Most of the S&P 500 companies have already reported earnings results for the most recent quarter. But scheduled to release their results this week are Medtronic (MDT) and Novell (NOVL), which analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect to post earnings per share (EPS) about same as last year, as well as JDS Uniphase (JDSU), Patterson Companies (PDCO) and Tiffany & Co. (TIF), for which analysts foresee year-over-year earnings growth. Of these, the expectations are highest for Tiffany.

During the three months that ended in July, Tiffany launched an iPhone app and increased its quarterly dividend. Analysts expect the New York-based specialty retailer to report that earnings per share came to 53 cents, a 26.4% increase from a year earlier. Second-quarter revenue is expected to have grown 12.8% to $690.8 million. So far, analysts predict full-year earnings of $2.61 per share (+22.9%) on $3.0 billion (+11.8%) in revenue. Earnings results topped consensus estimates in four of the past five quarters, by 11 cents per share in the first quarter.

Investors call services are pushing put option prices higher in the diversified utilities industry today.

Any time the volatility skews above 1.00, it is an indication that calls are more expensive than puts. Typically, when calls are more expensive than puts, it means the demand for calls is greater than the demand for puts because investors believe the stock is going to rise in the future and they want to take advantage of that movement by buying calls.

Below are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks. Click through to the original posts for more details.

• Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN) shares rallied on heavy volume after it posted better-than-expected Q1 earnings.
• AutoZone Inc. (AZO) Q3 earnings easily beat consensus expectations and same-store sales rose sharply.
• Borders Group Inc. (BGP) posted a wider operating loss, decreasing gross margin, and a same-store sales decline.
• Campbell Soup Co. (CPB) posted strong Q3 results and offered guidance, boosting shares on a down-market day.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) posted better-than-expected Q3 results, due in part to a surge in membership sales.

Thursday afternoon, Novell (NOVL) reported a fiscal second-quarter profit of 6 cents per share ($19.9 million) -- up from five cents per share ($15.6 million) a year earlier. Adjusted earnings checked in at seven cents per share, matching the consensus estimate. Quarterly revenue of $204 million also matched the Street's expectations. The firm's CFO Dana Russell noted that fiscal second-quarter revenues were in line with expectations and that profits were at the high end of the forecast range.

On March 2, hedge fund operator Elliott Associates made a $5.75 per share offer for Novell (NOVL). The valuation of the deal was roughly $2 billion.

Well, after much consideration, Novell has finally responded. And as should be no surprise, the company says the bid is "inadequate."

Results for the tech stocks in last week's preview were a mixed bag, some beats, some misses, some in line. By and large, expectations for tech companies reporting results this week remain high, though. Here's what analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial are anticipating in the way of earnings, as compared to the same period of the previous year.

• Solarfun Power Holdings Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: SOLF): $1.48 EPS (+73.0%) on sales of $1.3 billion (+171.0%)
• Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL): $0.21 EPS (+71.4%) on sales of $836.7 million (+27.4%)
• Solera Holdings Inc. (NYSE: SLH): $0.29 EPS (+51.7%) on sales of $137.0 million (+11.8%)
• Applied Signal Technology Inc. (NASDAQ: APSG): $0.14 EPS (+42.9%) on sales of $46.4 million (+17.4%)
• China Finance Online Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: JRJC): $0.14 EPS (+42.6%) on sales of $13.3 million (+131.5%)
• OSI Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: OSIS): $0.38 EPS (+36.8%) on sales of $162.0 million (+6.0%)
• LaBarge Inc. (AMEX: LB): $0.27 EPS (+33.3%) on sales of $71.6 million (+10.4%)
• Esterline Technologies Corp. (NYSE: ESL): $0.69 EPS (+11.6%) on sales of $374.6 million (+14.8%)
• Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL): $0.36 EPS (+11.1%) on sales of $15.9 billion (+7.8%)
• HEICO Corp. (NYSE: HEI): $0.46 EPS (+13.0%) on sales of $147.1 million (+10.5%)
• Daktronics Inc. (NASDAQ: DAKT): $0.17 EPS (flat) on sales of $141.5 million (+17.0%)
• Novell Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL): $0.05 EPS (flat) on sales of $241.4 million (-0.7%)
• Omnivision Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: OVTI): $0.29 EPS (-17.1%) on sales of $172.5 million (-0.4%)
• Sigma Designs Inc. (NASDAQ: SIGM): $0.39 EPS (-18.8%) on sales of $58.7 million (+37.9%)

