Last week we looked at expectations for some retail earnings. More shopping mall favorites are reporting second-quarter results this week, and analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters are looking for significant earnings growth from some of them.

Aeropostale Inc. (NYSE: ARO), the teen-focused retailer spun off from Macy's (NYSE: M) in 1998, is expected to post a second-quarter profit that is 44.6% higher than a year ago, or $0.56 per share. Revenue for the quarter is expected to be 19.7% higher, or $451.3 million. For the full year, the forecast so far is for $2.98 per share (+25.8%) on $2.2 billion (+14.6%). Earnings of the New York-based company have matched estimates in recent quarters. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 13.9%, which is better than the retail industry average and rival Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE: ANF). Aeropostale's earnings multiple is 12x, and this debt-free company's cash flow from operations swung into positive territory in the first quarter. The First Call consensus recommendation is to buy ARO; The Motley Fool identified it as a Wall Street favorite. Shares are down a couple of bucks from the 52-week high of $38.74 back in July, but are still 123.0% higher year to date.

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

• AnnTaylor Stores Corp. (NYSE: ANN) reported a smaller-than-expected Q1 loss as sales slumped.
• Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) smaller-than-expected Q1 net loss sent shares higher.
• Children's Place Retail Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCE) solid Q1 results were in line with expectations.
• Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. (NYSE: DKS) posted higher-than-expected Q1 results but same-store sales fell.
• Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) lower Q1 earnings beat expectations and lower revenue was in line.

Shares of discount retailer Ross Stores, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROST) have been soaring today after the company reported strong first quarter numbers, and raised its future guidance.

It is no secret that shoppers are looking for bargain deals these days, and that trend resulted in a 3% jump in same store sales for Ross, and a 15% jump in its first quarter earnings. The company's earnings came in at 72 cents per share, which was in line with analyst estimates, and its revenues were above what Wall Street was looking to see.

On Tuesday, the Federal Reserve's FOMC holds two-day meeting on interest rates and will announce its decision on Wednesday. The Fed's Ben Bernanke will still be out and about this week, discussing the failure of Lehman Brothers later today, and ending up the week speaking at the Independent Community Bankers of America National Convention and Techworld.

Manufacturing will be in focus this week, starting with industrial production numbers for February and the Empire State Manufacturing Survey Diffusion Index for March scheduled to be released Monday morning. Tuesday morning will bring us the Producer Price Index for February, and Thursday morning comes the Philadelphia Fed Outlook Survey -- Diffusion Index Manufacturing for March.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST) is a leading U.S. off-price retailer of name brand apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions. The firm operates 888 Ross Dress for Less stores and 55 dd's Discounts locations, in 27 states and Guam. Target (NYSE: TGT) and Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) are major competitors.

The company pleased investors late last month, when it reported Q2 EPS of 54 cents and revenues of $1.64 billion. Analysts had been expecting 54 cents and $1.61 billion. Management also guided Q3 EPS to 42-44 cents (43 cent consensus) and Q4 EPS to 78-81 cents (80 cent consensus). CL King subsequently reiterated its "strong buy" rating on the shares and the firm was able to report August same store sales that topped the Wall Street view.

Rival home improvement chains Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) and Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW) are scheduled to report quarterly results this week. Not surprisingly, given the ongoing housing slump, analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial on average expect both companies to post earnings lower than in the same period a year ago. For Home Depot, that's 61 cents per share, down 20.8%, and for Lowe's, 56 cents per share, down 16.4%. Meanwhile, cabinet maker American Woodmark Corp. (NASDAQ: AMWD), for whom Home Depot and Lowe's are major distributors, is also expected to report lower earnings: 11 cents per share, down 67.6%.

The presidential campaigns have prompted much discussion of energy policy and alternative energy sources. Some solar-energy-related concerns are scheduled to report this week, and expectations seem to be high. Trina Solar Ltd. (NYSE: TSL) is expected to report 81 cents per share earnings, up 67.9%; ReneSola Ltd. (NYSE: SOL) is expected to post earnings of 32 cents per share, up 62.5%; and Suntech Power Holdings Co. (NYSE: STP) is expected to have earnings of 32 cents per share, up 21.9%. Even China Sunergy Co. Ltd. (NASDAQ: CSUN) is expected to have swung to a profit of 3 cents per share, from a per-share loss of 14 cents a year ago.

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

• Agilent Technologies Inc. (NYSE: A) beat Q2 expectations and offered Q3 and full-year guidance.
• Barnes & Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) widened its Q1 loss but maintained its full-year profit forecast.
• Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB) Q3 profit rose due to the sale of Godiva, but shares tumbled.
• Fluor Corp. (NYSE: FLR) beat Q1 expectations and offered rosy full-year guidance.
• Gamestop Corp. (NYSE: GME) posted record Q1 earnings but offered weak Q2 and full-year guidance.
• Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ) posted strong Q2 results in the wake of its announced EDS acquistion.
• Hot Topic Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTT) Q1 loss widened due to declines in same-store sales.
• Kenexa Corp. (NASDAQ: KNXA) beat Q1 expectations and raised its full-year guidance.
• Medtronic Inc. (NYSE: MDT) posted flat Q4 earnings despite strong sales, and missed full-year estimates.
• Napster Inc. (NASDAQ: NAPS) narrowed its loss and exceeded analysts' Q1 epectations.
• Ross Stores Inc. (NYSE: ROST) Q1 profits rose on same-store growth and a real estate settlement.
• Staples Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS) swung to a modest Q1 profit after two quarterly losses.
• Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) Q1 profits slipped but came in ahead of analysts' estimates.
• Tween Brands Inc. (NYSE: TWB) Q1 profit was hurt by a one-time charge but still beat expectations.

