FGP Ferrellgas Partners LP

Among the companies with shares expected to trade actively in Thursday's session are Ford Motor Co. (F), United Technologies Corp. (UTX) and Dollar General Corp. (DG).

Ford Motor Co. said Thursday its new vehicle sales in Europe climbed 17% in February, as the auto maker continues to pivot toward the growing demand there for sport-utility vehicles. Shares rose 0.83% to $13.30 in premarket trading.

In meetings with investors and analysts Thursday, United Technologies Corp. will seek to show it can thrive as an independent company, about a week after Honeywell International Inc. ended its $90 billion bid for its fellow industrial giant. Shares rose 0.89% to $97.46 premarket.

Dollar General Corp. on Thursday said profit rose 5.6% in the final quarter of the year, easily beating Wall Street expectations, as sales climbed. Shares rose 5.33% to $79.22 premarket.

Party City Holdco Inc. (PRTY) booked better-than-expected sales growth at existing stores in the fourth quarter, thanks to a solid Halloween season, though the company warned sales may slow this year. Shares rose 5.02% to $11.50 premarket.

Propane distributor Ferrellgas Partners LP (FGP) cut its forecast for the year, citing warmer-than-normal weather and sustained low energy prices, as it reported profit and revenue declines for its latest quarter.

Nuance Communications Inc. (NUAN) on Thursday said it agreed to repurchase $500 million of its stock--about 26.32 million shares--from activist investor Carl Icahn and affiliates.

American Eagle Outfitters Inc.'s (AEO) Chief Financial Officer Mary M. Boland intends to retire April 1. A longtime General Motors Co. executive, Ms. Boland was hired as CFO in 2012 by then-Chief Executive Robert Hanson, with whom she had worked at Levi Strauss & Co. Also, American Eagle said its board had approved buying back an additional 25 million shares through Jan. 30, 2021.

American International Group Inc. (AIG), under pressure from activists to improve results, said Wednesday it had reached a pact with Swiss Re AG (SREN.EB) under which the European reinsurer will take on some of the risk of casualty policies sold by AIG in the U.S. to business clients. Terms weren't released but the deal is expected to allow AIG to free capital.

Barrett Business Services Inc. (BBSI) disclosed Wednesday that it had fired its chief financial officer and plans to restate its results from 2012 through the first half of 2015 after learning its CFO had "made unsupported journal entries" that changed certain costs. The company said a "Big Four" accounting firm will do a forensic accounting investigation for 2011 through the first quarter of 2016.

Box Inc. (BOX) on Wednesday posted better-than-expected quarterly results and upbeat guidance for the current year as the seller of Internet-based data storage reported its highest quarterly increase in billings as a public company.

Freshpet Inc. (FRPT) on Wednesday reported it had swung to a fourth-quarter profit and that its chief executive, Richard Thompson, plans to retire by July 1.

Nasdaq Inc. (NDAQ) has agreed to buy options-exchange operator International Securities Exchange for $1.1 billion, in a deal that would give it control of nearly 40% of the U.S. options market.

Omega Protein Corp. (OME) on Wednesday reported revenue fell 20% in the most recent quarter, driven a sales decline in its nutrition businesses.

Mortgage company PHH Corp. (PHH) said Wednesday it will review its strategic options, citing the effects of "changing industry and regulatory dynamics."

Mobile-payments company Square Inc. (SQ) on Wednesday reported a 49% revenue increase in the December quarter though quarterly loss widened on higher spending.

Tailored Brands Inc. (TLRD), the former Men's Wearhouse, will close roughly 250 stores, including all its outlet stores, seeking to revamp operations after ending the year with a $1 billion net loss. The loss was driven by $1.2 billion in impairment charges as it wrote down the value of Jos. A. Bank, its one-time rival, which Men's Wearhouse bought in 2014 for $1.8 billion.

Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (VRX) on Wednesday said it added three new directors to its board and settled a billing dispute with a specialty pharmacy as the drugmaker looks to reassure investors.

Write to Maria Armental at maria.armental@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 10, 2016 09:33 ET (14:33 GMT)

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