Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• American International Group Inc. (AIG) posted a big loss and warned it may require additional assistance.
• Athenahealth (ATHN) shares sank after it delayed earnings and its annual report, and warned of restatements.
• Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) Q3 sales jumped on popularity of the Nook reader but same-store sales declined.
• Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD) disappointing report and guidance caused a sell-off in shares.
• Dell Inc. (DELL) acquisitions and better-than-expected earnings may not be enough to stop shrinking market share.
• Gap Inc. (GPS) rose after it beat earnings estimates, raised its dividend and announced stock buybacks.

Analyst Upgrades

• Deutsche Bank upgraded Viacom (VIA) to buy from hold due to valuation and expectations that share buybacks will resume this year. The firm raised its price target on shares to $37 from $28.
• Canadian Natural (CNQ) was upgraded to outperform from neutral at Credit Suisse. The firm upgraded shares based on valuation and the outlook for heavy crude.
• UBS upgraded Key Energy (KEG) to buy from neutral, citing increased E&P well spending, a possible shorter term rally in gas activity and improved utilization. Target raised to $12.50 from $9.50.
• Shire (SHPGY) was raised to outperform from perform at Oppenheimer.
• PNC Financial (PNC) was upgraded at Bernstein to outperform from market perform.
• Pacer International (PACR) was upgraded to buy from hold at BB&T.

Last week, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), the world's largest retailer, led off the coming parade of earnings reports from retailers by posting disappointing fourth quarter results. JCPenney (JCP), on the other hand, easily topped earnings expectations.

Many more shopping mall and strip mall stalwarts are scheduled to report results this week. The expectations of analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are high for the likes of Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD) and Macy's Inc. (M), RadioShack Corp. (RSH) and America's Car Mart Inc. (CRMT), to Caribou Coffee Co. Inc. (CBOU) and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. (CBRL), all expected to report double-digit earnings growth year over year. Here's a look a few of the biggest anticipated earnings winners reporting this week.

Even thought its more than 30 years old, Express continues to be a relevant specialty fashion retailer. In fact, it is ranked the number six player in the U.S., with 573 stores.

So this week, Express filed to go public. The company expects to raise $200 million.

Express focuses on a tough demographic; that is, women and men between the ages of 20 and 30. Yes, this is part of the so-called Gen Y crowd, which can be fickle. But it is also a large market and will continue to grow.

Lingerie is another popular V-Day gift, and Limited Brands (LTD) has the inside track on these sales with its Victoria's Secret stores.

Limited's same-store sales were up 6% in January, thanks to a 17% increase at Victoria's Secret outlets. That's a trend you can take to the bank in February and beyond.

Next: Priceline.com (PCLN)

At the time of this writing, Louis Navellier did not own shares of LTD in personal or client portfolios.

Valentine's Day may be a commercialized holiday to some, but there's no denying that its big business. And this coming Valentine's Day may be extra sweet since it falls on a Sunday, making it a great excuse for a romantic night out. In fact, total Valentine's Day spending is expected to reach $17.6 billion this year, up 3.3% over 2009, according to consumer spending researchers at IBISWorld.

That's a big payday, and one that investors should be paying attention to.

Retailers appear to have been rescued at the last minute, according to data from the International Council of Shopping Centers. Shoppers looking for deals the week before Christmas -- and making up for the day lost to stormy weather on the East Coast -- spent aggressively, sparing the retail sector a dismal 2008-like performance.

The healthy conclusion to the holiday season led to a positive change from November and made December one of only three months (including September and October) in which retail sales increased year-over-year.

Sluggish retail sales in November didn't stop retailers from adding bodies. A report by outplacement consulting company Challenger, Gray & Christmas, reavealed to BloggingStocks, shows that retail sector payrolls grew to 321,300 in November, an improvement from the previous month's 233,700. This follows 54,200 retail hires in October, bringing the total number of seasonal retail employees up to 375,500. Already, that comes close to the 384,300 hired from October through December in 2008. The analysis is based on data supplied by the Department of Labor.

High expectations for the holiday season likely contributed to the up-tick in hiring. The estimated 0.5% growth from Black Friday 2008 to Black Friday 2009 was a disappointment, and November sales were off 0.3%, surprising analysts, who expected the trend to go in the other direction. Costco (COST) and Limited Brands (LTD) came out ahead, but most retailers, including Target (TGT) and Macy's (M) struggled. Saks (SKS) is also suffering from an anemic luxury goods market.

