Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Wednesday's session are Comcast Corp. (CMCSK, CMCSA), Bankrate Inc.
(RATE) and Trulia Inc. (TRLA).
Comcast's Class A shares jumped 7.9% to $42.06 premarket as the
company said it will buy the rest of NBCUniversal from General
Electric Co. (GE), giving it full control of the TV and movie
company. The company is also buying 30 Rockefeller Plaza and CNBC's
headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., from GE. The total price
tag is $18.1 billion. GE shares were also trading higher, up 4% to
$23.48 premarket.
Bankrate's fourth-quarter income plummeted as the
financial-information provider continued to post lower revenue amid
a continued transition in its insurance leads business. Shares fell
19% to $10.03 premarket as results missed analyst expectations, and
the company also gave a pessimistic revenue view for 2013.
Trulia's fourth-quarter loss narrowed as the online
real-estate-listing service recorded higher revenue. Shares jumped
16% to $27.52 premarket as results beat analysts' expectations.
Ahead of Groupon Inc.'s (GRPN) month-end fourth-quarter report,
Sterne Agee upgraded the online discount purveyor to buy and set a
$9 price target. "This is an out-of-consensus upgrade predicated on
a more-constructive longer-term view of the company and is not a
call" on the fourth-quarter, said the investment bank. Sterne said
it believes in Groupon's ability to expand its efforts, notably
overseas and in mobile. Shares rose 6.2% to $5.62 premarket.
Dean Foods Co. (DF) swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the
company benefited from a comparison with a year-earlier quarter
bogged down by large charges, while revenue climbed. Still, shares
fell 4.8% to $17.51 premarket as the company projected full-year
and current quarter per-share earnings below analyst estimates.
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (CLF) swung to a fourth-quarter
loss as the mining company logged significantly higher impairment
charges, and as revenue slipped. Shares slid 13% to $31.97
premarket as the company unveiled plans to sell shares and
significantly cut its quarterly dividend.
Rackspace Hosting Inc.'s (RAX) fourth-quarter income rose 19%,
as the data-center provider increased its customer base and posted
stronger revenue. But shares sank 11% premarket to $66.31 as the
company missed revenue expectations.
Mexican telecommunications heavyweight America Movil SAB (AMX,
AMX.MX) reported a surprise drop in net profit in the fourth
quarter as revenue slipped on a stronger Mexican peso, operating
cash flow came in below expectations, and the company registered a
hefty financing charges. American depositary shares fell 6.2% to
$23.30 premarket.
Buffalo Wild Wings Inc.'s (BWLD) fourth-quarter profit rose 22%,
as the chain's healthy sales trends were overshadowed by stubbornly
high chicken-wing prices. Shares dropped 3.8% to $78 in premarket
trading as the company said sales at established restaurants are
declining so far this quarter, blaming the timing of sporting
events.
Western Union Co. (WU), under pressure from increased compliance
costs and growing competition, expects revenue and profit to shrink
this year as it lowers prices for its consumer money-transfer
services to regain lost market share. Shares were down 3.5% to
$13.84 premarket.
Watchlist:
BlackRock Inc. (BLK) has named a Morgan Stanley (MS) executive
and longtime adviser to the money manager as its new finance chief,
replacing Ann Marie Petach. Gary S. Shedlin will join the firm on
March 11 and take the CFO position after the investment-management
giant reports its first-quarter earnings.
Clearwire Corp. (CLWR) reported a narrowed fourth-quarter loss
and has started work on a major network overhaul, but remained mum
on its deal review process. Majority shareholder Sprint Nextel
Corp. (S) has agreed to buy the half of Clearwire it doesn't
already own in a $2.2 billion deal. Complicating matters, Dish
Network Corp. (DISH) has proposed buying Clearwire at a higher
price.
DDR Corp. (DDR) swung to a fourth-quarter loss as the commercial
landlord recorded higher expenses and charges on asset sales,
though several core profitability measures improved.
Genesee & Wyoming Inc.'s (GWR) fourth-quarter earnings fell
60% amid $30.7 million in charges related to its acquisition of
RailAmerica Inc. late last year.
J.C. Penney Co. (JCP) said it has amended its bank credit
facility to increase its borrowing capacity to $1.85 billion from
$1.5 billion.
Money manager Legg Mason Inc. (LM) confirmed it has picked
interim Chief Executive Joseph Sullivan as its new CEO, ending a
months-long search that stretched across Wall Street.
Learning Tree International Inc. (LTRE) said it won't pursue a
sale of itself, a decision that comes after Chief Executive David
Collins last month withdrew his offer to take the provider of
software for information-technology professionals private.
Moody's Corp. (MCO) said its board has authorized a new $1
billion share-repurchase program, as the ratings and analytics
company looks to boost shareholder value.
Valmont Industries Inc.'s (VMI) fourth-quarter profit fell 43%
as the year-earlier period's results were boosted by
reorganization-related gains, though revenue grew in the latest
period. However, results best analysts' expectations.
WellPoint Inc. (WLP) named Joseph R. Swedish as its new chief
executive, unexpectedly turning to a hospital-industry veteran to
lead the No. 2 health insurer through the challenging
implementation of the health overhaul.
Willis Group Holdings PLC (WSH) swung to a deep fourth-quarter
loss as charges from a write-down on its North American business
and changes to its compensation policy masked revenue growth.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@dowjones.com
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