Earnings playbook: Your roadmap to a week of retail reports, including Target and Home Depot

Published Sun, Nov 14 20218:46 AM ESTUpdated Sun, Nov 14 202110:05 AM EST

Sara Salinas @in/saracsalinas @saracsalinas

It's a big week of retail earnings ahead, with key updates expected on supply chain challenges and holiday spending expectations. Walmart, Target, Home Depot and other retailers are all teed up to report quarterly results. CNBC runs through what to look for in this week's schedule. Tuesday Home Depot will report earnings at 6 a.m. ET, followed by a call with executives at 9 a.m. Last quarter: HD topped estimates , but warned of uncertainty ahead and fewer customers visiting stores. This quarter: Analysts are forecasting roughly 7% EPS growth from the year-ago period. What CNBC retail reporter Melissa Repko is watching: "Home improvement has been on a tear during the pandemic, thanks to a nesting mentality and hot real estate market. Now, Home Depot faces tough year-over-year comparisons and attention is shifting to the strength of home professionals, as consumers hire them again to do bigger jobs like bathroom or kitchen renovations. Investors will be eager to hear if those pros have lifted sales and if other dynamics, such as more millennials moving to the suburbs, are enough to keep the growth going." What history shows: Home Depot stock has sold off following an earnings report each of the last eight quarters, according to Bespoke Investment Group. Walmart is set to release earnings at 7 a.m. ET and will host an investor call at 8 a.m. Last quarter: WMT beat on the top and bottom lines , fueled by strong grocery sales and back-to-school spending. This quarter: The Street is forecasting revenue essentially flat year over year and earnings growth of just 4%. What CNBC retail reporter Melissa Repko is watching: "Walmart is one of many retailers that bet on shoppers buying holiday gifts earlier than usual because of worries that toys and other desired items will run out or get stuck at ports. The big-box retailer will offer some early clues of how the holiday season is shaping up. Investors will also listen for updates on the company's efforts to make money in new ways, from ramping up its ads business to nudging more consumers to sign up for its subscription service, Walmart+." What history shows: Walmart shares have fallen in next-day trading 5 of the last 6 quarters, according to Bespoke. Wednesday Lowe's will release its quarterly earnings at 6 a.m. ET, followed by an investor call at 9 a.m. Last quarter: LOW beat estimates and raised