Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Thursday's session are Conn's Inc. (CONN), Facebook Inc. (FB) and
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT).
Antares Pharma Inc. (ATRS) on Thursday said its Vibex QuickShot
treatment for low testosterone showed positive results in a Phase 2
trial. Shares of the company, which produces injector technologies
for the drug industry, rose 3% to $4.83 in premarket trading.
AVG Technologies NV (AVG) said its fourth-quarter earnings
surged as the online security company posted stronger revenue and
lower operating expenses. Shares rose 6.3% to $18.40 premarket.
Avis Budget Group Inc.'s (CAR) fourth-quarter loss narrowed as
the car-rental company reported higher sales in North America and
markets abroad. Results for the quarter, which also benefited from
the company's acquisition of car-sharing firm Zipcar last year,
exceeded Wall Street's expectations. Shares dropped 3% to $38.81
premarket on its somewhat cautious forecast for 2014.
Conn's cut its profit outlook for both fiscal 2014 and 2015,
warning that it faces higher-than-anticipated delinquency rates and
lower expected sales growth, particularly in electronics. Shares
tumbled 38% to $34.44 premarket, following a roughly 30% decline
since the start of the year.
Denbury Resources Inc. (DNR) said its fourth-quarter earnings
dropped 22% as lower oil prices and weather issues continue to
plague the oil-and-natural-gas explorer's bottom line. Results
missed expectations, pushing shares down 1.8% to $15.90
premarket.
DirecTV (DTV) unveiled a $3.5 billion stock buyback program,
with Chief Executive Mike White saying the satellite-television
provider's current stock price is "far below our intrinsic value."
The company also reported fourth-quarter results that topped
estimates. Shares edged up 1.1% to $73.73 premarket.
Facebook said it will pay $19 billion in cash and stock to
acquire smartphone-messaging app WhatsApp Inc., a deal that further
emphasizes the social network's mobile push. Facebook shares edged
1.5% lower premarket to $67.06.
Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL) said its fiscal first-quarter earnings
rose 18% as the packaged-foods company benefited from its recent
purchase of Skippy as well as strong demand for its bacon products.
But results missed expectations, sending shares down 1.8% to $44.50
premarket.
Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) said its fiscal first-quarter profit
rose 56% as the restaurant operator posted lower costs and a
smaller effect from discontinued operations, which offset a slight
drop in revenue. Shares rose 3.5% to $55.33 premarket.
Millennial Media Inc. (MM) shares slid 11% to $6.40 premarket
after the mobile-ad company issued a revenue projection for the
first quarter that missed Wall Street's expectations.
Onconova Therapeutics Inc. (ONTX) shares sank 40% premarket to
$8.35 after the cancer-focused biopharmaceutical company said a
late-stage clinical trial of its drug rigosertib failed to meet the
primary endpoint.
Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. (RPTP) said its potential
Huntington's Disease treatment met primary endpoints in an ongoing
Phase 2/3 clinical trial. Shares climbed 11% to $16.50 in premarket
trading.
Safeway Inc. (SWY) disclosed it is weighing a possible sale, a
move that comes after the supermarket operator faced pressure last
year from an activist investor to explore options. Safeway also
reported choppy results for the fourth quarter, a muted profit
outlook for the current year, and detailed some alternatives for
two investments. Shares rose 4% to $36 premarket.
Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) projected a 55% increase in production
this year while reporting a narrower fourth-quarter loss on
higher-than-projected deliveries of its $70,000 and up luxury
electric cars. Shares climbed 12% to $216.50 premarket.
Wal-Mart offered a weaker-than-expected forecast for its
recently started fiscal year and current quarter, further evidence
of its struggles following the holiday-shopping season. The world's
biggest retailer warned a variety of economic factors will continue
to weigh on its outlook, including reductions in government
benefits, higher taxes, tighter credit and increased group
health-care costs in the U.S. Shares dropped 1.7% to $73.60
premarket.
Williams Cos. (WMB) swung to a fourth-quarter loss as its
Williams Partners LP affiliate said its earnings fell 27% during
the period--mostly on lost production at its Geismar olefins plant
and lower natural-gas liquids margins. Shares dropped 1% to $40.10
premarket.
Watch List:
Actavis PLC (ACT) swung to a fourth-quarter loss on
restructuring-related expenses and other items that masked strong
double-digit revenue growth. Adjusted results beats
expectations.
Allstate Corp. (ALL) boosted its quarterly dividend payout by
12% and approved a $2.5 billion share repurchase program the
insurer expects to complete over the next 18 months.
Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (ETP) swung to a fourth-quarter
loss amid an impairment charge related to the transfer of Trunkline
LNG Company, LLC to affiliate Energy Transfer Equity L.P. (ETE),
which said it also swung to a loss.
Gap Inc. (GPS) said it would raise the minimum hourly rate for
U.S. employees to $9 in 2014 and $10 in 2015. The raise will be
enacted across all six of the retailer's brands and will affect
about 65,000 store employees, the company said.
HealthSouth Corp. (HLS) said its fourth-quarter revenue grew
though stronger volume was partly offset by impacts from reduced
government spending and reserves for previously announced
audits.
Marriott International Inc. (MAR) said its fourth-quarter profit
fell 17% as the company reported lower revenue, in part due to a
shorter quarter than in the prior year.
Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG) said its
fourth-quarter earnings fell 11% on mark-to-market, storm-related
impacts and other items, though adjusted profit improved. Its
forecast for the year came in below recent consensus estimates.
Write to Lauren Pollock at lauren.pollock@wsj.com and John Kell
at john.kell@wsj.com
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