg the per-share profit at $6.43. If that number is hit, then the growth rate will be a solid 26% (last year at this time, Google made $5.10 per share). Of course, most people aren't interested in hitting the projected stat, they want management to rise above it and demonstrate true earnings power.

Before the market opens tomorrow, Bank of America (BAC) is going to be reporting its fourth quarter earnings numbers.

Going into tomorrow's earnings release, Wall Street analysts are looking for the company to show a loss of 52 cents per share. For the same period last year, the company had a loss of 48 cents per share.

I am looking forward to International Business Machine's (IBM) Q4 earnings report, which is scheduled to be released after the close of today's session. No, I don't have a trade going on with the shares, but I have a feeling the numbers are going to be pretty good for Big Blue. When I covered the company's Q3 data back in October, I found myself impressed. I firmly believe the fundamental strength is set to continue.

According to Earnings.com, IBM, whose colleagues include Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Microsoft (MSFT), is expected to deliver around $3.47 per share for the bottom line. Last year at this time, the company made $3.28 per share. So, investors might see an increase of around 6% in the metric.

Shares of Mosaic Company (MOS) rallied to a new 52-week high today, topping out at $63.83 in intraday action. The stock seems to be enjoying a halo lift after sector peer Potash Corp./Saskatchewan (POT) was upgraded, but the spotlight will turn to Mosaic after today's closing bell, when the company is slated to unveil its fiscal second-quarter earnings.

Mosaic's performance on the earnings front has been mixed, with the fertilizer firm falling short of analysts' consensus expectations during three of the past four reporting periods. Ahead of tonight's release, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are expecting a second-quarter profit of 35 cents per share, on average, down from Mosaic's year-ago profit of $1.12 per share. Sales are expected to ring in at $1.68 billion.

Before the market opens tomorrow, telecommunications network specialist Ciena Corp. (CIEN) is due to report its fiscal fourth quarter results, and the stock is trading up nicely ahead of tomorrow's report.

Going into tomorrow's earnings report, analysts are expecting the company to show a lost of 7 cents per share. During the same period last year, the company posted a loss of 10 cents per share.

Before tomorrow's open, jewelry retailer Tiffany & Co. (TIF) will be reporting its third quarter results. Analysts are expecting to see the company show earnings of 23 cents per share.

For the same period last year the company had earnings of 35 cents.

Ann Taylor (ANN) was upgraded Monday, according to TheStreet.com. Jesup & Lamont calls the stock a buy now instead of a hold. You're never far from the analyst game when you trade on Wall Street. Question is, what should you do about this retailer? Should you give it a position in your own portfolio?

I'm not the biggest fan of Ann Taylor. I don't like the fundamentals. I made this amply clear back in August when I discussed the company's second quarter.