Wall Street This Week: Inspiring Food, Uninspiring Fashion

Updated
Radio Shack Stock Drop
Richard Drew/AP

From Chinese dot-coms offering Western investors a quarterly glimpse into their latest financials to a small-box retailer of consumer electronics that's quickly losing its power, here are some of the things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street.

Monday -- Bull in a China Shop

The new trading weeks kicks off slowly close to home, but the same can't be said in China, where several prolific companies will be posting quarterly results. Social networking website Renren (RENN) reports in the morning, followed by Web browser and security software specialist Qihoo 360 (QIHU) in the afternoon.

The two companies have been going in different directions. Renren has suffered from diminishing popularity in China. Qihoo 360, on the other hand, has posted scintillating growth. Two summers ago it launched a search engine that is now the country's second most popular platform.

Tuesday -- RadioShack Silence

It's been a couple of years since I singled out RadioShack (RSH) as one of five retailers that won't be around in five years, and it's getting closer to becoming a reality. The small-box chain selling consumer electronics and smartphones has been struggling, and its profitless ways have turned this once-iconic chain into a glorified penny stock.

RadioShack is attempting a turnaround. It's remodeling stores. It's shaking up its marketing strategy. However, earlier this month, analysts at UBS felt that RadioShack was unlikely to succeed as it faces a credit crunch. RadioShack reports on Tuesday, and it's likely to chime in with another big deficit.

Wednesday -- Retailers on Parade

Tilly's (TLYS), Chico's FAS (CHS), and Tiffany's (TIF) all step up with fresh quarterly financials on Wednesday. This time of year is ripe with retailers reporting since their fiscal calendars often find quarters closing a month later than calendar-based companies.

Tilly's and Chico's FAS cater to different audiences with their clothing, footwear and accessories. Tiffany's is the high-end jeweler. Analysts see flat to modest sales growth at the three chains. They also unfortunately see net margins contracting at all three operators.

Thursday -- In the Kitchen

There hasn't been a shortage of restaurant initial public offerings over the past year. The challenge has been for them to remain successful. %VIRTUAL-WSSCourseInline-1049%Too many fast casual and casual dining concepts have hit the market blazing in recent months, only to cool down like a bowl of gazpacho.

Zoes Kitchen (ZOES) has been one of the rare winners. The unconventional chain offers up Mediterranean fare. You won't find salmon kabobs or hummus salad on the menu of too many major chains. With just 124 eateries, investors are betting that there's plenty of upside here. We'll find out if that's going according to plan when it posts its first complete quarter as a public company on Thursday.

Friday -- At the Movies

There may still be some summer blockbusters that you haven't checked out at the local multiplex, but some of the movies opening this weekend include Pierce Brosnan's "The November Man" and the psychological thriller "As Above, So Below." It's a pretty soft slate going into the holiday weekend, but Labor Day isn't as magnetic to exhibitors as Memorial Day weekend is a few months earlier.

Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Zoes Kitchen. Try any of our newsletter services free for 30 days.

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