Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Tuesday's session are Dollar General Corp. (DG), Starbucks Corp.
(SBUX) and Westport Innovations Inc. (WPT.T, WPRT).
Dollar General late Monday reported a 36% jump in fiscal
first-quarter earnings, yet concerned investors as it also unveiled
plans for a secondary offering and did not raise its 3%-5%
full-year comparable-store sales guidance following a 6.7% increase
the first quarter. Shares were last off 4.9% to $46.11 in premarket
trading.
Starbucks said it will acquire Bay Bread LLC and its La Boulange
Bakery brand from investment group Next World Group for $100
million in cash, a move aimed at expanding its food offerings.
Analysts at Wells Fargo questioned the deal, wondering aloud if
Starbucks is "potentially overextending its capabilities by
acquiring La Boulange rather than forging a partnership with Bay
Breads or another upscale bakery brand and/or developing a
proprietary brand." Shares were down 2.4% at $52.60 in premarket
trade.
Shares of Westport Innovations Inc. (WPT.T, WPRT) got a boost
after mining equipment giant Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) said it has
agreed to begin working with Westport to develop a natural gas fuel
system for its off-road equipment. Westport shares were last
changing hands 8.4% higher at $24.14 in premarket trade.
JA Solar Holdings Co. (JASO) swung to a loss in the first
quarter as the solar products company struggled under a
double-digit drop in shipments and sharply weakened margins. Shares
were last up 5.6% to 94 cents in premarket trade.
DNA sequencing company Complete Genomics Inc. (GNOM) said it
plans to cut 55 jobs and has hired an adviser to explore options
for its business, including a possible sale. Launched as a venture
company to make DNA sequencing faster and cheaper, Complete
Genomics has struggled with recurring losses since becoming a
public company in November 2010. Shares jumped 9.8% to $2.22 in
premarket trade.
Galena Biopharma Inc. (GALE) said its treatment to reduce the
recurrence of breast cancer improved survival rates in preliminary
results from a long-term study. Shares were up 4.4% to $1.41
premarket.
Israel-based biopharmaceutical drug developer BioLineRx Ltd.
(BLRX) said it has moved a step closer to receiving patents on its
treatment for neuropathic pain. Shares jumped 12% to $2.60
premarket.
Opnext Inc.'s (OPXT) board has determined that a
technology-focused private-equity firm's unsolicited offer to
acquire the optical-components maker for $1.40 a share was not
superior to Opnext's proposed merger with peer Oclaro Inc. (OCLR).
Opnext shares were 13% to $1.10 premarket while Oclaro shares were
unchanged at Monday's $2.31 close.
Watchlist:
Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) acquired publication rights from Avalon
Books for more than 3,000 of its books, mostly in the romance,
mystery and western genres.
Central European Distribution Corp. (CEDC) said it plans to
restate its financial results for all periods from the past two
years due to accounting errors related to retroactive trade rebates
at the company's main subsidiary in Russia.
Google Inc. (GOOG) agreed to buy privately held ad platform
provider Meebo Inc. for an undisclosed sum, adding more developers
to the Internet search giant's social-media team.
FedEx Corp. (FDX) said it will permanently retire some of its
widebody jets and take an $84 million charge against net profits in
its latest quarter as its reconfigures its fleet in the face of
sluggish domestic demand and still-high fuel prices.
Layne Christensen Co.'s (LAYN) fiscal first-quarter profit sank
71% as the drilling-services provider saw continued difficulties in
its water infrastructure business.
Walgreen Co.'s (WAG) same-store sales fell a slightly
bigger-than-expected 5.8% during May--marking a fifth straight
month of declines--as the drug-store chain's loss of Express
Scripts Holding Co.'s (ESRX) members continued to take a toll.
Write to Mia Lamar at mia.lamar@dowjones.com