Late Monday, Standard & Poor's announced that Dress Barn (DBRN) has been selected to join its S&P MidCap 400 Index (MID). The retailer will replace outgoing MID member Terra Industries (TRA), which is in the process of being acquired by CF Industries (CF).

Dress Barn is slated to join MID after the close of trading on Friday, April 9, when CF's exchange offer to acquire Terra is expected to be complete. Meanwhile, NorthWestern Corp. (NWE) will step into Dress Barn's former spot in the S&P SmallCap 600 Index (SML).

Dress Barn (DBRN), an apparel retailer that counts Kohl's (KSS) as a related company, posted second-quarter stats yesterday after the bell. Today, shares are trading higher thanks to the good news implied within the figures.

The first thing to know is that you can basically disregard the 73% increase in total sales. Remember that this was the result of an acquisition, which I mentioned back in September. The same-store revenue metric really comes into play with this report: it went up a very appealing 10%. On an adjusted basis, the business made 37 cents per share. What a difference a year makes, because in the comparable frame, 3 cents per share was actually lost.

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

• Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) just beat low Q3 earnings estimates but revenue also declined.
• Best Buy Co. Inc. (NYSE: BBY) earnings fell short of estimates but revenue was better than expected.
• Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. (NASDAQ: CBRL) posted better-than-expected Q4 earnings.
• Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) posted a surprise Q3 profit but shares rose slightly on the news.
• Dress Barn Inc. (NASDAQ: DBRN) reported modest growth in both net income and revenue in Q4.
• FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) said that its Q1 earnings and revenue dropped but its cash flow has improved.

Dress Barn (NASDAQ: DBRN), a retailer that specializes in casual fashion, issued results for the fourth quarter on Wednesday after the bell. Net sales increased 4%, and adjusted income came in at 39 cents per diluted share versus 34 cents per diluted share one year ago.

The growth rates weren't all that notable, but Dress Barn, which counts Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) as a colleague, beat estimates, according to Reuters. The call was for 37 cents per share. The top line essentially met expectations.

Memphis-based package delivery giant FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) is generally seen as an indicator of the state of commerce in the U.S. Last week, not only did the Fed's Beige Book report suggest that the economy had stabilized over the summer, with signs of recovery in some districts, But FedEx also boosted its earnings guidance due to stronger-than-expected volume in its international priority-delivery service. So a question going in to FedEx's fiscal first-quarter report this week is whether the company is still a bellwether.

For the three months that ended in August, when FedEx opened distribution hubs in Chicago and Toledo and declared a quarterly dividend, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for it to report that earnings fell 60.2% from a year ago to $0.49 per share. That's also down 23.4% from the previous quarter, as well as less than the recently updated outlook. First quarter revenue is expected to be down 18.3% from a year ago to $8.2 billion.

Last week, JA Solar Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JASO) posted a quarterly loss and lowered its guidance. But as interest in alternative energy continues to grow, analysts polled by Thomson Financial are still looking for good things from solar energy concerns scheduled to report earnings this week.

Strong growth at Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) in the third quarter prompted it to lift its guidance back in October. Analysts expect the Chinese company to post profits that are 76.3% higher than a year ago, or $1.18 per share on revenues of $268.4 million (+225.0%). Though Trina Solar missed estimates in the second quarter, analysts on average recommend buying TSL. Shares are down 81.4% from a year ago and trading near an all-time low.

Earnings of rival LDK Solar Co. Ltd. (NYSE: LDK) are expect to have risen 47.9% to $0.71 per share on revenues of $486.7 million (+206.6%). Also based in China, LDK has not missed estimates in recent quarters; in fact, it blew past expectations in the second quarter. Yet the consensus recommendation is to hold LDK. Like Trina Solar, LDK's shares are trading near an all-time low; the share price has fallen 50.0% in the past year.

Analysts anticipate third-quarter earnings for Canadian Solar Inc. (NASDAQ: CSIQ) to be a whopping 96.3% higher than a year ago, or $0.54 per share on revenues of $248.0 million (+154.5%). The company easily topped estimates in the previous quarter. ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) and Suntech Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NYSE: STP) are also expected to report earnings growth of 29.7% ($0.37 per share) and 23.8% ($0.42 per share), respectively. All three of these stocks reached 52-week lows last week, and all are considered buys.

Last week's preview raised the question of whether consumers were turning to comfort foods in these uncertain times, specifically in terms of second quarter earnings of Campbell Soup (NYSE: CPB) and Krispy Kreme (NYSE: KKD). Campbell's strong earnings growth topped expectations, while Krispy Kreme narrowed its loss, though it fell short of estimates.

This coming week should bring reports from more food-related companies, from cereal maker General Mills and food packager CongAgra to grocery chain Kroger, to the parent companies of restaurants Cracker Barrel, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, Carl's Jr., and Hardees. Also look for reports from tech-related companies such as Oracle, Adobe, and Palm, as well as from financials Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs, and from economic bellwether FedEx.

Here's what analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial are expecting from some of the companies reporting earnings this week, as compared to their results from the same period of last year:

Father's Day is around the corner. Why not spend some time looking at the coming earnings and how Dad's Day may have an impact. It is funny to see how many of the companies reporting earnings this week actually have links to Father's Day.

While this column has been obviously bearish of late, there are a few potential winners that may appear, just in time for the big day. Time to stock up on gifts for dear-ole-dad, or get farther away from stocks? You tell me... (by the way, comments and ideas are always appreciated)

Monday, May 26

Markets will be flat. I am certain that stocks on the U.S. Market will close at the exact price they closed last Friday. But what do I know!