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

• Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG) Q1 earnings rose 20%, driven by cash-strapped bargain hunters.
• Borders Group Inc. (NYSE: BGP) narrowed its loss in the first quarter though same-store sales fell.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) Q3 profits climbed 32%, beating analysts' estimates.
• Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) posted solid Q1 results that beat analysts' expectations (see the transcript).
• DSW Inc. (NYSE: DSW) Q1 earnings declined, hurt by weak same-store sales.
• H.J. Heinz Co. (NYSE: HNZ) better-than-expected Q4 results sent the stock to a 52-week high.
• Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: IART) beat Q4 estimates and offered Q1 guidance.
• J. Crew Group Inc. (NYSE: JCG) lowered its full-year forecast, leading to analyst downgrades.
• Joy Global Inc. (NASDAQ: JOYG) Q2 results beat expectations, and it raised its full-year guidance.
• Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (NYSE: LGF) posted record Q4 revenues but a bigger-than-expected loss.
• Marvell Technology Group (NASDAQ: MRVL) Q1 profits beat estimates and led to analyst upgrades.
• Medtronic Inc. (NYSE: MDT) beat Q4 estimates and offered full-year guidance.
• Novell Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) swung to a profit that was in line with analysts estimates.
• Salesforce.com Inc. (NYSE: CRM) Q1 revenues surged on new customers and demand in Asia.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Canaccord Adams expects Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AMZN) growth to be driven by its expanding international reach, mix shift to third-party revenue, product innovation, and category expansion. The firm initiated shares with a Buy rating and $78 target.
  
• UBS is positive on Altria's (NYSE: MO) growth, low likelihood of downward EPS revisions, and best-in-class cash flow distribution; shares were started with a Buy rating.
  
• Skilled Healthcare (NYSE: SKH) was initiated with an Outperform rating at Morgan Keegan, as they believe nursing home reimbursement risk is already reflected in its valuation.

• KeyBank assumed Callaway Golf (NYSE: ELY) with a Buy rating and $19 target.
  
• Credit Suisse initiated Intuit (NASDAQ: INTU) with an Outperform rating and $35 target.
  
• Broadpoint initiated Novell (NASDAQ: NOVL) with a Buy rating.

Here are highlights of some other earnings reports from Thursday:

• Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) reported a 21% increase in its fourth-quarter profit year over year. The $265 million, or 35 cents per share, matched analysts' expectations. Revenue totaled $4.68 billion, down 5% from the previous year.
• Kohls Corp. (NYSE: KSS) fourth-quarter profit fell about 15% year over year to $411.7 million, or $1.31 per share, just beating analysts' estimates. Sales rose less than 1% $5.49 billion, but same-store sales fell.
• Revlon Inc. (NYSE: REV) said Thursday it swung to a fourth-quarter profit of $40.8 million, or 8 cents per share, matching expectations. Revenue rose 1% to $382.6 million.
• Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit of $679 million, or 31 cents per share. Revenue rose to $16 billion from $14.5 billion a year ago.
• Novell Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) swung to a profit in its fiscal first quarter: $16.8 million, or 5 cents per share, matching expectations. Revenue rose to $230.9 million from $218.4 million a year ago.
• Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) reported that its loss widened to $2.5 billion, or $3.97 a share, in the fourth quarter as mortgage defaults increased. On Wednesday, Fannie Mae (NYSE: FNM) reported a $3.6 billion loss for the fourth quarter, or $3.80 a share.
• American International Group Inc. (NYSE: AIG) swung to a loss of $5.29 billion, or $2.08 per share, in the fourth quarter, on home loan related investment losses.
• Del Monte Foods Co. (NYSE: DLM) fiscal third-quarter 2008 net income rose 15% year over year to to $53.3 million, or 26 cents per share. Revenue rose 10% to $1 billion. Both EPS and revenue beat expectations.
• XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: XMSR) said narrowed its fourth-quarter loss to $239 million, or 78 cents per share, thanks to a 20% jump in revenue year over year to $307.7 million.

