Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Thursday's session are Best Buy Co. (BBY), Citigroup Inc. (C) and
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS).
Amarin Corp. (AMRN) said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
has delayed a decision on its request for reconsideration of a
special protocol assessment agreement related to its Vascepa drug.
Shares declined 9.2% to $2.18 premarket.
Best Buy's holiday sales declined, hurt by heavy promotions
during the season and weakness at its domestic retail stores.
President and Chief Executive Hubert Joly said in a statement that
the highly promotional holiday season and Best Buy's pricing
efforts came at a higher-than-expected cost, with the company now
expecting that its operating income will decline in the fourth
quarter.
BlackRock Inc. (BLK) rode the fourth-quarter U.S. stock rally to
new highs, growing assets under management to $4.32 trillion and
boosting its profit by 22% from the year-ago quarter. The results,
which topped Wall Street expectations, allowed the world's largest
asset manager to boost its quarterly dividend to $1.93 a share from
$1.68. shares rallied in premarket trading, up 3.9% to $324.88.
An affiliate of buyout firm Apollo Global Management LLC (APO)
agreed to purchase CEC Entertainment Inc. (CEC), the parent of
Chuck E. Cheese's, for about $950 million, following a review of
the company's strategic alternatives by CEC's board. Apollo plans
to pay $54 in cash per CEC share. Shares topped the offer price in
premarket trading, rising 13% to $54.59.
Citigroup's fourth-quarter profit more than doubled from a year
earlier as the bank reined in expenses and bounced back from a 2012
quarter weighed down by heavy charges, but results sharply missed
analyst estimates amid continued weakness in mortgages and
fixed-income trading. Shares sank 3.4% to $53.15 in recent
premarket trading.
CSX Corp.'s (CSX) fourth-quarter profit fell 3.8% as expenses
climbed, masking a jump in volume boosted by strong shipments of
chemicals, autos and agricultural products. Shares dropped 4.9% to
$27.80 premarket.
Goldman Sachs said fourth-quarter net income dropped 19% as the
securities firm's revenue from fixed income, currencies and
commodities trading slumped, although results comfortably topped
Street views as investment-banking revenue climbed. Shares rose
0.7% to $180 in recent premarket trading.
Huntington Bancshares Inc.'s (HBAN) fourth-quarter earnings fell
5.7% as the lender's revenue declined, though it wrote off fewer
bad loans and its loan portfolio grew. Shares edged down 1.9% to
$9.71 premarket.
J.C. Penney Co. (JCP) is planning to close 33 underperforming
stores and trim 2,000 positions, moves the department-store
retailer said are necessary so it can focus on locations that can
generate the strongest profits. Shares edged down 1.9% to $6.88
premarket.
PNC Financial Services Group Inc.'s fourth-quarter earnings rose
46% as improved credit quality and growth in loans continued to
boost the company's bottom line. Results beat expectations, sending
shares up 2.1% to $80.48 premarket.
Sarepta Therapeutics Inc. (SRPT) said Wednesday data from a
Phase IIb open-label extension study of its experimental muscular
dystrophy drug showed a continued stabilization of walking ability
in treated patients. Shares surged 19% to $23.80 premarket.
UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s (UNH) fourth-quarter income improved
15%, as the health insurer's enrollments grew and its Optum
segment's revenue soared. Shares slipped 2.5% to $72.98
premarket.
Shares of Zoom Technologies Inc. (ZOOM) soared 37% to $5.90
after the Chinese mobile and telecommunications investor inked an
all-stock deal to acquire an online business travel provider.
Watch List:
Alcoa Inc. (AA) said it will permanently close the remaining two
potlines at a New York smelter in the first quarter of this year,
saying the potlines are no longer competitive.
Brown & Brown Inc. (BRO) signed a deal to pay $602.5 million
to acquire specialty insurer Wright Insurance Group, a deal the
company said will boost earnings in the next fiscal year.
EBay Inc. (EBAY) said Chris Saridakis, president of the online
retailer's e-commerce services division, has resigned for personal
reasons.
Helen of Troy Ltd. (HELE) said its board has appointed Julien R.
Mininberg to the chief executive post, succeeding CEO and Chairman
Gerald J. Rubin who is leaving the company to become CEO of an El
Paso, Texas-based commercial real-estate firm.
Kinder Morgan Inc.'s (KMI) fourth-quarter profit rose 54% driven
by continued growth at its Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (KMP)
affiliate that offset weaker earnings at El Paso Pipeline Partners
LP (EPB).
Write to Lauren Pollock at lauren.pollock@wsj.com and John Kell
at john.kell@wsj.com
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