Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade
in Friday's session are Merck & Co. (MRK), Advanced Micro
Devices Inc. (AMD) and Whirlpool Corp. (WHR).
Merck's third-quarter earnings soared compared with a prior-year
quarter heavily weakened by charges, though the pharmaceutical
maker also reported core earnings and revenue that exceeded
expectations, helped by higher drug sales. Shares rose 2% to $35 in
premarket trading.
Advanced Micro Devices posted better-than-expected third-quarter
sales and fourth-quarter guidance as the chip maker experienced
robust demand for its notebook chips. Shares rose 8.6% to $5.79
premarket.
Whirlpool's third-quarter earnings more than doubled, but the
company announced a cost-reduction plan as sales grew slower than
expected. The company, whose brands also include KitchenAid and
Maytag, slashed its full-year earnings estimate, citing
weaker-than-expected industry demand, lower production levels and a
weak economic environment. Shares dropped 15% to $51.35
premarket.
Coinstar Inc.'s (CSTR) third-quarter earnings rose 90% on
continued strength from its Redbox movie- and videogame-rental
kiosks, and the company outlined plans to raise prices on its DVD
rentals. Coinstar shares slid 9.8% to $47.75 in pre-market trading
on concerns about a weak per-share outlook for the current quarter
and the DVD rental price increase.
Las Vegas Sands Corp.'s (LVS) third-quarter profit surged as
strong revenue in Asia drove higher margins, particularly at the
casino operator's Singapore property. Shares climbed 3.1% to $46.80
premarket on the stronger-than-expected results.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (GT) reported its third
consecutive quarterly profit Friday as it held the line on higher
rubber costs while benefiting from sales of premium-priced tires in
the U.S. and a surge of winter tire orders in Europe. Shares gained
5.7% to $15.10 premarket.
Baidu Inc.'s (BIDU) third-quarter earnings jumped 80% as China's
Internet-search leader continued to gain more users and bolstered
the revenue it gleaned from each one. The company's American
depositary shares jumped 6.8% to $147.85 premarket.
Electronic Arts Inc.'s (ERTS) fiscal second-quarter loss widened
as the videogame maker reported higher expenses and lower margins.
Shares fell 4.1% to $23.50 premarket.
Interpublic Group Of Cos.'s (IPG) third-quarter earnings
quadrupled, due in part to an investment gain, as international
business contributed to better-than-expected sales. Shares rose
9.4% to $9.75 premarket.
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s (CLF) third-quarter profit rose
98% due to higher pricing and sales volumes in the company's iron
ore business. Shares gained 3.2% to $69.63 premarket.
Watch List:
Amerigroup Corp.'s (AGP) third-quarter profit dropped 43%
despite higher premium revenue as the company posted a jump in
health benefits expenses.
Aon Corp.'s (AON) third-quarter profit jumped 38% as the
insurance brokerage and consulting firm posted soaring revenue in
its human resources unit driven by an acquisition.
Biogen Idec Inc.'s (BIIB) third-quarter earnings rose 38% as the
biotechnology company posted higher revenue, particularly from its
multiple-sclerosis drugs. The company's adjusted earnings and
revenue topped analyst expectations. For the year, the company
again raised its guidance.
Calpine Corp.'s (CPN) third-quarter earnings fell 12%, primarily
due to the sale of assets last year, though the wholesale power
company's sales grew more than expected.
Cigna Corp.'s (CI) third-quarter profit slipped 35% as the
managed-care company booked charges tied to businesses within its
runoff reinsurance segment, though revenue and membership
climbed.
Constellation Energy Group Inc. (CEG) swung to a third-quarter
profit as the power company saw a favorable comparison after it
booked major charges related to its nuclear joint ventures a year
earlier.
Coventry Health Care Inc.'s (CVH) third-quarter earnings fell
35% as the managed-care company's membership declined, masking
revenue growth. The company raised its full-year earnings
estimate.
Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (DNB) third-quarter earnings grew
3.4% as the business-information provider continued to report
surging international sales.
Eastman Chemical Co.'s (EMN) third-quarter earnings fell 2.9% on
acquisition- and restructuring-related charges, though higher
selling prices helped boost revenue.
Moody's Investors Services upgraded its credit ratings on Ford
Motor Co. (F) and General Motors Co. (GM) one notch closer to
investment grade territory Thursday, citing the auto makers' strong
positions in North America and improved credit metrics.
Gilead Sciences Inc.'s (GILD) second-quarter profit rose 5.1% as
the biopharmaceutical company's antiviral products drove revenue
growth.
HealthSouth Corp.'s (HLS) third-quarter earnings rose 79% as the
company reported increased revenue and a sharply higher
contribution from discontinued operations.
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) said Thursday it will keep its
personal-computer division, backing away from its prior plan to
explore a spinoff of the unit into a standalone company, after a
new evaluation found that a spinoff would be too costly.
KLA-Tencor Corp.'s (KLAC) fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 25%
as the semiconductor-equipment maker's increased sales offset a
weaker margin.
Lear Corp.'s (LEA) third-quarter earnings rose 5.7% as the
auto-parts supplier continued to benefit from the auto industry's
increased production.
Leggett & Platt Inc.'s (LEG) third-quarter profit rose a
modest 5.3% as pricing pressure and higher expenses offset the
benefit of stronger-than-expected sales. The company also cut its
full-year guidance.
LifePoint Hospitals Inc.'s (LPNT) third-quarter earnings were
flat from the year-earlier period as the operator of rural
hospitals saw admissions edged down slightly, though revenue
increased.
LyondellBasell Industries N.V.'s (LYB) third-quarter profit rose
a better-than-expected 92% as the company continued to post
stronger sales, most notably in the U.S. olefins and refining and
oxyfuels segments.
MetLife Inc.'s (MET) third-quarter profit surged thanks to a
massive derivative gain and a jump in investment income. The
biggest U.S. life insurer's operating results easily topped Wall
Street expectations.
Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. (MMI) increased sales of
smartphones by 9.1%, helping to narrow its third-quarter loss, even
as shipments of its much-touted Xoom tablet ground nearly to a
halt.
NCR Corp.'s (NCR) third-quarter earnings fell 81% as acquisition
and pension costs weighed on the bottom line. The company lifted
its adjusted earnings guidance for the year.
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NWL) swung to a third-quarter loss on an
impairment charge tied to its baby and parenting and hardware
units, as the company also disclosed a restructuring plan to focus
on its higher growth areas.
Rockwell Collins Inc.'s (COL) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings
improved 17%, driven by stronger sales in the company's commercial
systems business that helped offset ongoing weakness in government
demand.
SanDisk Corp. (SNDK) said its board authorized the repurchase of
up to $500 million of stock over five years, joining a growing list
of companies putting their cash to use to help build investors'
confidence.
Southwestern Energy Co.'s (SWN) third-quarter profit rose 9% as
production continued to climb in its Fayetteville and Marcellus
shale operations. The natural-gas producer again raised its
full-year production guidance.
Tenneco Inc.'s (TEN) third-quarter earnings tripled as the
auto-parts supplier continued to see strong demand worldwide.
VeriSign Inc.'s (VRSN) third-quarter profit slid 92% over a
prior-year period, significantly boosted by a sale of the company's
authentification business, although core results exceeded
expectations.
Weyerhaeuser Co.'s (WY) third-quarter profit tumbled despite
improved revenue as the forest-products company faced a prior-year
period boosted by more than $1 billion of income-tax adjustments
from its transitioning to a real-estate investment trust.
-Edited by Caitlin Nish and Corrie Driebusch; write to
caitlin.nish@dowjones.com and corrie.driebusch@dowjones.com