Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Friday's session are Campbell Soup Co. (CPB), Men's Wearhouse Inc.
(MW) and Weight Watchers International Inc. (WTW).
Agilent Technologies Inc.'s (A) fiscal first-quarter earnings
rose 8.9% as slightly lower expenses and an income tax benefit
boosted the diversified testing-equipment company's bottom-line,
while revenue was essentially flat. Shares dropped 6.5% to $56.20
premarket as the company's profit outlook for the current quarter
and year fell short of consensus views.
Campbell Soup said its fiscal second-quarter profit jumped 71%
as a late Thanksgiving holiday and snacking sales drove results.
The company's sales and earnings for the period exceeded Wall
Street expectations. Shares edged up 3.5% to $42.40 premarket.
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (CLF) officially named Gary B.
Halverson to the company's chief executive post, an appointment
that comes a day after an activist investor called for another
candidate to fill the slot. Separately, the company reported it
swung to a fourth-quarter profit as reduced costs helped offset a
modest decline in revenue. Shares rose 8.2% to $23.70
premarket.
Nutritional-products retailer GNC Holdings Inc.'s (GNC) fiscal
fourth-quarter earnings inched up 0.5% amid a rise in revenue,
though adjusted results fell short of market estimates. Shares
dropped 16% to $43.95 premarket.
Internet service provider j2 Global Inc. (JCOM) said its
fourth-quarter revenue climbed 35%, though its earnings fell
because of acquisition costs. Shares rose 20% to $56 premarket as
the internet service provider boosted its dividend and offered rosy
guidance.
Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. (JOSB) agreed to acquire apparel
retailer Eddie Bauer for $825 million in cash and stock, the latest
development in its continuing takeover battle with Men's Wearhouse.
Shares slipped 4.2% to $52.60 premarket, while those of Men's
Wearhouse declined 8.7% to $42.50.
LogMeIn Inc.'s (LOGM) shares jumped after the
information-technology firm reported better-than-expected
fourth-quarter results and issued rosy outlook targets for the new
year. Shares surged 21% to $40.40 premarket.
Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY) said it would split its
California operations into a separate, independent publicly traded
company as part of an ongoing strategic review. The new company
will be the state's largest natural gas producer and its biggest
oil and gas producer by gross-operated barrels of oil equivalent,
Occidental said. Shares edged up 2.4% to $94.45 premarket.
PhotoMedex Inc. (PHMD) agreed to pay about $106.4 million in
cash to acquire LasikPlus vision-correction provider LCA-Vision
Inc. (LCAV), a deal that should add to the skin health care
company's earnings this year. Shares surged 28% to $5.45
premarket.
Stamps.com Inc.'s (STMP) fourth-quarter profit doubled on higher
sales and due to an income tax benefit, though results missed Wall
Street's expectations, sending shares down 6.4% to $36.17
premarket. The company's 2014 targets also failed to meet analysts'
estimates.
Trulia Inc. (TRLA) said its losses widened in the fourth quarter
as the online real-estate-listing service's costs and expenses more
than doubled. Shares dropped 13% to $31.63 premarket.
TRW Automotive Corp. (TRW) withstood economic pressures,
particularly in Europe, to deliver fourth-quarter earnings and
sales that exceeded expectations. The company predicted
current-quarter sales that slightly topped the consensus estimate,
sending shares up 2.8% to $78.50 premarket.
VF Corp. (VFC) said its fourth-quarter earnings climbed 10% as
the apparel maker posted double-digit sales growth in its outdoor
and action-sports brands, offsetting a slight decline its jeanswear
business. But results missed expectations, and the maker of North
Face and Wrangler apparel also offered a soft 2014 outlook. Shares
declined 6.1% to $56.25 premarket.
Weight Watchers said its fourth-quarter profit fell 47% as the
company's weight-loss meeting attendance and revenue continued to
decline. The earnings missed expectations and the company's 2014
per-share profit guidance was below analysts' views. Shares dropped
22% to $23.85 premarket.
Watch List:
Bankrate Inc. (RATE) reported it swung to a fourth-quarter loss
amid higher expenses, though the financial-information provider's
revenue grew. Bankrate's adjusted fourth-quarter profit topped Wall
Street's estimates and revenue beat the company's predictions.
American International Group Inc. (AIG) boosted its common-stock
dividend and share-repurchase target in the latest sign of the
insurer's improved fortunes since a government bailout, as it swung
to a fourth-quarter profit in the absence of major
catastrophes.
Coty Inc. (COTY) said its fiscal second-quarter earnings dropped
33% as the beauty-products maker posted weaker sales in all three
of its major lines, led by a decline in cosmetics. The bottom line
just missed estimates.
Equifax Inc. (EFX) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 66% on
revenue growth and the company's board approved a 14% increase in
the quarterly dividend.
Hyatt Hotels Corp. (H) said its fourth-quarter profit doubled as
the company posted growth in revenue, occupancy and rates. The
results beat Wall Street expectations, and the company expects the
strength to continue.
Interpublic Group Of Cos. (IPG) said its fourth-quarter earnings
fell 39% as the advertising firm reported weak results in Europe
and higher operating costs that hurt the company's bottom line.
Earnings missed expectations.
ITT Corp. (ITT) said its fourth-quarter revenue rose as the
industrial conglomerate posted stronger demand in its
industrial-process and motion-technologies businesses. Results beat
expectations.
J.M. Smucker Co. (SJM) cut its full-year sales and earnings
guidance, citing a more competitive pricing environment and lower
expectations for sales volume. The company, meanwhile, delivered
mixed results for the fiscal third quarter, with earnings and
margins rising while sales fell. The results came in below Wall
Street expectations, sending shares down 4.5% to $90.84.
Kraft Foods Group Inc. (KRFT) said its fourth-quarter profit
soared on $782 million gain related to pensions and higher sales of
refrigerated meals and beverages.
Lifepoint Hospitals Inc. (LPNT) said its fourth-quarter earnings
edged down 1.9% as the rural hospital operator's admissions
declined. Revenue increased more than expected, but the company
offered a mixed outlook for the new year.
Oxford Industries Inc. (OXM) cut its fiscal-year and
fourth-quarter outlooks, saying a solid holiday season gave way to
a sluggish January for the apparel company.
Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. (SNI) on Thursday said its
board has authorized an additional $1 billion for the company's
share repurchase program and boosted its quarterly dividend by
about 33%. Its fourth-quarter revenue rose 8.2% as the media
company benefited from higher ad sales and affiliate fees
revenue.
Write to Lauren Pollock at lauren.pollock@wsj.com and John Kell
at john.kell@wsj.com
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