Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Thursday's session are Conagra Foods Inc. (CAG), Rite Aid Corp.
(RAD) and Air Products & Chemicals Inc. (APD).
Conagra said its fiscal first-quarter earnings more than
tripled, as lower costs and expenses helped offset nearly flat
revenue. Shares rose 2.2% to $32.70 in premarket trading.
Rite Aid said second-quarter earnings more than tripled as
pharmacy sales helped drive revenue higher. But the company reduced
its full-year earnings guidance based on expectations for lower
pharmacy margins in the second half. Shares fell 14.3% to $5.69
premarket.
Air Products said Thursday that it would reorganize into seven
reporting segments, the dramatic overhaul coming months after Seifi
Ghasemi was appointed the company's chief executive. Shares were
inactive in premarket trading.
General Motors Co. (GM) recalled 3,200 compressed natural gas
vehicles for fire and explosion risks. Shares ticked down slightly
to $33.80 premarket.
NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (NRF) agreed to acquire a $1.1
billion hotel portfolio from Inland American Real Estate Trust Inc.
(AIRE). NorthStar is acquiring the portfolio in a joint venture
with Chatham Lodging Trust (CLDT). NorthStar's shares rose 1% to
$17.50 premarket, while Chatham shares gained 2% to $23.12.
Inland's shares were inactive premarket.
Pier 1 Imports Inc. (PIR) said Wednesday its second-quarter
earnings fell 48%, as margin declines and soft store traffic hurt
results. The home-products retailer also lowered its full-year
earnings guidance. Shares sank 11.8% to $13.71 premarket.
Steel Dynamics Inc. (STLD) said Wednesday it expects per-share
earnings to rise as much as 52% in its current quarter from a year
ago, as demand for its steel products improves. The company is
benefiting from improving conditions in automotive, manufacturing
energy and construction markets. Shares gained 2.5% to $25.46
premarket.
Vivus Inc. (VVUS) and Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AUXL) said
the Food and Drug Administration approved a supplemental new drug
application for erectile-dysfunction drug Stendra. Vivus's shares
advanced 15% to $4.46 premarket, while Auxilium's shares edged up
0.9% to $31.45.
Red Hat Inc. (RHT) agreed to acquire privately-held FeedHenry
for $81.8 million), the latest in a series of deals that expands
the open-source software provider's capabilities in cloud-based
applications for big businesses.
Hudson City Bancorp Inc. (HCBK) said Thursday its new chief
executive, Denis J. Salamone, will also replace recently deceased
CEO Ronald E. Hermance Jr. as chairman.
Visa Inc. (V) said it is considering its options for its 5.5%
stake in U.K. mobile payments technology group Monitise PLC
(MONI.LN).
Watchlist:
Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) Chief Executive Elon Musk said the
technology to make a fully autonomous car will be ready in five or
six years, and the result will be a vehicle far less likely to harm
occupants and others on the road.
Herman Miller Inc. (MLHR) said its fiscal first-quarter profit
increased 12%, despite absorbing $5 million in costs related to its
July acquisition of Design Within Reach Inc., the largest seller of
Herman Miller products.
Flexion Therapeutics Inc. (FLXN) said Wednesday a clinical hold
has been placed on a drug trial of its lead product candidate
FX006, which provides pain relief.
Covidien PLC (COV) said its board raised the medical technology
and supplies company's quarterly dividend by 13%.
United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) said its fiscal fourth-quarter
earnings rose 4% as the specialty-foods distributor posted on
stronger than-expected sales that received a boost from recent
acquisitions.
WhiteWave Foods Co. (WWAV), whose brands include Silk, is
expanding its presence in the dairy alternatives market with an
agreement to buy So Delicious Dairy Free for about $195
million.
Agilent Technologies Inc. (A) said Chief Executive Bill Sullivan
will step down in March but will remain an adviser before retiring
in October 2015. The company also released details about the
upcoming spinoff of electronic-measurement business Keysight
Technologies Inc.
Write to Tom Rojas at tom.rojas@wsj.com and Josh Beckerman at
josh.beckerman@wsj.com
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