Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Friday's session are Expedia Inc. (EXPE), Fairway Group Holdings
Corp. (FWM) and LinkedIn Corp. (LNKD).
Activision Blizzard Inc. (ATVI) said its fourth-quarter profit
fell 51%, but other results for the videogame maker came in better
than analysts expected. The company said it expects strong results
this year but forecast adjusted profits and revenues for the
current quarter and full year below Wall Street estimates. Shares
climbed 8.3% to $18.60 premarket.
Apollo Global Management LLC (APO) said fourth-quarter profit
slid 7.2% as carried interest income fell sharply. However, its
core earnings easily topped views, pushing shares up 1.3% to $32.20
premarket.
Cigna Corp. (CI) said its fourth-quarter profit declined 11%, as
the health insurer's global health-care margins slipped and it lost
members from the prior quarter. Results missed expectations, and
the company predicted earnings for the year that fell short of the
consensus view. Shares dropped 1.6% to $83.98 premarket.
Gap Inc.'s (GPS) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings outlook topped
consensus estimates, as the retailer reported January same-store
sales that also beat expectations. Shares edged up 2.7% to $40.80
premarket.
Off-the-shelf hardware and software provider Echelon Corp.
(ELON) issued a first-quarter revenue target that missed Wall
Street's expectations. Shares dropped 16% to $3.20 premarket.
Expedia said fourth-quarter profit surged on a favorable
comparison to the year-earlier period and higher revenue. Shares
surged 13% to $73.90 premarket.
Fairway said Chief Executive Herb Ruetsch plans to retire after
15 years with the New York grocery-store operator but will stay on
as a special adviser. The company also unveiled plans to realign
some operations and reported fiscal third-quarter revenue that
missed estimates. Shares dropped 19% to $9.25 premarket.
LinkedIn's diverse sources of revenue is helping the company
post strong sales growth--just not as much as Wall Street would
like. Shares of the Mountain View, Calif., professional social
network fell in premarket trading by 6.6% to $208.74 as the company
projected revenue to grow more than 30% for the current quarter and
year, but its projections were still below analyst estimates.
Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. (LGF) said its fiscal
third-quarter earnings surged, as the entertainment company's
revenue benefited from the latest "Hunger Games" box-office hit and
revenue growth in most of its other business segments. Shares edged
up 2% to $32.35.
Moody's Corp. (MCO) said its fourth-quarter profit jumped 29% as
its revenue grew, particularly in its structured-finance segment.
Results easily topped estimates, and the company gave an outlook
for the year that was mostly ahead of the consensus estimate.
Shares climbed 3.6% to $79.50 premarket.
Outerwall Inc. (OUTR) named a Warner Bros. Home Entertainment
Inc. executive to lead the kiosk operator's Redbox business, as it
reported a 5.5% increase in fourth-quarter profit. Fourth-quarter
core earnings exceeded Outerwall's expectations. The company also
authorized more stock buybacks and appointed two other executives
to run the Coinstar and ecoATM divisions. Shares surged 9.4% to
$69.60 premarket.
Watch List:
Athenahealth Inc. (ATHN) reported better-than-expected
fourth-quarter results. The electronic health-care records
provider's revenue and adjusted profit growth in the latest quarter
topped Wall Street's expectations.
Bebe Stores Inc.'s (BEBE) fiscal second-quarter loss widened, as
the specialty retailer reported a drop in sales and narrower
margins, hit by higher discounts. The results topped the company's
own estimates.
CBOE Holdings Inc. (CBOE) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose
a bigger-than-expected 16%, as the U.S. options exchange posted an
increase in transaction fees on higher trading volume.
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) said it is delaying the North American
Xbox 360 release of its "Titanfall" game until March 25, citing the
need for more time for "finishing touches."
Illinois Tool Works Inc. (ITW) said it reached a deal to sell
its industrial packaging segment to Carlyle Group (CG) for $3.2
billion.
Kirkland's Inc. (KIRK) cut its earnings outlook for the fiscal
fourth-quarter and fiscal year, as the discount home-decor retailer
cited a slowdown in sales over the holidays.
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (LH) said its
fourth-quarter earnings rose 5.1% on higher testing volumes, but
results missed expectations.
Lannett Co. (LCI) said it posted record sales, gross margin and
income in its fiscal second quarter. The company posted
better-than-expected results and raised its full-year sales
outlook.
Madison Square Garden Co. (MSG) said its fiscal second-quarter
profit increased 29%, as its sports segment led strong gains in
overall revenue.
Mondelez International Inc. (MDLZ) is planning to close the
snack maker's bakery in Philadelphia by early 2015, a move that
will affect about 350 employees.
News Corp's (NWSA) revenue fell 4% in its fiscal second quarter,
as a drop in advertising and subscription revenue at the news and
information business offset growth at its other businesses.
Post Holdings Inc. (POST) again said its results received a
boost from acquisitions, although its fiscal first-quarter top line
just missed expectations as revenue at the company's core cereal
business stagnated. The company also said it swung to a loss for
the period due to costs related to acquisitions, restructuring and
plant closures, among other items.
Republic Services Inc. (RSG) said its fourth-quarter profit rose
86%, as the waste-transport company reported higher revenue and
wider operating margins. The results exceeded Wall Street
expectations.
Tempur Sealy International Inc. (TPX) said its fourth-quarter
earnings fell 2.6% on expenses related to Tempur-Pedic's
acquisition of Sealy and other one-time items, masking a big boost
in revenue from the combination of the former rivals.
Write to John Kell at john.kell@wsj.com and Lauren Pollock at
lauren.pollock@wsj.com
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