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

• Analogic Corp. (NASDAQ: ALOG) easily beat expectations, sending shares higher.
• Ciena Corp. (NASDAQ: CIEN) posted a loss and forecast sales for 2008 below estimates.
• Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.'s (NYSE: CCE) earnings outlook led shares to a 52-week high.
• Cooper Cos. (NYSE: COO) swung to a loss on acquistion costs and litigation.
• Copart Inc. (NASDAQ: CPRT) beat expectations, sending shares to a new high.
• Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) posted a solid quarter, in line with expectations.
• Cost Plus Inc. (NASDAQ: CPWM) posted a smaller-than-expected net loss.
• Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: FLE) narrowed its loss through improved efficiency.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) reaffirmed its 4Q forecast, but the forward outlook disappointed investors.
• H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) warned of a deep loss due to the mortgage meltdown.
• Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY) beat estimates and revised its guidance.
• Leap Wireless International Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP) posted a loss, but share prices rose anyway.
• Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: LEH) earnings fell for the third quarter in a row.
• Methode Electronics Inc. (NYSE: MEI) beat estimates, spurred by international sales.
• Novell Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) swung to a loss, surprising Wall Street.
• Synopsys Inc. (NASDAQ: SNPS) beat expectations and offered guidance.
• Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN) raised its guidance for the fourth quarter.

For more than a week, Novell, Inc. (Nasdaq: NOVL) has delayed its earnings. But, we got the results yesterday -- and they were fairly ho-hum. Fiscal Q4 revenues increased 5% to $244.9 million but there was a net loss of $17.9 million or $0.05 per share. Keep in mind that there were one-time expenses for the sale of a consulting division.

Novell got a big boost from its Linux platform, which saw a 69% increase in revenues and 4,700 new customers, such as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), Credit Suisse Group (ADR) (NYSE: CS) and Wachovia Corporation (NYSE: WB). There were also some key enterprise deals with Dell Inc. (Nasdaq: DELL) and Lenovo.

No doubt, Novell is still in the restructuring mode. Some of the initiatives include: outsourcing technical talent to low-wage countries; stronger partner relationships; and shared services with its back office.

However, with $1.3 billion in the bank -- which represents more than half of Novell's market cap -- there will likely be pressure from investors, such as for buybacks.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Edgar Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements. He also operates DealProfiles.com.

Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) -

KO announced Muhtar Kent as its new CEO, succeeding resining chairman and CEO Neville Isdell. Isdell will remain chairman until April 2009. KO overall option implied volatility of 21 is near its 26-week average of 20 according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional risk.

Novell (NASDAQ: NOVL) -

NOVL postponed its Q4 and full year 2007 earnings release because of inquiries from the SEC about NOVL's accounting practices. NOVL, a provider of network software, closed at $6.94. NOVL overall implied volatility of 46 is above its 26-week average of 35 according to Track Data, suggesting larger risk.

Daily Options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

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

• Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB) first quarter profits fell, but the CEO remains optimistic.
• Dell Inc. (NASDAQ: DELL) met EPS expectations, but shares fell in after-hours trading anyway.
• Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (NASDAQ: MRVL) beat EPS estimates despite posting a loss.
• Medtronic Inc. (NYSE: MDT) had a weak second quarter, but CEO remains optimistic about growth potential.
• Sears Holdings Corp.'s (NASDAQ: SHLD) profit plunged, and the company warned of continuing difficulties.
• Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) beat low expectations, sending shares up.
• Tiffany and Co. (NYSE: TIF) posted a solid third quarter and boosted its full-year earnings outlook.
• Warner Music Group's (NYSE: WMG) profit declined; digital sales were up but CD sales were down.

Also, Jim Cramer offers perspective on the problem with Sears Holdings. And AOL Money & Finance's new dynamic stock quotes pages make keeping up with earnings, and any other stock-related information and news, much easier. Check it out.

Upcoming results to watch for include: AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO), Novell Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL), and National Semiconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: NSM).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.