Additional earnings highlights:
Home Depot, Gap, Lenovo, Air France, Activision, Suntech and others
Ford, Hormel, Limited Brands, Intuitive Surgical, PetSmart and others

Upcoming results to watch for include Borders (NYSE: BGP), Polo Ralph Lauren (NYSE: RL), TiVo (NASDAQ: TIVO), Big Lots (NYSE: BIG), Costco (NASDAQ: COST), Dell (NASDAQ: DELL), HJ Heinz (NYSE: HNZ), Sears (NASDAQ: SHLD), Lions Gate (NYSE: LGF), and Tiffany (NYSE: TIF).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

First quarter results for apparel retailers reporting earnings on Wednesday were mixed, as consumers continue to scale back their spending.

Talbots Inc. (NYSE: TLB) first-quarter profit dropped 69% to 3 cents per share, hurt by noncore operations and restructuring charges. Same-store sales fell 9.8% during the quarter, and revenue fell 5% to $542.4 million, which missed the estimates of analysts polled by Thomson Financial. Shares rose 6% Wednesday to $7.88.

Hot Topic Inc. (NASDAQ: HOTT) first-quarter loss widened to 3 cents per share due to a 2.8% drop in same-store sales. Revenue rose 1.1% to $159 million. Analysts had expected a loss of 4 cents per share on $159.3 million in revenue. Shares fell 13 cents, or 2.6%, to $4.84.

Tween Brands Inc. (NYSE: TWB) first-quarter profit declined on a hefty charge, but results still topped Wall Street expectations. Adjusted earnings per share were 21 cents, and revenues rose to $251.7 million. Analysts had expected 16 cents in earnings per share and sales of $242 million. Total same-store sales decreased 1%. Shares fell more than 10% to $19.20, but rebounded 7.5% in after-hours trading.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Google, Ross Stores and Novartis were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Jefferies upgraded Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) to Buy from Hold to reflect the company's "impressive" improvements in monetization in Q1, no signs of weakness from the economic downturn and upside potential from display, video and mobile.
  
• Lehman upgraded Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST) to Overweight from Equal Weight and believes the company's 2008 guidance of 8-9% sales growth and up to 20% bps in margin expansion will prove conservative.
  
• Morgan Stanley upped Novartis (NYSE: NVS) to Overweight from Underweight on valuation and expectations for positive news flow from the company's vaccine division.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• JP Morgan upgraded Bladex to Neutral from Underweight.
• William Blair raised Watsco (NYSE: WSO) to Outperform from Market Perform.
  
• SunTrust (NYSE: STI) was upgraded at Baird to Neutral from Underperform.

Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST) is a leading U.S. off-price retailer of name brand apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions. The firm operates 854 Ross Dress for Less stores and 54 dd's Discounts locations, in 27 states and Guam. Target (NYSE: TGT) and Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) are major competitors.

The company pleased investors last week, when it announced March same-store sales figures that easily topped Wall Street estimates. Management also said it expected Q1 EPS of 56-58 cents, versus analyst consensus of 53 cents. The CEO attributed success to solid performances in the dress, shoe and home categories. JP Morgan subsequently upgraded the stock to "overweight" and CL King reiterated its "strong buy".

Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST) is a leading U.S. off-price retailer of name brand apparel, accessories, footwear and home fashions. The firm operates 841 Ross Dress for Less stores and 52 dd's Discounts locations, in 27 states and Guam. Target (NYSE: TGT) and Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) are major competitors.

The company pleased investors earlier in the month when it announced a December same-store sales gain of 3% (year over year). Analysts had been looking for a 1% improvement. Management also said it expected fourth-quarter EPS of 68-69 cents, versus the average Street estimate of 66 cents. The CEO attributed success to solid performances in the outerwear, dress and shoe businesses. The stock popped into a bullish "flag" consolidation pattern on the news. Prices frequently exit flags moving in the same direction they were traveling on entry. In this case, that would be to the upside.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: News Corp, Limelight Networks, Corning and Carmike Cinemas were today's noteworthy initiations:

• RBC Capital is positive on News Corporation's (NYSE: NWS) strategy of investing cash flow away from mature enterprises to fund high-growth initiatives such as Sky Italia and Fox Interactive Media. The firm initiated shares with an Outperform rating and $26 target.
  
• Kaufman Brothers rates Limelight Networks Inc (NASDAQ: LLNW) a Sell based on a significant increase in the competitive environment with Akamai discounting on large deals, Level 3 Communications Inc (NASDAQ: LVLT) introducing a competitive offering in November 2007, Korean major-CD Networks becoming aggressive, and new entrants becoming aggressive with their value propositions.
  
• Deutsche Bank initiated Corning Inc (NYSE: GLW) with a Buy rating and $31 target as they believe shares are fundamentally undervalued given the company's strong fundamentals and promising outlook.
  
• Carmike Cinemas Inc (NASDAQ: CKEC) was started at JP Morgan with an Overweight rating. The firm said the company is the most exposed to 3-D, which could lead to potential upside due to low margins and leverage capital structure.

OTHER INITIATIONS:

• UBS started shares of St. Jude Medical Inc (NYSE: STJ) with a Sell rating and $43 target and shares of Medtronic Inc (NYSE: MDT) with a Buy rating and $64 target.
  
• Bear Stearns initiated shares of TJX Companies Inc (NYSE: TJX) and Ross Stores Inc (NASDAQ: ROST) with Peer Perform ratings.
  
• KeyBanc initiated shares of LaSalle Hotel Properties (NYSE: LHO) with a Hold rating.
  
• Caris started shares of Acme Packet Inc (NASDAQ: APKT) with an Above Average rating and $17 target.