Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade
in Thursday's session are AT&T Inc. (T), Caterpillar Inc. (CAT)
and Netflix Inc. (NFLX).
AT&T swung to a fourth-quarter loss on several large
charges, though the telecommunications giant's revenue beat
expectations due to a jump in postpaid subscriber contracts. Shares
declined 2.2% to $29.55 in recent premarket trading.
Caterpillar's fourth-quarter earnings surged 60% as the
heavy-machinery maker pointed to higher sales volume and an
increase in new equipment sales. Shares were recently up 2.8% at
$112.13 premarket as the results beat expectations and the company
offered upbeat targets for its new fiscal year.
Netflix's fourth-quarter earnings fell 14% on the online video
and DVD-rental company's costly expansion into new geographies, but
subscriber rates were solid on the whole and the company promised
to lay off further expansion. Shares gained 19% to $113.10 in
recent premarket trading.
SanDisk Corp.'s (SNDK) fourth-quarter profit fell 42% from a
year-ago result buoyed by a large tax-provision benefit, while core
earnings registered a slight improvement. Shares still dropped 8.3%
to $48.00 in recent premarket trading as the flash-memory maker
provided soft guidance.
3M Co.'s (MMM) fourth-quarter earnings rose a
better-than-expected 2.8% as the consumer and industrial products
maker saw strong growth in its industrial and transportation
segment, but its display and graphics unit continued to post weaker
sales. Shares were up 1% to $87.36 premarket.
United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) narrowed its
fourth-quarter loss on stronger revenue and lighter integration
costs to combine its two airlines. Shares gained 3.4% to $21.10 in
recent premarket trading.
E*Trade Financial Corp. (ETFC) posted an unexpected
fourth-quarter loss as the company boosted a portion of its loan
loss allowance by $67 million and recorded write-downs of $15
million related to certain loans in the process of foreclosure.
Shares of E*Trade fell 11% to $8.36 in recent premarket trading as
results missed analysts' estimates. Further, Goldman Sachs cut its
stock-investment rating on E*Trade to neutral from buy.
Mellanox Technologies Ltd. (MLNX, MLNX.TV) swung to a
fourth-quarter profit as the data-storage company reported record
revenue. Shares climbed 15% to $35.76 in premarket trading.
Eaton Corp. (ETN) fourth-quarter earnings rose 29%, though sales
grew slower-than-expected, as the diversified industrial
manufacturer also raised it quarterly dividend by 12%. The company
forecast current-quarter earnings that were below consensus. Shares
fell 5.1% to %47.00 premarket.
Illumina Inc. (ILMN) adopted a shareholder rights plan with a
15% trigger as the U.S. life sciences company tries to ward off a
hostile takeover attempt from Swiss drug giant Roche Holding Ltd.
(RHHBY, ROG.VX). Roche's offer, made Tuesday, values Illumina at
$5.7 billion. Roche is offering $44.50 a share in cash for the
company. Shares fell 2.1% to $54.02 in recent premarket
trading.
Teradyne Inc.'s (TER) fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled
on a large tax-provision benefit as the maker of chip-testing
equipment, but the company's swung to a loss from continuing
operations before taxes. Shares were up 11% at $17.95 premarket on
the company's better-than-expected outlook.
Republic Airways Holdings Inc. (RJET) raised its fourth-quarter
guidance for a closely watched metric in the airline industry and
issued an earnings estimate that topped analyst expectations,
citing stronger results from its Frontier Airlines unit.
Trius Therapeutics Inc. (TSRX) said it would offer an
unspecified number of shares for sale and said the Securities and
Exchange Commission is requesting more information about its
third-quarter revenue. Shares in the antibacterial-drug company
dropped 9.3% at $5.25 on the news in premarket trading.
Watch List
Alaska Air Group Inc.'s (ALK) fourth-quarter profit slipped 1.2%
as a sizable jump in the carrier's fuel bill masked stronger
revenue and improved traffic. Similar to its peers in the airline
industry, the parent of Alaska Airlines has seen recent results
hampered by steep costs to fuel its planes.
AmerisourceBergen Corp.'s (ABC) fiscal first-quarter earnings
rose 1% as the drug wholesaler reported sales growth in
pharmaceuticals and specialty businesses. The company made a number
of acquisitions last year that bolster the services it can offer
its customers. Most recently it acquired CVS Caremark Corp.'s (CVS)
TheraCom LLC unit, which provides support services to the
biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Ball Corp.'s (BLL) fourth-quarter profit fell 16% as business
consolidation continued to weigh on the bottom line, masking
continued growth in its metal beverage packaging segments. The
packaging company said the latest results were weakened by six
fewer accounting days and softer 12-ounce beverage can volume in
North America and Europe.
Baxter International Inc.'s (BAX) fourth-quarter earnings rose
9.5% as the medical-products company booked sales growth in both
its BioScience and medical products segments. The company forecast
current-quarter earnings that missed analysts' expectations. It
expects full-year earnings of $4.47 to $4.57 a share on revenue
growth of 4% to 5%. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect
$4.61 and 3% growth.
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services upgraded its ratings on
Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD) to within a step of
investment grade, pointing to the company's improved credit
profile.
Citi Trends Inc. (CTRN) said Chief Executive David Alexander has
resigned to pursue other opportunities and Chairman Ed Anderson,
who previously served in the role, will take it back over. The
value-price retailer has seen its results weaken in recent quarters
on declining same-store sales and the related need to offer more
clearance markdowns. Citi Trends has scaled back its store-opening
plans and cut jobs in an effort to boost its bottom line.
Colgate-Palmolive Co.'s (CL) fourth-quarter earnings fell 5.4%
as the consumer-products company's sales grew slower than expected
and higher costs hurt margins.
Consol Energy Inc.'s (CNX) fourth-quarter earnings improved 87%
as the energy producer said it continued to see higher coal prices
and its gas division's growth surged.
Covance Inc.'s (CVD) fourth-quarter earnings fell 26% on
charges, but adjusted profit rose at the drug-research outsourcing
company on higher sales and margin. The company also forecasted
weak profit.
-Edited by Maya Pope-Chappell and Ian Thomson; write to
maya.pope-chappell@dowjones.com and ian.thomson@dowjones.com