The calendar quarter winds down this week and quarterly reports are due from Apollo Group (APOL), CarMax (KMX), Global Payments (GPN), Krispy Kreme (KKD), Lennar (LEN) and McCormick (MKC). But analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters have high hopes for results from fertilizer and animal feed maker Mosaic (MOS), apparel maker Phillips Van Heusen (PVH) and discount retailer Family Dollar (FDO). So here's a look at what they anticipate from these three companies.

Mosaic

During its fiscal second quarter, Cargill agreed to distribute its stake in Mosaic, and Mosaic also said it would redeem senior notes. Analysts anticipate that the Minnesota-based potash producer will report per-share earnings of $1.07, a jump of 53.3% from the same quarter of last year. Mosaic also is expected to post revenue of $2.4 billion for the three months that ended in February. That's a 35.9% rise from a year earlier.

So I haven't been fully behind the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (KKD) thesis. Sorry, it's just the way I am; I haven't been able to gather the amount of courage that is necessary to allow me to buy this low-priced equity.

Yet the stock is firmly above its 52-week low of $2.56. It rose 4.7% on Friday, settling out at a quote of $4.46. That price may be well below the 52-week high of $5.15, but it doesn't matter to the speculators who bought ahead of the second-quarter earnings report that was posted after the bell this past Thursday. They made money.

Investors nervous about the possibly stalled economic recovery -- or worse, the beginning of the latter phase of a double-dip recession -- were not pleased with last week's housing numbers. Things were perhaps ameliorated somewhat by durable goods order numbers and a revised GDP that weren't as bad as expected, but that didn't stop the Dow from dipping below 10,000 later in the week, before fighting its way back above the benchmark to end the week, thanks largely to Fed chair Bernanke's comments on Friday.

Though the end of August is usually quiet, this week lots more economic data are due out, including more housing numbers: The Case-Shiller Home Price Index for June on Tuesday, construction spending numbers for July on Wednesday, and NAR's pending home sales for July on Thursday. There's not expected to be much to get excited about in these numbers.

Today's market might have been sparked by jobs if you read around the web, but Chinese export gains and overseas market gains coupled with a Euro recovery probably added more fuel to the buying fire than anything.

Here were today's unofficial closing bell levels:

Dow 10,172.53 +273.28 (2.76%)
S&P 500 1,086.84 +31.15 (2.95%)
Nasdaq 2,218.71 +59.86 (2.77%)

Top Analyst Calls

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (KKD) is not a stock I'm likely to buy. It's a single-digit equity, and the company has had its problems over the years. And even though it has seen its share of run-ups in the recent past, as the this chart indicates, I still am reticent to trade it (although, as a trading vehicle, I'm sure some of the Wall Street pros love it).

What does the most recent fundamental data say about the business? Actually, it isn't too bad, for the most part. Net income went up 100% to 6 cents per share in Q1, and same-store sales rose 3.4%, according to this BusinessWeek.

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

• Advance Auto Parts Inc. (AAP) was downgraded due to concerns about its 2010 earnings outlook.
• Analogic Corp. (ALOG) received an analyst's downgrade after it reported weaker-than-expected earnings.
• AutoZone Inc. (AZO) strong Q1 results beat earnings expectations, but shares rose only a little.
• BWAY Holding Co. (BWY) received an analyst's upgrade following release of its Q4 results.
• Casey's General Stores Inc. (CASY) topped Q2 earnings estimates but lower revenue fell short.
• Ciena Corp. (CIEN) shares plummeted after it fell short of its earnings expectations for Q4.

Doughnut dean Krispy Kreme (KKD) baked up its third-quarter earnings, revealing a net loss of four cents per share. The quarterly earnings reflect provisions for the settlement of litigation and related legal costs, which totaled three cents per share. A year ago, Krispy Kreme lost nine cents per share in the third quarter.

Krispy Kreme's president and CEO noted, "Our results continued to improve year-over-year in the third quarter ... Our improved results are evidence of progress in implementing our strategic initiatives, which have us on a path toward building a growing, profitable business that is sustainable for the long term."

The earnings season, like the calendar year, is winding down. The sprinkling of quarterly results scheduled for this coming week include S&P 500 components AutoZone (AZO), Ciena (CIEN), H&R Block (HRB) and National Semiconductor (NSM), as well as Dollar General (DG), Imperial Sugar (IPSU), Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (KKD), Men's Wearhouse (MW), Talbots (TLB) and others.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect to see strong year-over-year and sequential EPS growth from luxury watchmaker Movado Group Inc. (MOV). During its third quarter of fiscal 2010, this Paramus, N.J.-based company was recognized for its innovative use of technology and it reported a big profit decline for the second quarter.

