Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Thursday's session are Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN), Krispy Kreme
Doughnuts Inc. (KKD) and Williams-Sonoma Inc. (WSM).
Amazon said it would raise the rate for its prime membership,
which offers perks such as free and expedited shipping, to $99 a
year from $79, the first price increase in the shipping and
video-streaming service's nine-year history. Shares edged up 2.2%
to $378.65 premarket.
Ameresco Inc. (AMRC) said its fourth-quarter earnings fell 69%
as weaker margins offset the energy-efficiency and renewable-energy
company's revenue growth. For 2014, the company forecast revenue of
$560 million to $600 million, below estimates of analysts polled by
Thomson Reuters for $608 million. Shares dropped 3.9% to $9.50
premarket.
Depomed Inc. (DEPO) swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the
specialty pharmaceutical company said it sold an accounting method
allowing it to record revenue from royalty rights to another
company earlier in the quarter. The company's outlook topped
analyst expectations. Shares climbed 8.9% to $14.70 premarket.
Dollar General Corp. (DG) said its fiscal fourth-quarter profit
rose on higher sales, although results fell below Wall Street
expectations. Shares of the discount retailer fell 2.3% to $57.91
as it also offered underwhelming earnings guidance.
General Electric Co. (GE) filed paperwork for an initial public
offering of its North American retail finance operations, with the
business operating under the new name Synchrony Financial. The
company in November had unveiled plans to file for the IPO early in
2014, as part of the conglomerate's most aggressive move yet to
shrink the size of its financing arm, which still generates half
its profit. Shares edged up 1.1% to $26.03 premarket.
Gogo Inc. (GOGO) reported stronger-than-expected revenue growth
during the fourth quarter. Shares of the company, which sells Wi-Fi
access on commercial flights, rose 7% to $25.50 in recent premarket
trading, as its quarterly loss wasn't as wide as feared.
JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU) agreed to sell its LiveTV unit for
$400 million to French defense and electronic systems company
Thales S.A., netting the airline a significant profit about a
decade after buying the in-flight entertainment business. Shares
edged up 4.2% to $9.12 premarket.
Krispy Kreme said its fiscal fourth-quarter profit more than
tripled as the doughnut chain reported improved same-store sales.
The company bumped its earnings guidance higher for the new year
and increased its share-buyback authorization to $80 million from
$50 million. Shares climbed 9.9% to $21.84 premarket.
NetApp Inc. (NTAP) said it is streamlining its businesses,
including plans to reduce its global workforce by about 600
employees, in response to constrained spending on information
technology. Shares dropped 1.1% to $37.45 premarket.
Plug Power Inc. (PLUG) said its fourth-quarter loss widened
sharply on fair-value impacts that offset the fuel-cell
manufacturer's double-digit revenue growth. But shares, which are
known for their volatility, rose 12% to $7.60 after being beaten
down earlier in the week.
Vail Resorts Inc. (MTN) said its fiscal second-quarter earnings
fell 2.1% on higher costs and as weak skier visitation at its Tahoe
resorts weighed on growth at its mountain segment. Shares declined
3.2% to $69 premarket.
Venaxis Inc. (APPY) said a study of its appendicitis diagnostic
test show improved test performance and met primary endpoints, and
the company now plans to apply for U.S. Food and Drug
Administration clearance. The in vitro diagnostic company's shares
are up 21% to $3.28 in premarket trading.
Williams-Sonoma's fiscal fourth-quarter profit increased
slightly as the housewares and furniture retailer reported higher
sales, particularly at its West Elm and Pottery Barn brands.
Results topped the company's expectations, pushing shares up 6.8%
to $62.95 premarket.
Watch List:
AgFeed Industries Inc. (FEEDQ) said it is engaged in settlement
discussions with the Securities and Exchange Commission related to
the regulator's fraud suit against the Chinese animal-feed and
hog-production company. The SEC Tuesday sued the company and
several of its former top officials, alleging they orchestrated or
failed to stop an accounting fraud that inflated the company's
revenue by $239 million.
Genesco Inc. (GCO) said its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose
8.7% despite weaker revenue as the company benefited from lower
one-time charges. The retailer, which sells hats and footwear,
posted results that missed expectations and offered a disappointing
outlook for the year.
Gleacher & Co. (GLCH) said its board approved a proposal to
dissolve, liquidate and distribute all its assets to shareholders,
as it reported its fourth-quarter loss narrowed on higher revenue.
Gleacher, an independent investment bank that provides financial
advisory services, has been slammed with losses and staff
defections over the past few quarters, and now has no meaningful
revenue-producing operations.
Mylan Inc. (MYL) called a federal court's ruling on a patent
related to Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) Celebrex "favorable," and said it
plans to start selling a generic version of the drug in May. Pfizer
Wednesday said the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of
Virginia invalidated a patent that would have extended its U.S.
exclusivity for the painkiller by 18 months.
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. (NWL) warned Wednesday its fiscal
first-quarter results will be dragged down by the impact of severe
winter weather across the U.S. and the recent recall of toddler car
seats.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@wsj.com and Lauren Pollock at
lauren.pollock@wsj.com
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