PREVIEW-Ahold, Tesco to highlight growth ambitions

* Ahold Q3 results due Nov. 18

* Q3 operating profit seen up 3.4 pct, cost cuts expected * Tesco retail services seminars on Nov. 19-20

* Morrison Q3 sales due on Nov. 19

By Mark Potter

LONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Britain's Tesco (TSCO.L) and Dutch group Ahold (AHLN.AS), two of Europe's biggest retailers, will highlight their long-term growth ambitions next week in moves that analysts say could boost share ratings.

Ahold, which makes about 60 percent of its sales in the United States, is expected to unveil a cost-cutting plan which analysts think could be worth up to 500 million euros ($744 million) over three years.

The group, which reports third-quarter results on Wednesday, will also come under pressure to spell out its plans for a cash pile of over 2.5 billion euros.

Tesco, the world's third-biggest retailer behind France's Carrefour (CARR.PA) and U.S. leader Wal-Mart <WMT.N, is holding two days of seminars for analysts and investors on its retail services business, which includes banking, on Thursday and Friday.