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.

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:

• 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: Semiconductors, ADC Telecomm and Nationwide Financial were today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Banc of America upgraded the Semiconductor Sector to Overweight from Market Weight citing indications of a bottom given earnings estimate revision momentum and supply chain inventory levels. The firm upgraded Intel (NASDAQ:INTC), Power Integrations (NASDAQ:POWI) and Semtech (NASDAQ:SMTC) to Buy from Neutral and PMC Sierra (NASDAQ:PMCS) and LSI Corp (NYSE:LSI) to Neutral from Sell.
  
• Deutsche Bank upgraded shares of ADC Telecomm (NASDAQ:ADCT) to Buy from Hold as they believe April consensus estimates could prove conservative.
  
• UBS raised Nationwide Financial (NYSE::NFS) to Buy from Neutral and believes a higher offer by Nationwide Mutual is likely.

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Halliburton (NYSE:HAL) was upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman.
  
• Westlate Chemical (NYSE:WLK) was raised to Overweight from Equal Weight at Morgan Stanley.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Marvel Entertainment (MVL), AutoZone (AZO), Home Depot (HD), Molson Coors (TAP) and Semtech (SMTC) were some of today's noteworthy upgrades:

• Matrix upgraded Marvel Entertainment (NYSE: MVL) to Buy from Hold as they don't think the company's improving performance is reflected in its falling stock price. They think Marvel represents a good entry point at current levels.

• Kevin Dann upgraded shares of AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) to Buy from Hold on valuation and highlighted their belief that AutoZone may not be seeing as much sales weakness as investors expect. They recommend taking advantage of the recent share weakness and raised their target to $135 from $125.

• Gabelli recommends Home Depot (NYSE: HD) as a long-term buy with a $43 target, upgraded shares from Hold, with the Supply division uncertainty now eliminated. They view the sale positively, even at the lower price.

• JP Morgan upgraded Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP) to Overweight from Neutral, and believes Molson will monetize its solid balance sheet and free-cash flow yield to benefit the shareholders. They also consider valuation to be attractive.

• Semtech (NASDAQ: SMTC) was upgraded to Outperform from Market Perform at William Blair following the strong Q2 report and outlook...

OTHER UPGRADES:

• Big Lots (NYSE: BIG) was upgraded to Market Outperform from Market Perform at Avondale.

• Longbow raised TTM Technologies (NASDAQ: TTMI) to Buy from Neutral.

• Breen Murray raised to Intevac (NASDAQ: IVAC) to Hold from Sell.

• Stifel upgraded Arch Capital (NASDAQ: ACGL) to Buy from Hold.

Analyst summaries provided by TheFlyOnTheWall.com (subscription required).