In the tech sector, No. 2 computer maker Hewlett-Packard Co, network storage gear maker Network Appliance Inc, chip equipment maker Applied Materials Inc and telecommunications equipment maker Ciena Corp have earnings on tap.
Results are also expected from farm machinery maker Deere & Co and natural gas producer and pipeline company Williams Cos Inc.
With fourth-quarter results already in from more than 400 of the companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 index, operating earnings have surpassed analysts' estimates by nearly 5 percent on average, according to data compiled by Reuters Research.
Investors have been busy pouring money into equities, with more than US$40 billion of net inflows into US stock mutual funds in January, according to a report by fund consultant Strategic Insight.
With the Dow brushing 32-month highs and other major indexes also up sharply in recent months, "valuations are on the higher side of fair," Caffrey said, adding that that could keep the market from embarking on a major rally.
A shortened trading week also could help keep stocks pinned in a narrow trading range, analysts said. US financial markets are closed on Monday in observance of the Presidents Day holiday.
For the week, the blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.3 percent and the broad Standard & Poor's 500 index also finished up 0.3 percent. It was the second straight week of gains for the Dow and the S&P 500.
But the technology-packed Nasdaq Composite Index closed the week down 0.5 percent, marking its fourth straight week of declines.
Year to date, the Dow is up 1.7 percent, the S&P 500 is up 3.1 percent, and the Nasdaq is up 2.5 percent.
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