Activision Blizzard (ATVI) will be issuing its third-quarter earnings release on Thursday, November 4. How should investors view the stock?

Right now, I'm not so positive on the shares. They were trading at a quote of $11.39 at the time of this writing. The 52-week low for the shares is $9.93; the 52-week high is $12.58. The chart shows an up-down pattern that probably doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in investors. You get the feeling that putting capital to work in this name will inevitably lead to a dead-money situation.

Early Tuesday morning, oil giant BP (BP) is scheduled to release its third-quarter 2010 financial results, the same quarter in which the disastrous Gulf oil spill was finally capped. So what are the analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expecting?

During the three months that ended in September, London-based BP also announced post-Gulf spill changes and plans to reinstate its dividend. Its earnings for that period are forecast to come to $1.51 per share, which is about the same as in the year-ago period. But revenue is expected to be 6.8% higher year over year to $72.5 billion.

Texas Instruments (TXN), which boosted its quarterly dividend last week, is scheduled to discuss its third-quarter 2010 financial results Monday, October 25, in a conference call with CFO Kevin March, beginning at 5:30 PM (ET) . You can catch a live webcast of the call at the company's website.

During the three months that ended in September, the Dallas-based semiconductor maker continued to innovate and sold a product line to Intel (INTC). Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for Texas Instruments to report that its earnings for that period rose 39.1% from a year ago to 69 cents per share. Revenue is expected to total $3.7 billion, which is a increase of 28.1% from the same period of last year.

Bank of America (BAC), which recently announced it would halt foreclosures nationwide, is scheduled to discuss its third-quarter 2010 financial results Tuesday, October 19, in a conference call beginning at 8:30 AM (ET). You can catch a live webcast of the call at the company's website.

During the three months that ended in September, Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank of America continued it mortgage modification efforts and declared a quarterly dividend. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for the leading lender to report that its earnings for that period were 16 cents per share, compared to a loss of 26 cents per share a year ago. Revenue is expected to total $27.2 billion, which is a 4.3% increase from the same period of last year.

Domino's Pizza (DPZ) introduced a rather interesting advertising campaign recently -- advertising the negative statements some of its customers have made. The most notable comments were made about the taste of the pizza and the quality of the ingredients.

Following the campaign, the company has introduced the first new specialty pizza under its new recipe, the Wisconsin 6 Cheese Pizza. The new pie will feature six different cheeses (obviously) on the company's new crust and with its new sauce. But the new pizza isn't the only news coming from Domino's. Next week, the pizzeria will report third-quarter earnings.

Google (GOOG) is getting ready to report third-quarter results Thursday after the bell. I have to wonder what plans the traders have for the stock. As I wrote back in September, I'm long-term bullish on the company. Nevertheless, just about any equity can be used as a vehicle for short-term gains, although playing such a game can be very difficult (not to mention dangerous).

To get the fundamental preview stats for Thursday's earnings release, check out this article. As for the technical aspects of the story, have a look at the one-year chart. The stock has been rising since around the end of August.

The Mosaic Company (MOS) is slated to take its turn on the earnings stage after Monday's closing bell, with the agricultural chemical concern set to unveil its fiscal first-quarter results.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are anticipating a profit of 72 cents per share, substantially higher than the company's year-ago earnings of 23 cents per share. Mosaic has a dismal history in the earnings spotlight, having fallen short of Wall Street's consensus profit expectations in three of the past four quarters.

Consulting firm Accenture (ACN) will be reporting its fiscal fourth quarter earnings after the market close tomorrow, with analysts expecting to see the company report earnings of $0.63 per share, in-line with the same period last year.

The company has issued its guidance, and expects to see revenues in a range of $5.15 to $5.35 billion. For full year earnings, the company now expects earnings somewhere between $2.61 to $2.69, on the lower end of previous guidance.

Walgreen Co. (WAG), which recently began carrying fresh fruit and vegetables in some of its stores, is scheduled to discuss its fourth-quarter fiscal 2010 financial results Tuesday, September 28, in a conference call beginning at 8:30 AM (ET). You can catch a live webcast of the call at the company's website.

During the three months that ended in August, Deerefield, Ill.-based Walgreen launched a social responsibility website and boosted its dividend. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for the drugstore chain operator to report that its earnings for that period were about the same as a year ago, or 44 cents per share. Revenue is expected to total $16.8 billion, which is a 7.3% increase from the same period of last year. And for the full year, analysts forecast EPS of $2.12 (+4.7%) on revenue of $67.4 billion (+6.4%).

One of the most prominent quarterly reports scheduled this week, as the quarter winds down, comes from Walgreen (WAG). Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for the drugstore chain operator to report Tuesday that its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings were about the same as a year ago, or 45 cents per share. Note, though, that Walgreen fell short of earnings expectations in the previous two quarters.

During the three months that ended in August, Deerefield, Ill.-based Walgreen launched a social responsibility website and boosted its dividend. Revenue for that period is expected to total $16.8 billion, which is a 7.3% increase from the same period of last year. And for the full year, analysts forecast EPS of $2.12 (+4.7%) on revenue of $67.4 billion (+6.4%).

International shipper FedEx (FDX) will get its chance to impress Wall Street tomorrow when it reports its fiscal first quarter results.

Headed into tomorrow's report, analysts are expecting to see earnings of $1.21 per share. During the same period last year the company had earnings of $0.58.

Three of Canada's big five banks reported quarterly results last week. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce's (CM) profit surged, topping consensus estimates. However, Royal Bank of Canada (RY) missed estimates for the fourth straight time. And though Bank of Montreal's (BMO) net income grew, it too fell short of expectations.

So what does that do for expectations for Bank of Nova Scotia (BNS) and Toronto-Dominion (TD), which are scheduled to report this week?

Lowe's Companies Inc. (LOW), the nation's number two home improvement superstore chain, is scheduled to discuss its second-quarter 2010 financial results Monday, August 16, in a conference call beginning at 9:00 AM (ET) hosted by CEO Robert A. Niblock and CFO Robert F. Hull, Jr. You can catch a live webcast at the Lowe's website.

During the three months that ended in July, Lowe's increased its quarterly dividend. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect this Mooresville, N.C.-based company to report earnings of $0.59 per share, up from $0.54 per share in the year-ago period. Its revenue is expected to have risen 4.9% from a year ago to $14.5 billion.