Wall Street This Week: Lowe's Glides, HP Slides

From a major regional amusement park operator unveiling a new coaster that it hopes will drive traffic to its most famous park in 2016 to home-improvement superstores chiming in with their quarterly financial updates, here are some of the things that will help shape the week that lies ahead on Wall Street.

Monday -- Shopping Maul

The new trading week kicks off with Urban Outfitters (URBN) reporting fresh financials. Wall Street sees flat year-over-year earnings growth at the apparel retailer, but it has fallen short of analyst profit targets in two of the past three quarters.

There were dueling analyst moves last month. Jefferies upgraded the stock, but BMO Capital downgraded the chain. Only one will probably be right when Urban Outfitters reports shortly after the market close on Monday.

Tuesday -- Walmart Woes

The world's largest retailer -- by sales -- reports quarterly results Tuesday morning. Walmart Stores (WMT) has been struggling with comparable-store sales in recent years as some shoppers trade up from the discounter's marked-down wares. The chain has also come under fire for some of its labor and sourcing practices, and that's not going to win the hearts, much less pocketbooks, of American shoppers.

Wednesday -- Hitting New Lowe's

%VIRTUAL-WSSCourseInline-990%Lowe's (LOW) announces its latest quarterly results Wednesday morning, a day after larger rival Home Depot (HD) reports. Analysts see the two home-improvement superstore chains growing their earnings faster than their sales, an encouraging sign of margin expansion in the industry.

Lowe's and Home Depot thrived during the housing and refinancing booms as homeowners spruced up their digs. The challenge here will be to keep growing when mortgage rates inevitably push higher and the real estate market cools off.

Thursday -- HP and the PC

PC and laptop sales have been dwindling as mobile gadgetry takes off, and that's been weighing on Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), which hit new 52-week lows earlier this month. HP reports Thursday and it's probably not going to be pretty. The market's bracing for slight year-over-year declines on both ends of the income statement. HP has tried to offset the weakness in PCs by moving into software, online security and other categories, but it doesn't seem to be enough these days.

Friday -- At the Movies

Multiplex operators are having their best summer in years, but the slate of new releases begins to dry up this time of year. It's probably worth noting that Friday's biggest debuts -- "Sinister 2," "American Ultra" and "Hitman: Agent 47" -- are all R-rated releases.

Movie theaters are moving away from family-friendly blockbusters as summer winds down, though many of this season's biggest hits are still playing at a multiplex near you.

Editor's note: This article has been revised to omit the mention of Cedar Fair's new ride announcement, originally scheduled for Tuesday and since postponed.

Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Home Depot and Urban Outfitters. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days and check out our free report for one great stock to buy for 2015 and beyond.