Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Wednesday's session are Knight Capital Group Inc. (KCG), Green
Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc. (GMCR) and Fresh Market Inc.
(TFM).
High-frequency market maker Getco Holding Co. has made an
official offer to merge with Knight Capital for $3.50 a share in
cash and stock, valuing the embattled brokerage at about $539
million. Knight shares rose 20% to $3.56 premarket.
Green Mountain's profit rose 22% in the latest quarter, despite
facing an influx of competition when its patents on single-serve
coffee pods for its Keurig brewers expired in September. Green
Mountain saw shares jump 20% to $34.58 in premarket trading, as the
company reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter results and
boosted its outlook for fiscal 2013.
Fresh Market's fiscal third-quarter earnings jumped 19% as the
specialty grocer recorded double-digit revenue growth, with margins
also strengthened. However, shares dropped 13% to $52.70 premarket
as earnings missed Wall Street estimates. The company also reported
that Chief Financial Officer Lisa Klinger will step down in
December to take a similar position with a private-equity-backed
apparel retailer.
Express Inc.'s (EXPR) fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 47% as
the young-adult clothing retailer reported weaker sales and
margins. However, shares jumped 12% to $14.48 premarket as earnings
were at the high end of expectations and the company reported that
its Black Friday sales topped its estimates.
American Eagle Outfitters Inc.'s (AEO) fiscal third-quarter
earnings jumped 50% as the teen retailer posted
higher-than-expected net sales and stronger margins. Shares rose
6.9% to $20.73 in premarket trading as American Eagle again raised
its adjusted per-share earnings guidance for the year.
Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) reported stronger-than-expected
same-store sales for the past month and said its board approved a
special dividend of $7 a share, as the wholesale-club operator
joined a number of companies making payouts to shareholders in
anticipation of potential tax increases in the new year. Shares
rose 3.4% to $100.25 premarket.
Groupon Inc.'s (GRPN) board of directors is expected to meet
Thursday and plans to discuss whether to begin a search for a new
chief executive, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal,
citing a person briefed on the matter. According to the report, the
regularly scheduled meeting throws the spotlight on CEO Andrew
Mason, whose youth and humor were seen as a positive for Groupon
when it was a young startup. But several missteps in the run-up to
the company's initial public offering last November, coupled with
slowing growth of the business, have prompted critics to question
whether Mr. Mason has the experience to lead a multibillion-dollar,
public company. Shares rose 5.1% to $4.16 premarket.
Guidewire Software Inc.'s (GWRE) fiscal first-quarter earnings
fell 92% as the provider of software for property/casualty insurers
was hurt by higher operating costs and stock-based compensation
expenses. Shares fell 11% to $26.20 premarket.
U.S.-listed shares of Australian genetic-testing company Genetic
Technologies Ltd. (GENE) plunged 20% to $1.99 premarket following
the resignations of two directors from its board, as well as the
immediate resignation of Chief Executive Paul MacLeman announced in
a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission after the
company's annual general meeting.
Medley Capital Corp. (MCC) has launched an offering of 5 million
shares as it seeks to fund new investment opportunities and pay
down debt. The investment company recently had around 23.1 million
shares outstanding. Shares were down 3.8% premarket to $13.59.
Analog Devices Inc.'s (ADI) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings fell
2.4% as the chip maker continued to be hurt by weak demand,
resulting in declining sales at most of its business segments.
Shares were down 2.9% at $38.95 in premarket trading as the company
projected fiscal first-quarter results below expectations.
Watchlist:
Bridge Bancorp Inc. (BDGE) and AmTrust Financial Services Inc.
(AFSI) are paying their quarterly dividends early, joining a string
of companies giving shareholder payouts ahead of potential tax
increases in the new year.
Shipping-container company CAI International Inc. (CAP) unveiled
an offering of around $70 million in shares, including $50 million
to be sold by the company. Another $20 million will be sold by
stockholders Development Bank of Japan Inc., CAI International
Founder and Chairman Hiromitsu Ogawa and former Chief Executive
Masaaki Nishibori. Together, the stockholders own more than 33% of
the company, which recently had a market capitalization of around
$442 million, according to FactSet.
Charter Financial Corp. (CHFN) said First Charter MHC will sell
its majority ownership in the company through a stock offering.
First Charter MHC currently owns 62.5% of the company, which
recently had a market capitalization of roughly $171 million,
according to FactSet. At the same time, Charter Financial, the
parent of CharterBank, will reorganize to a fully public
stock-holding company, from its mutual-holding-company structure.
The bank will become a wholly owned subsidiary of the new company,
which will also be called Charter Financial Corp.
Clean Harbors Inc.'s (CLH) offering of six million shares priced
at a 1.7% discount to its Tuesday closing price. The provider of
environmental, energy and industrial services had around 53.4
million shares outstanding as of Sept. 30.
Copart Inc.'s (CPRT) fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 11% as
the car auctioneer continued to get a boost from service fees.
Medical-device and specialty-pharmaceutical company Echo
Therapeutics Inc. (ECTE) plans to offer an undisclosed number of
shares, subject to market conditions.
FleetCor Technologies Inc. (FLT) said funds associated with
Summit Partners and Bain Capital are selling 4.5 million shares.
The company, which provides fleet cards and payment-processing
services for commercial and government auto fleets, plans to
repurchase up to 4 million of those shares for as much as $200
million. Together, the selling stockholders own around 22.4 million
shares, or roughly 27% of the company's shares outstanding.
Focus Media Holding Ltd.'s (FMCN) third-quarter earnings rose
3.8% as the Chinese digital-advertising company recorded stronger
revenue from its LCD display network and poster-frame network
segments.
Oneok Partners LP (OKS) said it won't proceed with plans to
construct its Bakken Crude Express Pipeline as the partnership
didn't receive sufficient long-term transportation commitments
during its recent open season for the project.
Auditing-service provider PRGX Global Inc. (PRGX) unveiled an
offering of 6.2 million shares, including 2.5 million offered by
the company and 3.7 million sold by stockholders affiliated with
Blum Capital Partners and Prism Partners. Blum Capital will exit
its roughly 11% stake in PRGX through the offering. PRGX recently
had around 25.4 million shares outstanding.
Principal Financial Group Inc. (PFG) said it expects a wider
after-tax operating loss in 2013 compared with its guidance for
this year.
PVH Corp.'s (PVH) fiscal third-quarter earnings climbed 47% as
the apparel maker reported sales gains in its Tommy Hilfiger and
Calvin Klein businesses. The company again raised its full-year
earnings guidance.
Spectra Energy Corp. (SE) expects to post a fourth-quarter
charge of $30 million related to a decision by Ontario energy
regulators that will result in some revenue being returned to
customers.
Universal Technical Institute Inc.'s (UTI) fiscal fourth-quarter
earnings fell 71% as fewer students enrolled in the company's
for-profit schools.
Moody's Investors Service downgraded its rating on Western Union
Co. (WU), pointing to concerns over the sustainability of profits
in the company's core money-transfer business and continued
shareholder-friendly actions.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@dowjones.com
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