Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Thursday's session are Netflix Inc. (NFLX), Apple Inc. (AAPL) and
Mellanox Technologies Ltd. (MLNX, MLNX.TV).
Netflix capped a turbulent year by posting a surprise
fourth-quarter profit and adding more Internet subscribers than
expected, news that sent its stock rocketing about 39% to $143.80
in premarket trading.
Apple reported mostly flat year-over-year earnings for the
December quarter, the first of its fiscal year, despite record
iPhone and iPad sales. Shares of the Cupertino, Calif., company
fell 9.5% in premarket trading to $465.38 as the increased product
sales failed to satisfy Wall Street's expectations. The results
built on growing concerns that Apple may be losing its edge with
consumers and have a tough time topping its past success.
Mellanox's fourth-quarter earnings surged as the data-storage
company recorded a double-digit increase in revenue, though it
offered revenue guidance sharply below analyst expectations for the
current quarter. Shares tumbled 21% to $41.10 premarket.
Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer SA (ERJ, EMBR3.BR) said
Republic Airways has signed a contract for as many as 94 ERJ175
planes to fly regional routes for American Airlines. Republic
agreed to buy 47 of the planes and the option to buy another 47,
Embraer said in a regulatory filing. Should Republic exercise that
option, the total value of the sale would reach $4 billion, Embraer
said. Shares rose 9% to $31.14 premarket.
ITT Educational Services Inc. (ESI) swung to a surprise
fourth-quarter loss as the for-profit educational company saw a
double-digit drop in new student enrollments and a sharp rise in
operating costs. Shares fell 8.5% to $13.10 in premarket
trading.
Buckeye Partners L.P. (BPL) has launched an offering of six
million units representing limited partner interests. The
pipeline-owning company expects to use the proceeds to pay down its
debt, and said it will have around 96.4 million units outstanding
after the offering. Shares were off 4.3% in premarket trading at
$52.16.
F5 Networks Inc. (FFIV) reported a 4.5% jump in fiscal
first-quarter profit and issued an encouraging earnings outlook for
the current quarter as stronger services revenue helped to offset
slowing growth from new product sales. Shares rose 4.7% to $103.40
premarket.
Swift Transportation Co.'s (SWFT) fourth-quarter profit rose 27%
as the trucking company reported revenue gains across its segments.
Shares climbed 17% to $11.94 premarket as adjusted earnings topped
analyst expectations.
Curis Inc. (CRIS), a drug development company, said it has
earned a $350,000 milestone payment from the Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society after starting a Phase I clinical trial study of a
refractory lymphoma and multiple myeloma treatment. Shares rose
6.7% to $3.33 premarket.
Biodel Inc. (BIOD) reported positive top-line results from a
Phase 1 clinical trial of two ultra-rapid-acting insulin analog
candidates. Shares of the biopharmaceutical company rose 12% to
$2.62 in light premarket trading.
Watchlist
AFC Enterprises Inc. (AFCE) raised its 2012 earnings projection,
as the restaurant operator continues to see strong same-store
sales.
Altera Corp.'s (ALTR) fourth-quarter earnings fell 17% as the
chip manufacturer said sales of its older products were soft.
Amgen Inc. (AMGN) reported an 11% increase in fourth-quarter
revenue as stronger sales of its best-selling arthritis drug offset
declining sales of its antianemia drugs.
Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ARIA) is offering an undisclosed
number of shares. The company intends to use the proceeds for
making and marketing its leukemia treatment Iclusig, and for
developing its other drug candidates.
Crown Castle International Corp. (CCI) swung to a fourth-quarter
loss as the cell-tower company recorded heavy debt-retirement
charges, masking an increase in revenue.
Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (CBST) fourth-quarter earnings
more than quintupled as the biopharmaceutical company posted much
stronger sales, while the year-earlier results were weighed down by
income-tax provisions.
Energen Corp.'s (EGN) fourth-quarter earnings surged as the
energy company saw a double-digit revenue increase from its oil and
gas operations and as mark-to-market gains on certain financial
commodity contracts boosted bottom-line results.
Managed-care provider Health Net Inc. (HNT) said it has reached
a new agreement with Tenet Healthcare Corp. (THC), reinstating a
relationship with the Tenet's network of hospitals in California
that expired in December.
Hill-Rom Holdings Inc.'s (HRC) fiscal first-quarter earnings
fell 27% as the hospital-bed supplier recorded significantly higher
costs, partially offsetting stronger capital sales.
Lam Research Corp.'s (LRCX) fiscal second-quarter profit slumped
81% on acquisition costs as the semiconductor-equipment company
said Chief Financial Officer Ernie Maddock will be leaving the
company in mid-April.
LSI Corp. (LSI) swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the
storage-chip manufacturer recorded strong revenue growth and wider
margins.
Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP) has paid $292.5 million for
an interest in OCI Wyoming LP, as well as some shares of the
soda-ash producer from units of Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC).
Noble Corp.'s (NE) fourth-quarter earnings were roughly flat
from a year earlier as the offshore-oil driller's higher revenue
from contract-drilling services was offset by repair costs and
other operating expenses.
Polycom Inc.'s (PLCM) fourth-quarter earnings fell 96% as the
video-conferencing company's revenue declined across its geographic
regions from a year earlier.
Raymond James Financial Inc.'s (RJF) fiscal first-quarter
earnings jumped 28% as the regional broker reported stronger
results for its private-client group and capital-markets
business.
RLI Corp.'s (RLI) fourth-quarter earnings fell 16% as the
specialty property and casualty insurer was hurt by impacts from
superstorm Sandy.
SanDisk Corp.'s (SNDK) fourth-quarter profit fell 24% as the
flash memory maker's profit margin and revenue continued to erode
amid a shift in the company's focus. The company gave investors a
downbeat first-quarter and full-year revenue outlook in a
conference call.
Sealy Corp.'s (ZZ) fourth-quarter loss narrowed as the mattress
maker's sales in both the U.S. and abroad strengthened and margins
improved.
Stryker Corp.'s (SYK) fourth-quarter earnings fell 33% as the
medical-device maker recorded hefty charges related to a product
recall, while sales continued to strengthen.
Teradyne Inc. (TER) swung to a fourth-quarter loss as the
company reported lower sales of its chip-testing equipment. The
company also gave a downbeat view of the first quarter.
United Rentals Inc.'s (URI) fourth-quarter earnings rose 41% as
the equipment-rental company benefited from a continuing recovery
in demand, higher rental rates and a boost from its RSC Holdings
Inc. acquisition in April. Revenue missed expectations and the
company gave a cautious revenue outlook for 2013.
Varian Medical Systems Inc.'s (VAR) fiscal first-quarter
earnings rose 5.7% as the medical equipment and software company
posted higher sales for its oncology systems and x-ray products
segments. However, Varian, which makes medical equipment and
software to treat cancer, offered downbeat revenue guidance for the
current quarter.
Western Digital Corp.'s (WDC) fiscal second-quarter profit more
than doubled as hard-drive shipments jumped, benefiting from a
comparison to a year-ago quarter impacted by a natural
disaster.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@dowjones.com
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