Women's apparel retailer Dress Barn (NASDAQ: DBRN) took its turn in the earnings confessional this morning, reporting a 38% increase in fourth-quarter profit. The company posted a profit of $33.6 million, or 48 cents per share, up from $24.4 million (35 cents) in the year-ago period.

Excluding unique items, DBRN would have earned 45 cents per share, topping analysts' expectations of 42 cents. Sales were up 11% during the reporting period to $379.9 million - above the consensus view of $377.1 million - and same-store sales grew by 5%.

DBRN officials were realistic about the current economic environment, however. While the trendier maurices brand has continued to post strong sales, economic concerns have indirectly resulted in greater-than-expected inventory levels at the eponymous Dressbarn chain. As a result, first-quarter markdowns have increased. For fiscal 2008, Dress Barn expects to earn between $1.40 and $1.50 per share, below analysts' outlook of $1.54 per share (before items). Same-store sales are expected to rise 3% to 4%.

Dress Barn (NASDAQ: DBRN) shares are trading nearly 6% higher this afternoon on the heels of its strong third-quarter earnings release. The retailer, which also parents the Maurice's chain of trendy apparel, said quarterly income reached $23.1 million, or 33 cents per share, up from $20 million (29 cents) last year. Sales were 6% higher at $347.9 million. Same-store sales rose 2% during the three-month period, while May same-store sales surged 10%.

Results were mixed in terms of Wall-Street estimates; analysts were expecting per-share earnings of 31 cents on $350 million in revenue.

The future looks bright, as Dress Barn officials lifted the company's full-year guidance to a range of $1.38 to $1.40 per share, up from previous targets of $1.30 to $1.35 per share. Analysts are currently targeting per-share earnings of $1.33.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Three consumer financial services companies, CBS Corp (CBS) and Dress Barn, Inc (DBRN) were today's noteworthy initiations:

• Calyon initiated three consumer financial services companies:
  
• American Express Co (NYSE: AXP) was initiated with a Buy rating and $67 target, based on valuation.
  
• Capital One Financial Corp (NYSE: COF) was initiated with an Add rating, as the firm believes shares should be valued in-line with comparable banks, but feels the best investors should hope for is $90/share by year-end given the current market conditions.
  
• MasterCard Inc (NYSE: MA) was started with an Add rating and $123 target, as the firm believes shares should perform well in an environment in which concerns over credit risk remain paramount.

• CBS Corp (NYSE: CBS) was initiated with an Outperform rating at Wachovia, which expects accelerated growth in 2008.

• CIBC started Dress Barn Inc (NASDAQ: DBRN) with a Sector Performer rating, citing valuation.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Lazard initiated Terremark Worldwide, Inc (AMEX: TWW) with a Buy rating and $10 target.

• BB&T assumed coverage of Aaron Rents, Inc (NYSE: RNT) with a Buy rating and $30 target.

• Merrill Lynch reinstated Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc (NYSE: FCX) with a Neutral rating.

• Jefferies started NYMEX Holdings, Inc (NYSE: NMX) with a Hold rating and $140 target on valuation.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Hansen Natural (HANS) and SAP AG (SAP) were the notable initiations today:

• JP Morgan initiated Hansen Natural Corp. (NASDAQ:HANS) with an Overweight rating and $44 target and was added to the Focus List; the firm believes Hansen is well-positioned to benefit in the rapid energy drink category, has an attractive business model and, based on its growth potential, could be an attractive acquisition target.
• Bank of America resumed their coverage of SAP AG (NYSE:SAP) with a Neutral rating and $55 target, seeing few catalysts to create an upside to consensus estimates.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• Roth Capital initiated Kana Software Inc. (NASDAQ:KANA) with a Buy rating and $4 target, explaining that demand environment for the customer service segment of CRM is attractive, as many vendors targeting the segment are reporting strong results.
• First Albany initiated Dress Barn Inc. (NASDAQ:DBRN) with a Buy rating and $28 target, and is positive on the company's momentum, value pricing and marketing efforts.
• JP Morgan started Hain Celestial Group Inc. (NASDAQ:HAIN) with an Overweight rating; they expect high-teen annual EPS growth and believe shares will outperform the group.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).

Before the opening bell, Melly Alazraki touched on some of the retail sales figures and reactions and I thought it might be interesting to update the graph I posted on Monday. The chart below shows the top and bottom performing stocks from the close on Wednesday, November 22.



When we looked at this data earlier in the week, we saw that the bulk of the returns were flat to lower. With the new sales figures now rolling in, along with some earnings reports, we see some stocks are starting to emerge as winners. DSW Inc. (NYSE:DSW), Dress Barn (NASDAQ:DBRN), and Hot Topic (NASDAQ:HOTT) are currently showing gains of at least five percent from where they stood ahead of Black Friday. DSW, the strongest stock on my list, reported better-than-expected earnings of 36 cents per share last night. The shares gapped higher on the open to tag a new high.

The bottom of the graph shows that Christopher & Banks Corp (NYSE:CBK), Bebe Stores (NASDAQ:BEBE), and Coldwater Creek (NASDAQ:CWTR) appear to be struggling through this holiday season.

When you look past the specialty stocks above, it seems that there is still an overall downside bias in the mainstay retail area. Well known names such as Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Federated Department Stores (NYSE:FD), Sears Holding (NASDAQ:SHLD), Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT), Best Buy (NYSE:BBY), The Gap (NYSE:GPS), Target (NYSE:TGT), and Home Depot (NYSE:HD) are still trading below their pre-Black-Friday levels.

Nick Perry is an analyst with Schaeffer's Investment Research.