Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Wednesday's session are Dow Chemical Co. (DOW), Tupperware Brands
Corp. (TUP) and Yahoo Inc. (YHOO).
Air Methods Corp. (AIRM) issued a preliminary fourth-quarter
profit outlook that missed Wall Street's expectations, due to
flight volume weakness and poor weather that led to cancellations.
Shares dropped 5.8% to $48.40 premarket.
Dow Chemical swung to a fourth-quarter profit on improved sales
in most of its operating businesses. Results solidly topped
expectations and the company disclosed plans to boost its quarterly
dividend by 15% to 37 cents a share and increase its stock buyback
authorization to $4.5 billion. Shares climbed 6.4% to $45.80 in
premarket trading.
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) executives are excited about new
videogame consoles, but sales of games for older devices have
dropped off more quickly than expected, causing pain in the latest
quarter and dragging the company's revenue expectations lower.
Shares edged up 1.7% to $25.30 premarket.
EMC Corp. (EMC) said its fourth-quarter earnings grew 17% as the
data-storage provider benefited from strong growth in its emerging
storage business. However, its stock declined 2.3% premarket to
$24.81 after the company forecast 2014 results below market
expectations.
Pawnshop operator EZCorp Inc. (EZPW) reported
better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter results as sales in
existing stores were strong despite a soft U.S. holiday shopping
season. Shares surged 16% to $10.80 premarket.
Bio-technology company Fluidigm Corp. (FLDM) agreed to acquire
DVS Sciences Inc. for about $208 million to expand its portfolio of
single-cell technology products. DVS manufactures and distributes
bioanalytical products for biological research and future clinical
applications. Shares dropped 2.3% to $40.02 premarket.
Rockwell Automation Inc. (ROK) said its fiscal first-quarter
earnings jumped 23% as operating margins widened and sales in both
segments increased. Results topped estimates, pushing shares up
2.6% to $118 premarket.
Tupperware Brands said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 10% as
sales improved in its emerging markets, offsetting weakness in
established areas, but the results missed the company's own
estimates and it offered an outlook below consensus estimates.
Shares dropped 6.9% to $78.03 premarket.
Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) said its fourth-quarter profit rose
28% as the oil refiner got a boost from the spinoff of gas-station
retailer CST Brands Inc. (CST). Results easily topped
estimates.
Yahoo reported its revenue fell 1.7% in the fourth quarter,
minus commissions paid to partners for Web traffic, the fourth
straight quarter without growth. The company's closely watched
display-ad revenue, which makes up about 41% of the company's
total, fell another 5.6% even as the overall market grows quickly.
Shares dropped 5% to $36.32 premarket.
Watch List:
ACE Ltd.'s (ACE) fourth-quarter profit rose 30% as the global
insurer benefited from premium revenue growth globally. Adjusted
earnings topped analysts' expectations and the company said global
property and casualty net premiums written, excluding agriculture,
rose 13% in the quarter.
Amgen Inc. (AMGN) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 30% as
the biopharmaceutical company reported sales growth for most of its
products.
Emerson Radio Corp. (MSN) said the consumer-electronics
distributor said it has allowed a special committee to evaluate
possible strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value.
Energizer Holdings Inc. (ENR) said its fiscal first-quarter
earnings fell 17% as sales at its household products business
continued to decline and increased competition weighed on the
personal-care segment. Energizer lowered its full-year earnings
outlook and also increased the scope of its restucturing
project.
Express Scripts Holding Co. (ESRX) named Tim Wentworth, an
executive who joined the pharmacy-benefit manager when it merged
with Medco Health Solutions in 2012, to serve as the company's
president.
Flowserve Corp. (FLS) laid-out its targets for the recently
started year, as the diversified manufacturer said it remains
"cautiously optimistic" for the new year.
Hess Corp. (HES) said its fourth-quarter income soared as the
oil and gas company benefited from recent asset sales. Earnings
topped expectations.
JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU) said its fourth-quarter earnings
surged on improved passenger traffic and stronger revenue that
topped consensus views. Results from the year earlier were hurt by
impacts from Superstorm Sandy.
Marathon Petroleum Corp. (MPC) said its fourth-quarter earnings
fell 17% as the refining-and-marketing segment posted weaker
results and higher costs overshadowed improved revenue. Results
easily topped expectations.
Phillips 66 (PSX) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 17%. "We
ran well during the fourth quarter, allowing us to capitalize on
favorable crude differentials while exporting a record volume of
refined products," Chief Executive Greg Garland said. Results
topped expectations.
Samsung Electronics Co. (005930.SE, SSNHZ) and Tessera
Technologies Inc. (TSRA) said they reached new patent license
agreements.
Southern Co. (SO) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 8.1% as
the electric-power company benefited from better weather patterns
and an increase in industrial and residential energy sales. Chief
Executive Thomas Fanning said the company saw stronger economic
growth in the second half of 2013 compared with the first six
months of the year.
VMware Inc. (VMW) warned it expects its operating margins to
decline following its acquisition of AirWatch later this year. The
virtualization-software maker estimated that margins in its second
quarter, ending in June, would decline 1.5% to 2% sequentially.
Write to John Kell at john.kell@wsj.com and Lauren Pollock at
lauren.pollock@wsj.com
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