Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Wednesday's session are Aramark Holdings Corp. (ARMK), C.H.
Robinson Worldwide Inc. (CHRW) and Merck & Co. (MRK).
3M Co. (MMM) unveiled a new $12 billion share-buyback program,
continuing the industrial-products maker's practice of using cash
flow to fund shareholder-friendly moves. Shares edged yp 1.2% to
$128.28 premarket.
Aflac Inc.'s (AFL) fourth-quarter earnings rose 16% but a weaker
yen and dollar exchange rate continued to weigh on the company's
core operations in Japan. Shares edged down 2.4% to $60
premarket.
Aramark said its fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 4.5% as the
food-services company posted broad-based revenue growth in its
first report as a public company. Results beat estimates, pushing
shares up 6% to $26.50 premarket.
C.H. Robinson's fourth-quarter profit fell 64% as the
transportation and logistics company's truckload net revenue margin
fell amid higher costs per-mile. Results missed Wall Street's
expectations, sending shares down 8.1% to $53.88 premarket.
Genworth Financial Inc.'s (GNW) fourth-quarter profit rose 24%
as the life and mortgage insurer cut expenses and reported higher
net investment gains. The latest results topped expectations.
Shares rosed 3.2% to $15 premarket.
Hain Celestial Group Inc. (HAIN) said its fiscal second-quarter
earnings rose 30% on higher revenue, although its gross margin
narrowed. But the top line missed analysts' expectations, sending
shares down 6.6% to $85.01 premarket.
IAC/InterActiveCorp. (IACI) said its fourth-quarter earnings
jumped 89% as the Internet firm managed to offset a decline in
search and media revenue with cost cutting. Revenue missed
estimates, sending shares down 5.6% to $65 in light premarket
trading.
Merck said its fourth-quarter earnings fell 14% on weaker sales
as the drugmaker also was hit by expenses related to its
cost-cutting efforts. Results missed estimates, and the company's
sales outlook for the year was weak. Shares rose 1.6% to $54.36
premarket as the company also said it entered three separate
collaboration agreements with other drugmakers to evaluate its
investigational MK-3475 immunotherapy cancer treatment.
Myriad Genetics Inc. (MYGN) said it has agreed to acquire
Crescendo Bioscience Inc. for $270 million in cash as the
biopharmaceutical company looks to expand into the high-growth
autoimmune market. Shares climbed 12% to $30.35 premarket.
Tableau Software Inc. (DATA) swung to a surprise fourth-quarter
profit as the business software maker's revenue surged again. The
company's adjusted earnings and revenue beat expectations, pushing
shares up 12% to $88.70 premarket.
Usana Health Sciences Inc.'s (USNA) fourth-quarter profit
increased 9.9% as the nutritional-products maker posted higher
global sales, results that easily exceeded Wall Street's
expectations. Shares surged 15% to $67.35 premarket.
Xoom Corp. (XOOM) swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the
international money-transfer provider reported a jump in revenue.
But the company's full-year earnings outlook fell short of Wall
Street's expectations. Shares dropped 13% to $24.46 premarket.
Watch List:
Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP) said its earnings fell 24% in
the fourth quarter as expenses increased, but operating earnings
and revenue at the financial-services company grew. The results
beat Wall Street expectations.
Beam Inc.'s (BEAM) fourth-quarter profit fell 19% as increased
costs offset strength in its premium whiskey business. Results beat
estimates.
Cerner Corp. (CERN) said fourth-quarter earnings fell 46% as a
charge related to an unfavorable arbitration ruling and other items
overshadowed improved revenue and margins.
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE) said its fourth-quarter
earnings jumped 35% as the European bottler increased volume in
Coca-Cola trademark brands, including a 20% rise in Coca-Cola Zero.
The bottom line beat estimates.
ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG) is recalling about 5,200 cases of
mislabeled Healthy Choice Chicken with Rice Microwaveable Bowl Soup
that may pose a health risk to people that are allergic to products
containing egg or wheat products, or who are gluten intolerant.
DeVry Education Group Inc. (DV) on Tuesday said the Federal
Trade Commission has requested documents and information about the
company's marketing, advertising and the sale of secondary and
postsecondary educational products and services.
Elizabeth Arden Inc. (RDEN) said its fiscal second-quarter
profit declined 22% as the beauty-products company posted weaker
sales in both its North American and international businesses.
Results came in at the high end of the company's previous
outlook.
Equity Residential (EQR) said its fourth-quarter profit fell 70%
due in part to a jump in total expenses, but normalized funds from
operations came in at the high end of the apartment landlord's
projections.
Genomic Health Inc. (GHDX) swung to a loss in the fourth quarter
due in large part to the cost of an agreement with another company.
The company's top-line guidance for the year came in below
analysts' expectations.
Sales of Gilead Sciences Inc.'s (GILD) new treatment for
hepatitis C infections totaled $139.4 million in the final weeks of
2013, after only winning U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval
in early December.
Spectra Energy Corp. (SE) unveiled capital spending plans for
expansion projects totaling $1.3 billion for this year, as well as
average annual increases to capital spending of roughly $2 billion
through 2016.
Thor Industries Inc. (THO) issued a preliminary sales target for
the fiscal second quarter that missed Wall Street's projections, as
the recreational-vehicle maker said poor winter weather hurt sales
and production.
Write to John Kell at john.kell@wsj.com and Lauren Pollock at
lauren.pollock@wsj.com
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