Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Friday's session are Coinstar Inc. (CSTR), Dow Chemical Co. (DOW)
and Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC).
Coinstar raised its earnings and revenue forecasts for its first
quarter and full year, saying it experienced increased consumer
demand at its Redbox movie rental kiosks, especially for titles
like "Moneyball" and "Puss and Boots." Shares jumped 13% to $69.01
premarket.
Dow Chemical's board approved a 28% increase in the quarterly
dividend, reflecting confidence in its prospects. Shares rose 1.5%
to $33.15 premarket.
Wells Fargo's first-quarter profit rose 13% as the giant U.S.
bank booked better-than-expected revenue growth with help from
strong mortgage banking. But shares still slipped 1.8% to $33.40
premarket. The bank's stock has gained 23% this year and double
that since Thanksgiving amid the banking sector's recent broad
surge.
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.'s (JPM) first-quarter earnings fell
3.1% as legal expenses and debt-related charges weighed, masking a
surprise increase in revenue. Shares shed 1% to $44.40
premarket.
Infosys Ltd. (INFY, 500209.BY) Friday posted a
better-than-expected net profit for the January-March quarter, but
the company's forecast that it may underperform the Indian
outsourcing industry in revenue growth this fiscal year drove its
American depositary shares down 13% to $49.36 premarket.
IGate Corp.'s (IGTE) first-quarter earnings rose a
bigger-than-expected 35% as information-technology company's
revenue surged, masking slightly weaker margins. Shares traded up
4.8% to $18 premarket.
Powerwave Technologies Inc. (PWAV) cut its downbeat
first-quarter revenue expectations on weakness across its markets
as its customers delayed or cut spending. Shares were off 20% to
$1.71 in premarket trading.
KB Home (KBH) has cut its quarterly dividend 60% as the company
seeks to free its cash to take better advantage of an improving
housing market. KB Home's stock declined 0.7% to $8.40 in light
premarket trading.
Watchlist
Adobe Systems Inc. (ADBE) said it will buy back up to $2 billion
in common stock through the end of fiscal 2015, as the software
company looks to increase shareholder value.
ARC Wireless Solutions Inc. (ARCW) said it will acquire two
companies with metal injection molding assets in deals valued at a
combined $74.4 million and will change its name to reflect its
transformation to a diversified manufacturing holding company.
Bank of the Ozarks Inc.'s (OZRK) first-quarter earnings rose
23%, led by growth in the company's interest income and as gains
from service charges boosted noninterest income.
Best Buy Co. (BBY) said it will create a committee to lead the
search for a new chief executive officer, two days after Brian Dunn
abruptly stepped down from the CEO post.
Cosi Inc. (COSI) plans to launch a rights offering for up to
19.9% of the company's common stock to its shareholders.
Google Inc. (GOOG) reported a 61% gain in quarterly profit
Thursday, as the Internet search giant moved ahead with a
long-anticipated stock split that keeps the company firmly under
the control of its co-founders.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.'s (JBHT) first-quarter
earnings rose 35%, led by continued growth at the trucking
company's intermodal-transportation division.
Map Pharmaceuticals Inc. (MAPP) plans to meet with the Food and
Drug Administration during the current quarter to discuss
manufacturing issues that are preventing approval of its migraine
medication Levadex.
Mosaic Co. (MOS) said it will more than double its quarterly
dividend, as the fertilizer producer looks to put its cash
stockpile to use and boost shareholder returns.
Talbots Inc.'s (TLB) fiscal fourth-quarter loss widened, as
restructuring and executive retirement costs, as well as
promotions, pressured results for the women's apparel retailer.
The general partners of two Teekay Corp. (TK) spinoff companies
raised their quarterly dividends, joining a growing list of
companies looking to bolster shareholder value with bigger payouts.
Teekay Offshore Partners L.P. (TOO) said it increased its dividend
2.5% while Teekay LNG Partners L.P. (TGP) raised its dividend by
7.1%.
Tibco Software Inc. (TIBX) said it paid $130 million to acquire
LogLogic Inc., in a deal that expands the software provider's
operational intelligence offerings.
Universal Health Services Inc. (UHS) expects to receive about
$35 million to correct underpayment from the Medicare
inpatient-prospective-payment system under an industrywide
settlement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
-Edited by Corrie Driebusch and Nathalie Tadena; write to
corrie.driebusch@dowjones.com