Earnings Preview: Sears, Kohl's and Target Have Plenty to Prove to Investors

Investors will be watching midprice and discount department stores this week for signs that they're ready to show some real sales and profit growth this year -- and not just through cost-cutting.

Wall Street will be poring over reports from Target (TGT) and Kohl's (KSS) for clues about new products and store improvements, and will be looking for signs of stability and new initiatives from Sears Holdings (SHLD) that aim to spur sales at its Sears and Kmart stores.