Shares of The Boston Beer Company (NYSE: SAM) surged to a new 52-week high Friday morning, after the brewmaster reported a third-quarter profit of $10.4 million, or 72 cents per share, on revenue of $108.7 million. The company swung to a loss of 2 cents per share in the third quarter of 2008, but attributed its turnaround to strong shipments and decreased advertising expenses.

The results were better than analysts expected, with consensus estimates calling for Boston Beer to bank a profit of 39 cents per share on $107.5 million. Looking forward, Boston Beer now expects full-year earnings of $1.75 per share to $2.05 per share, a marked increased from its prior forecast for a 2009 profit of $1.40 per share to $1.70 per share.

Traders initially seemed thrilled with Wednesday's third-quarter earnings report from Lumber Liquidators (NYSE: LL), but the stock then backpedaled into the red. The retailer banked a quarterly profit of $7.8 million, or 28 cents per share, up from its year-ago net income of $5.5 million, or 20 cents per share. Revenue for the period surged 14% to $140.5 million. The results comfortably outpaced analysts' consensus estimates, which called for a profit of 24 cents per share on $137.1 million in revenue.

Looking ahead, Lumber Liquidators is forecasting full-year revenue of $535 million to $543 million, up from its previous guidance of $528 million to $538 million. Earnings for fiscal 2009 are expected to range between 90 cents and 95 cents per share, compared to the retailer's previous forecast of 85 cents to 91 cents per share. Wall Street, on average, is expecting full-year earnings of 90 cents per share on $537.1 million.

Rite Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD) wallowed in the red Thursday morning, after the drugstore chain disappointed Wall Street with its second-quarter earnings and full-year guidance.

Rite Aid said its quarterly loss narrowed to $116 million, or 14 cents per share, while revenue dwindled 2.7% to $6.3 billion. Same-store sales dipped 1.1%, while gross margin contracted from 27.4% to 26.7%.

Many investors know about the key metrics that provide clues regarding the U.S. economy's health, and where it's likely to head, near-term.

Retail sales, housing starts, UPS (NYSE: UPS) / Fed Ex (NYSE: FDX) deliveries and, of course, those infamous corrugated box orders, all provide clues about demand at the retail and wholesale levels, and are positively correlated with increases in U.S. GDP.

Then there are those lower-profile metrics that experienced investors monitor -- and new investors are highly recommended to do so, as well. One such metric: Stanley Works (NYSE: SWK) and on Thursday the hardware and tool giant provided yet another bearish data point for the U.S economy and stock market.

New Britain, Conn.-based Stanley lowered 2008 full-year earnings guidance to $3.30-$3.40 per share, down about 35-45 cents from previous guidance, and also announced it would lay-off 2,000 employees, or about 10% of its work force, citing rapidly deteriorating business conditions. Further, Stanley said "economic conditions remain too variable to warrant issuing formal 2009 guidance at this time."

The Reuters 2008 EPS consensus estimate for Stanley is $4.30. Stanley's shares Thursday closed down $2.02 to $32.30.

Coal-mining concern Alpha Natural Resources (NYSE: ANR) is trading sharply lower today after cutting its full-year earnings and production forecasts. Due to lower coal demand from steelmakers, ANR now expects net income of $175 million to $185 million for fiscal 2008. Previously, the commodity firm predicted full-year earnings of $230 million to $270 million.

As a result of waning demand, shipments of metallurgical coal will be reduced by about 500,000 tons in the fourth quarter. Going forward, ANR stated, "the outlook for metallurgical coal sales shipments and pricing will remain uncertain until such time as the financial markets begin improving and economic activity shows tangible signs of recovery."

Additionally, Alpha said it will close its mining operations at West Virginia's Whitetail Kittanning mining complex. The company is citing "adverse geologic conditions and regulatory requirements" for the shutdown, which will occur at the end of December. A total of 329 employees will be affected by the closure.

One hears the mantra almost daily, often from friends and relatives:

Aren't stocks cheap? Look at those low P/Es! GE is at $15 a share, Intel below $14, Du Pont at about $27. My goodness, the Dow is down to 8,200. Isn't now a good time to buy stocks?

It is, if you believe the Dow is forming a bottom and/or that the worst of the financial crisis is behind us, and the U.S. economy is set to recover.

However, the alternate viewpoint argues that the Dow has not bottomed, could very well fall another 1,000 points, with panic selling (known as 'capitulation' in Wall Street circles) taking the Dow to levels well below that, at least for a short period of time, possibly longer.

Hence, purchasing shares for the first time now (or adding to existing positions) given the latter scenario would create an immediate 10% loss, or possibly more.

Monitor corporate earnings and job growth

What's a better tack to take concerning when to buy more shares? Monitor U.S. corporate earnings and job growth.

TJX Cos. (NYSE: TJX) - parent of the T.J. Maxx, HomeGoods, and Marshalls chains of discount retailers - said this morning that third-quarter profit jumped 13% to $249.5 million, or 54 cents per share. This figure was a penny shy of analysts' consensus estimate of 55 cents.

Revenue rose 6% during the 3-month reporting period to $4.74 billion from $4.47 billion in the year-ago period. Same-store sales jumped 3%. This headline number also failed to meet Street expectations of $4.79 billion.

Company president/CEO Carol Meyrowitz was quoted by Dow Jones as noting that while warm fall weather curbed demand slightly, "as the weather cooled towards the end of the quarter, we saw a strong surge in sales and demand for cold weather apparel."