Earnings Season Winds Down as Traders Await Jobs Friday

The quarterly earnings calendar is beginning to quiet down, with next week's list of reports highlighted by retail stocks Dicks Sporting Goods Inc (NYSE:DKS) and Express (NYSE:EXPR), as well as tech names Finisar (NASDAQ:FNSR) and VeriFone (NYSE:PAY). The week is fairly quiet in terms of economic reports as well, so all eyes will likely be on Friday's nonfarm payrolls report. With the highly anticipated Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting coming up the following week, investors will be parsing this jobs data for clues on whether the central bank is likely to raise interest rates.

Below is a brief list of some key market events scheduled for the upcoming week. All earnings dates listed below are tentative and subject to change. Please check with each company's respective website for official reporting dates.

The economic calendar is relatively quiet on Monday, March 6, with factory orders due for release and Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari speaking in the afternoon. Ascena Retail Group (ASNA) headlines a rather short list of names on the earnings docket.

On Tuesday, March 7, international trade data will be released. Stepping into the earnings confessional will be Cerus (CERS), DKS, H & R Block (HRB), Michaels (MIK), and Urban Outfitters (URBN).

Wednesday, March 8 will feature the ADP employment report, as well and productivity and labor costs, and the weekly crude inventory report from the Energy Information Administration (EIA). On the earnings front, Bob Evans (BOBE), Ciena (CIEN), EXPR, Sunrun (RUN), Tailored Brands (TLRD), and United Natural Foods (UNFI) will report quarterly figures.

Weekly jobless claims and import and export prices are due for release on Thursday, March 9. Among the companies set to take theirs in the earnings spotlight are El Pollo Loco (LOCO), FNSR, FuelCell Energy (FCEL), OCUL, Signet Jewelers (SIG), Stratasys (SSYS), PAY, and Zumiez (ZUMZ). 

Friday, March 10 will wrap up the week with data on the employment situation, including the crucial nonfarm payrolls report, and the release of the Treasury budget. Hibbett Sports (HIBB), and Vail Resorts (MTN) will polish off the week's earning results.