Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Wednesday's session are Bank of America Corp. (BAC), Chelsea
Therapeutics International Ltd. (CHTP) and NuVasive Inc.
(NUVA).
Aeropostale Inc. (ARO) has contacted at least two private equity
firms to gauge interest in a potential sale, Bloomberg News
reported Tuesday, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The
company isn't currently in negotiations for a sale, the people told
Bloomberg. Shares rose 5.4% to $8.15 premarket.
Bank of America's fourth-quarter profit surged, beating analyst
estimates, as the banking giant bounced back from a year-ago
weighed down by one-time charges, while the bank benefited from
stronger credit quality. The company logged large litigation
expenses but was helped by a narrower loss in its consumer real
estate division. Shares edged up 2.3% to $17.15 premarket.
Chelsea Therapeutics's blood-pressure drug Northera received
strong support from a U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory
panel, raising prospects it will receive approval from regulators.
Shares more than doubled to $6 premarket.
Datalink Corp. (DTLK), a provider of data-center infrastructure
and service, boosted its fourth-quarter earnings outlook amid
expectations that its revenue will be stronger than previously
anticipated. Shares surged 31% to $14.20 premarket.
ExOne Co. (XONE) lowered its revenue guidance for the year amid
a delay in completed sales for some of its 3-D printers. Shares
dropped 16% to $52.57 premarket.
Medical device company NuVasive raised its revenue expectations
for 2013, saying its growth outperformed the broader spine market.
Shares climbed 8.1% to $36.50 premarket.
PetSmart Inc. (PETM) said it won't replace the chief operating
officer position after the retirement of Joseph O'Leary this year,
a move that mirrors a growing trend among U.S. corporations. Shares
dropped 3.1% to $65 premarket.
Watch List:
Fastenal Co. (FAST) said its sales and margins trends continued
to weaken in the fourth quarter after it warned of the trend
earlier in December. "This weakening was worse than we expected and
this created additional drain on our ability to grow earnings,"
Fastenal said.
General Motors Co. (GM) has announced it will pay a 30-cent
quarterly dividend, marking one of the final financial acts by
Chief Executive Dan Akerson, who leaves office at midnight
Wednesday. The company also said it expects its total earnings
before interest and tax to be modestly improved this year, with its
underlying operating performance more than offsetting increased
restructuring expense.
Medical device company HeartWare International Inc. (HTWR)
issued a revenue forecast that fell short of market
expectations.
Intrepid Potash Inc. (IPI), the largest potash producer in the
U.S., plans to cut its workforce by 7% and cut executive
compensation as part of a plan to trim costs in reaction to weaker
prices for the fertilizer ingredient.
Kaiser Aluminum Corp.'s (KALU) board raised the quarterly
dividend by 17% and also authorized an additional $75 million in
stock buybacks.
Linear Technology Corp.'s (LLTC) fiscal second-quarter profit
climbed 18% as the chip manufacturer reported higher sales and
gross margins.
MeadWestvaco Corp. (MWV) expanded its cost-cutting efforts and
said it plans to simplify the structure of its packaging
businesses, as it strives to improve its performance.
Verisk Analytics Inc. (VRSK) agreed to acquire EagleView
Technology Corp. for $637 million, a move the company expects will
enhance its position in the imagery analytics market.
Write to Lauren Pollock at lauren.pollock@wsj.com and John Kell
at john.kell@wsj.com
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