Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade
in Thursday's session are eBay Inc. (EBAY), 3M Co. (MMM) and
AT&T Inc. (T).
EBay's third-quarter profit fell 29% despite higher revenue as
margins suffered from recently acquired Bill Me Later business, the
weaker dollar and the company's shift to faster-growing,
lower-margin businesses. For the current quarter, eBay offered a
less-optimistic forecast than analysts expected. Shares fell 3.7%
to $24.10 premarket.
3M's third-quarter earnings fell 3.4%, beating analysts'
estimates, as the diversified manufacturer again raised its
full-year earnings view. Shares climbed 3.1% to $78.70
premarket.
AT&T's third-quarter earnings declined 1.2% as the company
reported continued weakness in its wireline business, but results
topped expectations and AT&T's total subscribership growth was
the highest ever in the third-quarter. Shares climbed 3.2% to
$26.78 premarket.
McDonald's Corp.'s (MCD) third-quarter earnings rose 5.9% as
same-store sales remained positive across all its global markets,
though it continues to be hurt by foreign-exchange effects. Shares
rose 2.9% to $59.99 premarket.
Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) posted a wider third-quarter loss as
the Cincinnati-based regional bank reported an 18% drop in interest
income. Shares were down 1.3% to $9.98 premarket as the loss was
wider than expected.
PNC Financial Services Group Inc.'s (PNC) third-quarter earnings
more than doubled as the Pittsburgh regional bank's revenue soared
thanks to its acquisition of a rival since the year earlier period.
Shares climbed 3.8% to $46.65 premarket.
Travelers Cos. (TRV) reported third-quarter profit that more
than quadrupled on sharply lower catastrophic losses and improved
investment returns. The commercial and personal insurance provider
also raised its full-year earnings outlook. Shares rose 4.1% to
$49.97 premarket.
State-run Korea National Oil Corp., or KNOC, has agreed to buy
Canada's Harvest Energy Trust (HTE) for C$4.1 billion (US$3.95
billion) in the latest in a string of acquisitions by resource-poor
Asian countries trying to bolster their energy security. Harvest
Energy shares jumped 33% to $9.35 premarket.
Equinix Inc. (EQIX) said Wednesday it would acquire Switch &
Data Facilities Co. Inc. (SDXC) for $689 million in cash and stock,
a deal uniting rival companies that operate data centers on behalf
of other companies. Equinix shares slumped 4.6% to $93.27
premarket, while Switch & Data jumped 22% to $17.50.
Macerich Co. (MAC) cut its 2009 profit target as the
shopping-center owner announced plans to sell at least 12 million
shares, raising capital so it can repay some of its $1.5 billion
credit line. Shares slid 2.1% to $29.20 in premarket trading.
Kimberly-Clark Corp.'s (KMB) third-quarter earnings rose 41%
amid higher prices and lower commodities costs, though
foreign-exchange effects hurt the top line and demand remained
soft. The results beat Wall Street's views and the company raised
its 2009 earnings forecast. Shares rose 2.6% to $61.25
premarket.
Celgene Corp.'s (CELG) third-quarter profit rose 58%, helped by
sales of its flagship Revlimid cancer drug, as results beat
expectations. Shares climbed 5.4% to $57.50 premarket.
EMC Corp.'s (EMC) third-quarter profit decreased 24% on
increased charges as the storage-product maker reported lower
revenue and margins. But results topped expectations and the
company raised its full-year estimates, sending shares up 1.3% to
$17.73 premarket.
Alliance Data Systems Corp.'s (ADS) third-quarter profit fell
29% as the program and private-label card operator continued to
face higher loss rates and currency issues. Shares dropped 6.3% to
$63 in late trading, although earnings topped expectations.
VMware Inc.'s (VMW) third-quarter profit slid 54% on surging
research and development and marketing costs, which caused
operating margins to slump, although results topped expectations.
The company also projected fourth-quarter revenue above analysts'
estimates. Shares rose 1.3% to $45.50 in after-hours trading.
Edwards Lifesciences Corp.'s (EW) third-quarter earnings more
than doubled as sales grew across the board and the
cardiovascular-treatment developer recorded big gains. The company
also raised the bottom end of its 2009 profit guidance by 2 cents
as it boosted its sales guidance above analysts' latest average
estimate. Shares rose 1.3% to $72 in after-hours trading.
Amgen Inc.'s (AMGN) third-quarter earnings jumped 24% on higher
margins as results beat analysts' expectations and the company
again boosted its full-year earnings outlook. It affirmed revenue
will likely be at the top end of its forecast. Shares slid 2.4% to
$58 in premarket trading after the company said the Food and Drug
Administration requested more information on its key drug
denosumab.
Citrix Systems Inc.'s (CTXS) third-quarter profit jumped 8.7% as
the virtualization and infrastructure software company posted
higher license updates sales and lower expenses. The company issued
a fourth-quarter view in line with analysts' expectations and
affirmed its full-year target. Shares fell 4.3% to $39.60
premarket.
Terex Corp. (TEX) swung to a third-quarter loss--its fourth in a
row--on lower sales and restructuring charges. Shares dropped 7.6%
to $21.80 in premarket trading as the construction-machinery
maker's results fell short of Wall Street's expectations.
F5 Networks Inc.'s (FFIV) fiscal fourth-quarter profit climbed
44% on higher sales and margins, and the Internet services company
said business is continuing to improve. Shares jumped 10% to $45.75
in premarket trading as the results exceeded Wall Street's
expectations.
TriQuint Semiconductor Inc.'s (TQNT) third-quarter profit
dropped 20% on lower sales, but the company said business was
improving. Shares sank 19% to $6.55 premarket as the semiconductor
company's revenue fell short of Wall Street's expectations, though
the earnings were in line with analysts' forecast.
Lam Research Corp. (LRCX) reported a surprise fiscal
first-quarter profit as margins rose despite slumping revenue for
the semiconductor-equipment company. Shares rose 2.3% to $36.69 in
late trading.
QLogic Corp.'s (QLGC) fiscal second-quarter profit dropped 41%
on lower sales and margins, but the data-storage firm pointed to
"signs of stability and early indicators of recovery" in its
business. The results topped Wall Street's expectations, and Chief
Executive H.K. Desai said they also exceeded the company's
guidance. Shares fell 2.7% to $17.60 after hours.
Noble Corp.'s (NE) third-quarter profit grew 11% on increasing
revenue from contract drilling services and a tax gain. The
offshore-drilling contractor's shares rose 1.5% to $43.25 in late
trading.
Watch List:
Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP) swung to a third-quarter profit
as the provider of financial-planning services posted sharply
higher revenue and net investment income. Earnings topped Wall
Street estimates, though revenue fell short.
Novellus Systems Inc. (NVLS) swung to a third-quarter loss--its
fifth in the past six quarters--on lower sales and margins, but the
maker of semiconductor-manufacturing tools' results were in line
with its guidance.
-By Dow Jones Newswires, write to hotstocks@dowjones.com