Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade
in Wednesday's session are Apple Inc. (AAPL), Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) and
Boeing Co. (BA).
Apple's fiscal first-quarter earnings more than doubled, as both
profit and revenue hit record highs, led by strong sales of the
iPhone and iPad. Shares jumped 8.1% at $454.25 in recent premarket
trading as the results blew past analyst expectations.
Yahoo's fourth-quarter earnings fell 5.3% on a bigger tax
provision, while the Internet company's operating income improved
thanks to lower operating and revenue costs despite weaker revenue.
Shares were down 0.6% to $15.59 in recent premarket trading.
Boeing's (BA) fourth-quarter earnings rose 20% as the aerospace
company's revenue increased due to higher commercial airplane
deliveries. For the year, the company projected per-share earnings
of $4.05 to $4.25 on revenue of $78 billion to $80 billion,
compared with recent estimates from analysts polled by Thomson
Reuters of $4.96 and $78.55 billion, respectively. Shares were down
1.1% to $74.50 premarket.
WellPoint Inc.'s (WLP) fourth-quarter earnings fell 39% on
investment losses and higher costs, as the health-benefits provider
also increased its dividend by 15%. Results missed expectations,
and the company expects full-year earnings for 2012 to also be
below consensus. Shares dropped 7.4% to $64.25 in recent premarket
trading.
General Dynamics Corp.'s (GD) fourth-quarter earnings fell 17%
as the defense company's margins were hurt by charges at its
aerospace business. Shares declined 1.2% to $70.46 in recent
premaket trading.
Corning Inc.'s (GLW) fourth-quarter profit slumped 53% as the
company struggled, as expected, with sliding prices for
liquid-crystal-display glass. Shares fell 4.9% to $13.90
premarket.
Xerox Corp.'s (XRX) fourth-quarter profit more than doubled from
a year-earlier period that was hurt by heavy charges, while revenue
came in lighter-than-expected due to softer sales in the company's
technology business. The printer-and-copier maker said economic
weaknesses in Europe was behind the lighter technology revenue,
which covers the sales of printers, supplies and other items.
Shares were down 0.4% to $8.64 premarket.
US Airways Group Inc.'s (LCC) fourth-quarter earnings dropped
36% as the airline struggled under a sizable jump in fuel costs
that masked stronger revenue. Shares were up 3.4% to $6.63 in
recent premarket trading as core earnings far exceeded analyst
estimates.
CA Inc.'s (CA) fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 32% as the
business-software maker saw revenue growth in each of its three
segments. Shares surged 16% to $26.55 in premarket trading as the
company also unveiled a capital allocation program that targets the
return of up to $2.5 billion to shareholders through fiscal year
2014.
Textron Inc. (TXT) swung to a fourth-quarter loss on several
one-time items, though revenue grew more strongly than expected.
The company also gave an upbeat forecast, projecting full-year
earnings that beat analysts' expectations. Shares gained 7.5% to
$23.22 in recent premarket trading.
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) swung to a fourth-quarter loss
as write-downs tied to the chip maker's investment in its spun-off
foundry business offset stronger personal-computer processor sales.
Shares slipped 4.3% to $6.25 premarket as Advanced Micro's soft
revenue overshadowed its stronger-than-expected core earnings. The
stock had fallen 15% over the past year through Tuesday's
close.
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (KMP) said it plans to spend
roughly $140 million to further expand coal export operations along
the Gulf Coast and reached a long-term throughput agreement with
Arch Coal Inc. (ACI). Kinder Morgan Energy said the companies are
in final discussions to include port space for coal shipments at
Kinder's facilities on the East Coast. Shares were up 0.3% to
$88.60 premarket.
Fusion-io Inc.'s (FIO) fiscal second-quarter earnings loss
narrowed as the data-efficiency specialist more than doubled its
top line, but its costs took up a bigger proportion of the revenue
than in the year prior. Share dropped 11% at $26.90 premarket.
Tempur-Pedic International Inc.'s (TPX) fourth-quarter earnings
rose 22% as the mattress company reported stronger sales of
mattresses and pillows. Shares rose 8.1% to $67.30 in recent
premarket trading as the company projected 2012 results that
exceeded expectations.
Polaris Industries Inc.'s (PII) fourth-quarter earnings jumped
17% as the company reported another quarter of strong sales growth
that surged ahead of expectations. Still, the company had cautioned
the fourth quarter could see a greater impact from volatility of
foreign currencies and higher input costs. Shares fell 3.5% to
$60.51 premarket.
Radian Group Inc. (RDN) said it entered a three-pronged
transaction with units of fellow insurer Assured Guaranty Ltd.
(AGO) that it said would significantly increase its capital
position and preserve liquidity. Shares in mortgage insurer Radian
were up 3.4% at $3.05 in premarket trading.
Williams Partners LP (WPZ) unveiled plans Tuesday to offer 6.5
million common units as the company looks to raise money to fund
capital expenditures and for other general partnership purposes.
Units slipped 3.5% to $62.60 premarket.
Watch List:
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) reported fourth-quarter earnings rose
12% on improved profit margins, though sales for the pharmaceutical
and medical-products company were less than expected.
Altera Corp. (ALTR) fourth-quarter earnings fell 37% on weak
sales, as the semiconductor maker reported sequential revenue drops
in all its markets.
Buckeye Technologies Inc. (BKI) swung to a fiscal second-quarter
loss on a significant write-down, but adjusted earnings rose as the
fiber maker improved margin and specialty-fiber sales. The company
also increased its quarterly dividend by a penny to 7 cents a
share.
Dover Corp.'s (DOV) fourth-quarter profit rose 40% on higher
revenue boosted by broad-based organic growth and acquisitions.
Ethan Allen Interiors Inc.'s (ETH) fiscal second-quarter profit
slumped 45% after a tax benefit in the year-earlier period, but the
home-furnishings company's adjusted earnings rose on higher sales
and margin.
Everest Re Group Ltd. (RE) said it expects to incur net
catastrophe losses of about $245 million, after reinstatement
premiums and taxes, for the fourth quarter as losses from the
flooding in Thailand topped prior estimates.
A federal appeals court upheld a ruling against General Electric
Co.'s (GE) financing arm that charged the conglomerate with
understating some of its taxable income.
Hess Corp. (HES) swung to an unexpected loss in the fourth
quarter as the oil explorer reported wider losses at its marketing
and refining business amid the closing of the Hovensa refinery.
Hess is among a number of large oil companies that have been
increasing spending to fund exploration programs and the
development of shale-gas properties in the U.S.
-Edited by Maya Pope-Chappell and Ian Thomson; write to
maya.pope-chappell@dowjones.com and ian.thomson@dowjones.com