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

• Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF) earnings prospects and declining sales resulted in a downgrade.
• America's Car-Mart Inc. (NASDAQ: CRMT) stronger-than-expected Q1 results led shares to a four-year high.
• ArcSight Inc. (NASDAQ: ARST) reported strong Q1 numbers on increasing demand for cyber security.
• Brown-Forman Inc. (NYSE: BF.B) Q1 results easily topped expectations despite a decline in revenue.
• Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) posted a Q3 loss but revenue improved sequentially, and shares rose.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE: KKD) reported results for the second quarter on Thursday after the bell. I haven't been a huge fan of this company, but I will concede that some of the data in the release is interesting. Maybe even encouraging.

The same-store sales went up 5.9% -- they were terrible last year at this time. Same-store sales are, as we all know, a very key metric for a business like Krispy Kreme. And the performance served as a positive counterargument to the 12% decrease in the top line.

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

• Aetna Inc. (NYSE: AET) lowered its 2009 earnings guidance, initially sending the share price lower.
• Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) reported a bigger-than-expected Q2 net loss as revenues sank.
• Collective Brands Inc. (NYSE: PSS) saw Q1 earnings and sales decline, but beat Wall Street estimates.
• Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) earnings prospects led Goldman Sachs analysts to increase its forecasts.
• Guess? Inc. (NYSE: GES) weak Q1 results topped estimates and it offered guidance that pleased investors.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts' (NYSE: KKD) stock has had a nice run of late. It's doubled so far on the year-to-date frame. Is there something to this story? Before, there was nothing. Krispy Kreme has been a very troubled business, and it would be very difficult to convince me otherwise. But, have things changed?

Well, net income did drop in Q1. Krispy Kreme said it made t $0.03 per share. Last year at this time, the doughnut guru earned $0.06 per share. Although the profit decline isn't attractive, I liked the comps. Same-store sales at company locations increased over 2%.

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

• Analogic Corp. (NASDAQ: ALOG) Q1 earnings plunged well below expectations due to costs.
• CKE Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: CKR) solid Q3 earnings were in line with analysts expectations.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) beat Q1 expectations and same-stores sales increased.
• Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW) lowered its guidance and announced layoffs and factory closings.
• Eastman Kodak Co. (NYSE: EK) withdrew its guidance due in part to weak consumer spending.
• Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) lowered its outlook due to weaker-than-expected holiday sales.
• Eli Lilly & Co. (NYSE: LLY) offered a full-year profit forecast that missed analysts' expectations.
• FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) lowered its earnings guidance and announced price increases.
• FuelCell Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: FCEL) reported a deeper-than-expected loss but topped sales estimates.
• H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) Q2 net loss was in line with expectations but revenue fell short.
• Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE: HIG) raised its full-year forecast, doubling the share price.
• Hooker Furniture Corp. (NASDAQ: HOFT) shares sold off following disappointing Q3 results and outlook.
• Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. (NYSE: KKD) reported a deeper-than-expected Q3 loss on increased costs.

Now, why on earth would anyone invest in Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE: KKD)? Sure, if you were bored one day and wanted to do some gambling because you couldn't make it to a casino, then you maybe could use a little bit of your risk capital to fool around with the everyday gyrations of the shares. Other than that, there's no reason to consider this once-hot stock of yesteryear.

As one might expect, Krispy Kreme reported a GAAP loss for the third quarter. The red ink was worth $0.09 per share, which was eight pennies worse than the previous year's quarter. The press release talks about a few factors that affected the dismal showing. Let's see, increased commodity costs led to higher doughnut-mix prices. Shortening was also more expensive. Then there was the increase in gasoline prices. Of course, the release was quick to point out that fuel prices did retreat recently, so I don't think the company will be able to use that excuse next time around. Krispy Kreme has a load of problems that go beyond the macro environment. Simply put, it's a mess of a company that needs to get its turnaround act in order.

Stepping away from the bleak GAAP picture for a moment, I will say that Krispy Kreme did improve its free-cash-flow prospects. Net cash from operations saw an increase, and capital expenditures saw a decrease. That may be a welcome improvement, but in no way does that mean I suddenly see value in this business. Krispy Kreme's brand equity needs a radical jumpstart, and I'm simply inclined to pass on the stock.

Disclosure: I don't own any company mentioned; positions can change at any time.

The clock is ticking and the pollsters are bouncing around faster than ever with varying results. My latest wager was not on a stock, but a box of 24 doughnuts with a friend who thinks McCain will win the election.

Given the post-Palin slide of the McCain campaign we have been hearing about for the past six weeks, I thought this was a sure thing. Then we learn -- not so fast folks! -- things can change.

Presidential Race Tightens, AP Poll Says Wow, I'll say, they can change. Is this a case of "better the devil we know than the angel we don't"? Although many voters have a throw the bums out mentality, putting Republicans out of favor for the moment, in times of crises perhaps people are rethinking whether they would not prefer the familiar to the enchanting.

This seems to be the election of the enchanted so far. Barack Obama and John McCain were underdogs at the beginning of the presidential primaries but have withstood their critics harshest blows and came out on top.