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

• Bob Evans Farms Inc. (NASDAQ: BOBE) posted stronger-than-expected Q4 earnings.
• Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) beat earnings expectations, but share prices slipped anyway.
• Daktronics Inc. (NASDAQ: DAKT) Q4 results beat expectations and it raised its revenue outlook.
• Diageo (NYSE: DEO) is recession-proof and should deliver solid results, predicts one adviser.
• Donaldson Company Inc. (NYSE: DCI) beat Q3 expectations and raised its full-year guidance.
• Ensco International Inc. (NYSE: ESV) was upgraded because of its earnings growth potential.
• Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LEH) earnings prospects don't impress Jim Cramer.
• Netezza Corp. (NYSE: NZ) beat Q1 expectations and offered full-year revenue guidance.
• Potash Corp. (NYSE: POT) earnings are "set to soar" says one analyst, due to rising demand and prices.
• Sherwin-Williams Co. (NYSE: SHW) lowered its Q2 and full-year forecasts, sending shares down.
• Take-Two Interactive Software Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO) beat Q2 estimates on Grand Theft Auto IV demand.
• Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) beat Q1 estimates but shares fell on the disappointing Q2 outlook.
• Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) was upgraded due to its earnings outlook and increased productivity.

See also: Earnings highlights: Toll Bros., National Semiconductor, Dr Pepper, Guess and others

Also, continued real estate losses are expected to hurt the quarterly reports of banks such as like Wachovia (NYSE: WB), Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC), and National City (NYSE: NCC). And Steven Mallas wonders why Playboy (NYSE: PLA) shares have tanked since its last earnings report.

Upcoming results to watch for include Krispy Kreme (NYSE: KKD), Pall Corp. (NYSE: PLL), Pep Boys (NYSE: PBY), Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY), and Casey's General Stores (NASDAQ: CASY).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Netezza Corporation (NYSE: NZ) provides data warehouse appliances. The company's Netezza Performance Server integrates database, server, and storage platforms in a purpose-built unit to enable detailed queries and analyses of stored data. The firm serves data-intensive enterprises in telecommunications, e-business, retailing, financial services, analytic services and healthcare. Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) is a major customer. IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) are competitors.

Netezza surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of three cents and revenues of $39.6 million. Analysts had been expecting two cents and $36.2 million. Management also guided FY09 revenues to $172 million, versus consensus of $166.65 million. Needham subsequently reiterated its "buy" rating on the issue.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• RBC initiated Visa Inc (NYSE: V) with an Outperform based on margin expansion opportunities, the secular growth story towards electronic payments, lack of credit risk, and international opportunities. Piper started Visa with a Neutral rating. While the firm believes that Visa should generate long-term earnings growth and free cash flow, the firm thinks that Visa's valuation has increased the risk that strong earnings growth may not meet investors' expectations. However, the firm believes that Visa can still post strong results despite the U.S. consumer slowdown. Goldman initiated Visa with a Buy rating and $90 target and Morgan Stanley started shares with an Equal Weight rating and $75 target.
• Citigroup rated Cardionet Inc (NASDAQ: BEAT) a Buy, citing favorable arrhythmia monitoring trends. The firm has a $26 target on Cardionet.
• Motorola Inc (NYSE: MOT) was assumed with an Equal Weight rating and $75 target at Morgan Stanley on valuation.

• Merriman initiated Netezza Corporation (NYSE: NZ) with a Neutral rating.
• Credit Suisse started Cascal N.V. (NYSE: HOO) with a Neutral rating and $11.65 target.

Here are a few highlights of this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) reported a record quarter due in part to improved distribution.
• Blyth Inc. (NYSE: BTH) trounced EPS estimates and raised its guidance.
• ConAgra Foods Inc. (NYSE: CAG) raised its earnings forecast for Q2 on strength in merchandising.
• Donaldson Co. (NYSE: DCI) beat estimates due to strength in international markets.
• J. Crew Group (NYSE: JCG) posted a solid quarter due to strength in both store and direct sales.
• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (NYSE: KKD) narrowed its loss, but foresees further store closures.
• Liquidity Services Inc. (NASDAQ: LQDT) posted a strong quarter, benefiting from the sluggish economy.
• Merck & Co. Inc.'s (NYSE: MRK) earnings forecasts for 2007 and 2008 fall short of expectations.
• Netezza Corp. (NYSE: NZ) beat expectations of both earnings and revenue.
• Palm Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) forecast a loss for the current quarter due to product delays.
• Royal Bank of Scotland's (NYSE: RBS) better-than-expected forecast buoyed European banks.
• SeaChange International (NASDAQ: SEAC) reported a profit when analysts expected a loss.
• Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM) had a "blowout" quarter, beating even the most optimistic analyst.
• SkillSoft (NASDAQ: SKIL) beat expectations of both earnings and revenue.
• Toll Brothers Inc. (NYSE: TOL) posted a lower-than-expected loss, its first quarterly loss in 21 years.

Also, Brian White looks at how loss of market share contributed to Dell Inc.'s (NASDAQ: DELL) recent results. Both Douglas McIntyre and Jim Cramer mull the effect on the cable industries of Comcast Corp.'s (NASDAQ: CMCSA) lowered guidance. And Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) is among retailers warning about earnings in the current quarter.

Upcoming results to watch for include: H&R Block (NYSE: HRB), Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), Costco (NASDAQ: COST), and Lehman Bros. (NYSE: LEH).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

Netezza Corporation (NYSE: NZ) provides data warehouse appliances. The company's Netezza Performance Server integrates database, server, and storage platforms in a purpose-built unit to enable detailed queries and analyses of stored data. The firm serves companies in telecommunications, e-business, retail, financial services, analytic services, government and healthcare. Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) is a major customer. IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Oracle (NASDAQ: ORCL) are competitors.

Netezza surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q3 EPS of four cents and revenues of $33.4 million. Analysts had been expecting breakeven earnings and revenues of $29.4 million. The company had no outstanding debt at the end of the quarter. Management also guided FY08 revenues to about $120 million ($115.37M consensus) and FY09 revenues to about $160 million ($149.53M consensus). Needham subsequently reiterated its "buy" rating on the issue and boosted its price target to $19. NZ shares popped on the news and then moved into the initial stage of a bullish "pennant" consolidation pattern. Prices frequently exit pennants moving in the same direction they were traveling on entry. In this case, that would be to the upside.