Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Thursday's session are Conn's Inc. (CONN), Francesca's Holdings
Corp. (FRAN) and Aeropostale Inc. (ARO).
Conn's fiscal third-quarter earnings soared as the retailer
reported broad sales growth, again led by furniture and mattress
sales. The company raised its per-share earnings estimate for the
year and issued a profit forecast for the upcoming year that topped
analysts' expectations. Shares rose 15% to $67.40 premarket.
Francesca's fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 20% as same-store
sales decline amid weak demand for apparel tops and jewelry. The
retailer said the holiday selling season is off to a weak start and
lowered its outlook for the fiscal year, sending shares down 12% to
$16.00 premarket.
Aeropostale swung to a fiscal third-quarter loss as the
youth-focused apparel retailer continued to struggle with falling
sales and teens' lackluster response to new style offerings. Shares
fell 6% to $8.80 premarket as the company guided for a
wider-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter loss and the latest
period's results missed the company's and Wall Street's
expectations.
Korn/Ferry International's (KFY) fiscal second-quarter profit
surged due in large part to a big revenue boost in the company's
leadership and talent consulting business, as well as a favorable
comparison to the year-ago period. Shares rose 5.3% to $23.70
premarket as the company's earnings beat its expectations.
S&P Dow Jones Indices said General Growth Properties Inc.
(GGP) will join the S&P 500 index, replacing Molex Inc. (MOLX),
a move that sent the real-estate investment trusts' shares 4.3%
higher to $21.15 premarket.
Watch List:
Barrick Gold Corp. (ABX, ABX.T), the world's largest gold miner,
announced a raft of boardroom changes Wednesday and the exit date
of founder and chairman Peter Munk, as it looks to ease investors'
concerns over corporate governance at the gold-mining giant. The
Toronto-based company said Mr. Munk will step down from the board
at the 2014 annual meeting, which is expected around April.
Church & Dwight Co. (CHD) unveiled plans to boost its gummy
vitamin production capacity by 75% by adding a new production line
at its Pennsylvania facility, which is expected to be operational
by early 2015.
Guess Inc.'s (GES) fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 7.2% as
the apparel retailer was hurt by weaker sales, led by declines in
its North America retail segment. The company also raised the lower
end of its per-share earnings estimate for the year, but lowered
its revenue view.
Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc.'s (JOSB) fiscal third-quarter profit
grew 2.3% as the men's clothing retailer posted stronger direct
marketing sales, though same-store sales were down slightly. For
the start of the fourth quarter, Chief Executive R. Neal Black said
total sales, same-store sales and direct sales all increased during
November, leading into the critical December sales time.
Mattress Firm Holding Corp.'s (MFRM) fiscal third-quarter
earnings rose 46% as increased advertising helped drive customer
traffic and sales growth. The company's adjusted profit and revenue
beat expectations.
New York & Co.'s (NWY) fiscal third-quarter loss narrowed as
the women's apparel retailer recorded comparable-store-sales growth
and benefited from lower costs.
Activist investor Carl C. Icahn on Wednesday disclosed he
increased his stake in Nuance Communications Inc. (NUAN) by 6.5
million shares. Mr. Icahn now owns a total of 58.9 million shares
in the company, or a stake of nearly 19%, according to a filing
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Omnicare Inc. (OCR) raised its quarterly dividend by 43% and
boosted its stock buyback program by $500 million in a bid to
increase shareholder value.
Puma Biotechnology Inc. (PBYI) reported positive top-line data
from the Phase II clinical trial of the biopharmaceutical company's
investigational drug PB272 for the neoadjuvant treatment of breast
cancer.
Synopsys Inc.'s (SNPS) fiscal fourth-quarter profit nearly
doubled on a top-line increase driven by growth in the company's
time-based license revenue. However, the company's guidance for the
current quarter came in below Wall Street expectations.
UTi Worldwide Inc. (UTIW) swung to a fiscal third-quarter loss
as higher expenses related to its transformation efforts and other
items more than offset improved freight-forwarding volume and
strength in the logistics and distribution business.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@wsj.com
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