The calendar quarter winds down this week and quarterly reports are due from Apollo Group (APOL), CarMax (KMX), Global Payments (GPN), Krispy Kreme (KKD), Lennar (LEN) and McCormick (MKC). But analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters have high hopes for results from fertilizer and animal feed maker Mosaic (MOS), apparel maker Phillips Van Heusen (PVH) and discount retailer Family Dollar (FDO). So here's a look at what they anticipate from these three companies.

Mosaic

During its fiscal second quarter, Cargill agreed to distribute its stake in Mosaic, and Mosaic also said it would redeem senior notes. Analysts anticipate that the Minnesota-based potash producer will report per-share earnings of $1.07, a jump of 53.3% from the same quarter of last year. Mosaic also is expected to post revenue of $2.4 billion for the three months that ended in February. That's a 35.9% rise from a year earlier.

This week we turn the calendar page, and that change brings with it a raft of economic data. Scheduled for release on Monday are pending home sales and personal income numbers for January, as well as the Chicago PMI and car and truck sales data for February.

On Tuesday, look for the ISM Manufacturing Index for February and construction spending numbers for January. That's followed on Wednesday by the week's first employment data: the Challenger Job-Cuts announcement and the ADP employment report for February. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will deliver his semiannual monetary policy testimony before Congress on both days.

Friday's fourth-quarter GDP numbers offered more evidence that the economy is picking up steam, but one of the biggest obstacles to the recovery remains the stubbornly high unemployment rate. We'll find out whether there's been any movement on that front when employment data for January comes out this week. The Challenger Job-Cut report and ADP employment data are due Wednesday, and the government's unemployment rate on Friday. Another mild increase in jobs is expected, in line with the three-month average, but not enough to significantly reduce the unemployment rate.

Also look for the ISM manufacturing and nonmanufacturing indexes this week, as well as the Chicago PMI and the New York NAPM index. And Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will speak to the National Press Club on Thursday.

The U.S. manufacturing sector continued to pare production in May 2008, but at a milder-than-expected pace. The Institute for Supply Management Manufacturing Index for May 2008 increased to 49.6 in May 2008 from 48.6 in April 2008, the institute announced Monday.

It was the fourth consecutive monthly decline for the index. Readings above 50 indicate economic growth; readings below 50, economic contraction.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected the index to drop to 48.5 in May 2008.

The index registered growth in seven of 18 categories in May 2008:

Seven industries reported growth in May 2008, the ISM said: computer & electronic products; miscellaneous manufacturing; primary metals; paper products; chemical products; food, beverage and tobacco products; and fabricated metal products. Eleven industries reported a contraction in May 2008: apparel, leather and allied products; electrical equipment, appliances and components; wood products; machinery; plastics and rubber products; transportation equipment; non-metallic mineral products; printing and related support activities; and furniture and related products.

Economic Analysis: A surprisingly tame May 2008 ISM manufacturing data point. Demand for products overseas is driving an export revival and it's propping-up U.S. commercial activity even as domestic demand remains sluggish-to-poor, depending on the sector. Still, the overall manufacturing index remains below 50, indicating an obvious deceleration in the GDP growth rate and a likely economic contraction. Hence, while investors / traders can cheer the export numbers, they should keep in mind the large housing / energy price headwinds likely to damper U.S. economic growth for several quarters, or longer, if energy prices remain at record-high levels.

The ISM Manufacturing Index remains in contraction territory, with the March 2008 reading totaling 48.6, the Institute of Supply Management announced Tuesday.

Economists surveyed by Bloomberg News had expected the index to fall to 48.0 in March 2008. The ISM Manufacturing Index was 48.3 in February 2008.

An index reading below 50 indicates a contraction and the ISM Manufacturing Index has now registered below 50 in three of the past four months.

Further, the prices paid component jumped to 83.5 in March 2008 from 75.5 in February 2008, indicative of continued cost pressures at the wholesale level. Production declined to 48.7 from 50.7, new orders fell to 46.5 from 49.1, and imports declined to 45.0 from 47.5.

The bright spots? The index's export component rose to 56.5 in March 2008 from 56.0 in February 2008, while the backlog of orders increased to 47.5 from 45.0.