Two months of momentum and Black Friday weren't enough to make November a winner for retailers. The holiday shopping season kickoff was up only 0.5% year-over-year, and the month as a whole saw retail sales fall 0.3% year-over-year. As if the drop weren't bad enough, it's a decline on top of last year's November retail freefall, which means we went from bad to worse.

Meanwhile, analysts had expected a strong increase. U.S. government data on retail sales isn't due to be reported until December 11, 2009, and it's expected to be a better indicator of the sector's performance. The data released Thursday doesn't include sales by Wal-Mart (WMT).

Analyst upgrades:

• Stephens upgraded Quidel (QDEL) to equal weight from underweight on valuation following the recent pullback in shares. The firm keeps a $16 price target on the stock.
• UBS upgraded Clearwire (CLWR) to neutral from sell, citing the company's funding, which increases opportunities. The firm raised its price target to $6 from $3.
• Oppenheimer upgraded Mattson Technology (MTSN) to outperform from perform on expectations the company will benefit from a cyclical recovery in memory capex spending in 2010. The firm raised its target on shares to $4 from $3.
• Eli Lilly (LLY) was upgraded to sell from conviction sell at Goldman.
• Kinross Gold (KGC) was upgraded to overweight from neutral at JPMorgan.
• Limited Brands (LTD) was upgraded to hold from sell at Soleil.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• ADC Telecommunications Inc. (ADCT) posted a surprise net loss for Q4 and predicted a loss in Q1.
• BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. (BJ) shares fell after Q3 earnings met expectations and offered guidance for FY.
• Dell Inc. (DELL) posted lower-than-expected Q3 earnings, prompting a sell-off of shares.
• Foot Locker Inc. (FL) said Q3 earnings slumped more than analysts' forecast, sending shares lower.
• Gap Inc. (GPS) reported growth of EPS and revenue in Q3 and announced a share buyback program.

Yamana Gold (NYSE: AUY) closed at $11.79. Gold is recently up 0.40% to $1093.70 according to Bloomberg. AUY November option implied volatility is at 60; January is at 59; versus its 26-week average of 59, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Limited (NYSE: LTD) closed at $17.89. LTD reported comparable store sales decreased 2% for Q3. LTD is expected to report Q3 EPS on November 19. LTD November option implied volatility is at 60; December is at 56 above its 26-week average of 53, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Analyst upgrades:

• FBR Capital upgraded AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) to Market Perform from Underperform on valuation following the company's Q4 results but lowered its target on shares to $134 from $137.
• Citigroup upgraded Calpine (NYSE: CPN) to Buy from Hold on valuation following Wednesday's sell-off. The firm believes Harbinger's share sale reflects an issue with the shareholders, not with the company, and raised its price target on the stock to $16.50 from $13.
• Credit Suisse upgraded Knight Transportation (NYSE: KNX) to Neutral from Underperform and raised its target to $17 from $16 based on valuation and the improved freight environment.
• Citrix Systems (NASDAQ: CTXS) was upgraded to Conviction Buy from Buy at Goldman.
• Webster Financial (NYSE: WBS) was upgraded to Outperform from Sector Perform at RBC Capital.
• Dr. Reddy's Labs (NYSE: RDY) was upgraded to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE: ARO) strong Q2 results beat expectations due to rising same-store sales.
• Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) Q3 earnings topped low expectations and revenue declined.
• Analog Devices Inc. (NYSE: ADI) posted better-than-expected Q3 results but shares fell on weaker margins.
• Baidu Inc. (NASDAQ: BIDU) CEO said its new advertising efforts will boost sales over the long run.
• Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) had a better-than-expected Q2 profit but same-store sales fell.
• BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. (NYSE: BJ) reported solid Q2 numbers and raised its full-year guidance.

Limited Brands (NYSE: LTD), whose colleagues include Gap (NYSE: GPS) and Hanesbrands (NYSE: HBI), is one sexy company. It operates the Victoria's Secret chain of stores among other concepts. However, it's been having trouble increasing sales and income during the recession -- like every other retailer out there, of course. But the stock has been strong, and the bulls have yet more evidence that their thesis on the business might be justified.

Limited Brands reported second quarter results Wednesday after the close. Its adjusted earnings were 19 cents per share versus 27 cents per share in the comparable period last year. Total sales dropped 9.5%, and same-store revenues collapsed 9%. With numbers like those, where do I get the idea that the bulls might have a case?