Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade
in Thursday's session are Bank of America Corp. (BAC), Morgan
Stanley (MS) and Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI).
Bank of America swung to the black in the fourth quarter as the
bank took a lighter hit from mortgage-related issues and gained
from its push to sell assets. Shares were up 5.9% to $7.20 in
recent premarket trading as revenue exceeded analyst
expectations.
Morgan Stanley swung to a fourth-quarter loss as the bank booked
a hefty loss related to the settlement of a long-running legal
clash and weaker performance in its institutional-securities
business. Shares climbed 4.9% to $18.20 premarket as the results
still came in ahead of analysts' expectations.
Johnson Controls' fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 9.3% on
continued strength in the battery maker's automotive unit, though
the company lowered its full-year guidance amid a temporary plant
shutdown in China. Shares were down 4.6% at $33.95 premarket.
Knight Capital Group Inc.'s (KCG) fourth-quarter earnings surged
as the company's market making business continued to post sharply
higher earnings amid a jump in trading activity. Shares jumped 6.2%
to $12.58 premarket as the results easily topped Wall Street
estimates.
UnitedHealth Group Inc.'s (UNH) fourth-quarter profit rose a
stronger-than-expected 21% as the health insurer booked a large
jump in revenue at its Optum business and increased enrollments.
Shares climbed 0.6% to $54.27 in recent premarket trading.
F5 Networks Inc.'s (FFIV) fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 19%
as the Internet traffic service provider reported year-over-year
sales gains. Shares rose 8.8% to $118 in premarket trading since
the results topped the company's expectations and it issued an
upbeat forecast for the current quarter.
EBay Inc.'s (EBAY) fourth-quarter adjusted earnings rose 15% to
beat its generally conservative guidance, as the e-commerce
operator reported an increasingly common pattern of its payments
unit leading growth amid a solid performance in its marketplace
division. The company provided mixed guidance for results in the
new year. Shares climbed 3.7% to $31.45 premarket.
Xilinx Inc.'s (XLNX) fiscal third-quarter profit fell 17% on
weaker revenue from the chip maker's communications customers,
though its earnings per share topped analysts' estimates. Shares
rose 5.2% to $37.13 premarket as the company predicted its
fourth-quarter revenue would rebound.
Nokia Corp. (NOK) will cut the price of its new Lumia 710
smartphone in the U.K. following pressure from U.K. mobile
operators who are seeking to stimulate consumer interest in the
device, a person familiar with the situation said Thursday. Shares
fell 1.4% to $5.59 in recent premarket trading.
BlackRock Inc.'s (BLK) fourth-quarter profit slipped 16% as the
world's largest money manager by assets booked lower investment
advisory fees and securities lending revenue. Shares slid 0.9% to
$186.05 in light premarket trading.
Billionaire investor Carl Icahn boosted his stake in WebMD
Health Corp. (WBMD) to 11.6%, according to a filing Wednesday with
the Securities and Exchange Commission. Shares gained 0.5% to
$26.43 in recent premarket trading.
Sealy Corp. (ZZ) reported its fiscal fourth-quarter loss
widened, with the mattress maker showing weaker sales and margins.
Shares dropped 21% to $1.45 premarket as sales sharply missed
analyst expectations.
Watch List
Alterra Capital Holdings Ltd. (ALTE) estimated its
fourth-quarter losses from catastrophes at $50 million, primarily
related to the severe flooding in Thailand. The insurer and
reinsurer plans to report fourth-quarter results next month.
The Securities & Exchange Commission charged bank holding
company BankAtlantic Bancorp Inc. (BBX) and its top executive with
misleading investors when the financial crisis was in its early
stages.
BB&T Corp.'s (BBT) fourth-quarter profit jumped 88% as the
lender benefited from stronger-than-expected revenue and improved
credit conditions.
Black Hills Corp. (BKH) agreed to sell its non-regulated energy
marketing business and cut its 2012 profit outlook.
Clarcor Inc.'s (CLC) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 28% as
the filter-and-packaging company's strong sales volume of
heavy-duty engine filters led revenue growth.
CNO Financial Group Inc. (CNO) named Frederick J. Crawford as
its new chief financial officer, effective Jan. 23.
Medical-products maker Covidien PLC (COV) unveiled an expanded
recall of its BIS Bilateral sensors owing to a modification that
could result in inaccurate data.
H.B. Fuller Co.'s (FUL) fiscal fourth-quarter profit climbed
20%, stronger than expected, as the paint and adhesive maker's
margins improved. The company also projected a strong full-year
profit.
Huntington Bancshares Inc.'s (HBAN) fourth-quarter earnings
edged up 3.2% despite a slip in non-interest interest income as the
lender benefited from reduced credit costs over the year-earlier
period.
Federal regulators in December warned Johnson & Johnson's
(JNJ) DePuy Orthopaedics unit that several of its hip, knee and
joint replacements were improperly marketed, prompting the company
to stop offering some products.
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP's (KMP) fourth-quarter earnings
rose 16% as the company reported stronger results at its
natural-gas pipelines business. Meanwhile, Kinder Morgan Inc.
(KMI), which owns Kinder Morgan Energy's general partner, reported
that its fourth-quarter earnings surged amid lower taxes, a well as
contributions from discontinued operations.
Oneok Inc.'s (OKE) board raised the company's dividend by 8.9%,
joining a growing list of companies looking to increase value for
shareholders.
Plexus Corp.'s (PLXS) fiscal first-quarter earnings fell a
less-than-feared 29% as strength in the manufacturing services
company's engineering business helped damp the effect of lower
sales. The company also predicted an upbeat second-quarter profit,
excluding any restructuring charges, that beat analysts'
expectations.
Rockwell Collins Inc.'s (COL) fiscal first-quarter earnings fell
14% as the company reported lower earnings and revenue at its
government segment and a higher effective tax rate.
Sanmina-SCI Corp.'s (SANM) fiscal first-quarter earnings slumped
70% as the electronics manufacturer reported declining revenue amid
weakness at its communications-networks segment and the effects
from flooding in Thailand. The company also gave a mostly downbeat
view for the current quarter.
SAP AG (SAP, SAP.XE) said it extended the expiration date of its
tender offer for SuccessFactors Inc. (SFSF) by a week to Jan. 25 as
the parties haven't yet received approval from the Committee on
Foreign Investment in the U.S.
SLM Corp.'s (SLM) fourth-quarter profit rose but core earnings
fell because of lower loan-sale and debt-repurchase gains.
Southwest Airlines Co.'s (LUV) fourth-quarter earnings rose 16%
as the discount carrier benefited from stronger revenue and hedging
impacts. Though adjusted earnings declined, they beat
expectations.
Insurance broker Willis Group Holdings PLC (WSH) appointed John
Cavanagh as the new chief executive for the company's reinsurance
arm, Willis Re.
-Edited by Ian Thomson and Maya Pope-Chappell; write to
ian.thomson@dowjones.com and maya.pope-chappell@dowjones.com