Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade
in Monday's session are FedEx Corp. (FDX), Dollar General Corp.
(DG) and SuccessFactors Inc. (SFSF).
FedEx Corp. (FDX) said it will increase its shipping rates for
its FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery units by an average of
4.9%, effective Jan. 2. FedEx's stock rose 2.2% to $83.98
premarket.
Dollar General Corp.'s (DG) fiscal third-quarter earnings rose
34% as same-store sales continued to rise on improved traffic and a
larger transaction size and as sales of seasonal and consumable
items increased. Shares climbed 2.4% to $40.91 premarket.
SAP AG (SAP, SAP.XE) on Saturday said it would pay $3.4 billion
to buy online software provider SuccessFactors Inc. (SFSF),
indicating its intention to become a big player in the emerging
business. SAP agreed to pay $40 a share for the company, which
represents a 52% premium over the closing share price of
SuccessFactors on Friday. Shares of SuccessFactors jumped 52% to
$39.92 in recent premarket trading while SAP's shares shed 1.8% to
$58.50. Taleo Corp. (TLEO) shares also gained premarket, with BMO
upgrading its stock-investment rating on the software provider to
outperform in part because "most investors will likely conclude
that Taleo is the most-obvious acquisition candidate and that
Oracle is the most obvious buyer." Shares rose 13% to $37.40
premarket.
MetLife Inc. (MET) projected operating earnings for the fourth
quarter that fell just short of expectations as several natural
disasters pressured the insurer's bottom line. But MetLife
projected full-year operating earnings above Wall Street's
per-share estimate. Shares gained 3.4% to $32.80 premarket.
Private equity firms and competing retailers are examining the
books at Collective Brands Inc. (PSS) over a potential sale of the
company, the New York Post reported Sunday on its website, citing
people close to the talks. Shares rose 4.4% to $14.30 premarket on
the report.
US Airways Group Inc.'s (LCC) consolidated November traffic rose
3.1% as the passenger airline continued to trim its capacity.
Shares added 2.9% to $4.98 premarket.
Watch List:
Altria Group Inc. (MO) will record $119 million in
fourth-quarter charges incurred by its Philip Morris USA Inc. unit
stemming from two lawsuits.
Churchill Downs Inc.'s (CHDN) board approved a 20% increase in
the company's annual dividend, the company's first boost in more
than 10 years.
Commercial Metals Co.'s (CMC) board unanimously rejected
activist investor Carl Icahn's unsolicited bid to buy the
scrap-metal processing firm, saying the "opportunistic" and
"bargain basement" offering price substantially undervalues the
company's future prospects.
Specialty pharmaceutical company Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co.'s (HITK)
fiscal second-quarter earnings rose 38% as the generic-drug maker's
over-the-counter sales soared.
Moody's Investors Service gave OfficeMax Inc.'s (OMX) new
strategic plan a vote of confidence, removing the prospect of
downgrade anytime soon because it expects the plan to improve
operating performance.
Shire PLC (SHPGY, SHP.LN) reached a deal with U.S. regulators to
conduct more trials on its ProAmatine drug for low blood pressure
necessary to keep its marketing approval.
SL Green Realty Corp. (SLG) more than doubled its quarterly
dividend in an effort to reward shareholders, and acquired a
Midtown Manhattan office building near Grand Central Terminal.
Telular Corp. (WRLS) agreed to acquire
mobile-resource-management provider SkyBitz Inc. for $42 million in
cash and stock, a move that will make it the world's largest
asset-tracking and management company.
-Edited by Corrie Driebusch and Ian Thomson; write to
corrie.driebusch@dowjones.com and ian.thomson@dowjones.com