Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Thursday's session are Hillshire Brands Co. (HSH), Abercrombie
& Fitch Co. (ANF) and Tilly's Inc.'s (TLYS).
Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN) jumped in on the deals frenzy centered
around Hillshire Brands Co. (HSH), offering to buy the maker of
Jimmy Dean sausage and Ball Park hotdogs for about $6.1 billion.
The offer comes just two days after Pilgrim's Pride Corp. (PPC)
unveiled an unsolicited bid for Hillshire worth about $5.5 billion.
Hillshire shares rose 15% to $51.73 premarket. Tyson shares rose
4.2% to $42.47 and Pilgrim's Pride dropped 1.5% to $25.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) said its fiscal first-quarter
loss widened, with the teen-apparel retailer still struggling with
lighter demand and weaker sales. Still the loss wasn't as wide as
analysts had feared and revenue beat expectations. Shares rose 5.5%
to $37.05 premarket.
Tilly's Inc.'s (TLYS) fiscal first-quarter profit fell 74% as
the teen retailer reported weaker sales at existing locations and
higher expenses, while posting weaker-than-expected growth for
total sales. Shares fell 28% to $7.59 premarket.
Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp. (BAH) disclosed the sale of 10
million of the company's Class A shares by a Carlyle Group
affiliate, as the government contractor's former owner continues to
pare its stake. Following the sale to Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
and Barclays Capital Inc., Carlyle's stake will be about 45.8%.
Shares fell 2.4% to $23.06 premarket.
Gordmans Stores Inc. (GMAN) swung to a fiscal first-quarter loss
as the regional retailer reported a sales decline at existing
locations and recorded expenses tied to the retirement of its chief
executive. Shares fell 16% to $4.20 premarket.
Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ICPT) said the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration granted fast-track status to its lead product
candidate for hard-to-treat cases of an autoimmune liver disease.
Obeticholic acid, or OCA, would treat patients with primary biliary
cirrhosis, a chronic liver disease. Shares rose 5.5% to $247
premarket.
Palo Alto Networks Inc. (PANW) said it would pay about $175
million to resolve its patent litigation with Juniper Networks Inc.
(JNPR). The disclosure was made as the Internet security company
also reported its fiscal third-quarter loss widened as higher costs
and expenses masked its revenue increase. Palo Alto shares rose 13%
to $78.58 premarket.
Sanderson Farms Inc. (SAFM) said its fiscal second-quarter
profit more than doubled as demand grew and key costs declined. The
results easily topped analysts' expectations. Shares rose 3.9% to
$91.06 premarket.
Watchlist:
Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) said its fiscal third-quarter
profit rose as sales and revenue from membership fees rose. The
company's bottom line missed analysts' expectations, while revenue
topped them.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Inc.'s (PLKI) earnings rose 16% in the
fiscal first quarter as the fast-food chain reported strong sales
and continued market-share gains.
Sears Canada Inc. (SEARF, SCC.T) said it has extended its senior
secured revolving credit facility by several years and reduced its
credit limit by $500 million, a move expected to reduce the
retailer's financing costs.
Write to Maria Armental at maria.armental@wsj.com and Tess
Stynes at tess.stynes@wsj.com
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