US Stock Futures: HOT STOCKS TO WATCH
01/06 06:09 AM
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Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade in Friday's session are RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD:$5.64,00$0.17,003.11%) , Durect Corp. (DRRX:$1.18,00$0.03,002.61%) and Apollo Group Inc. (APOL:$53.72,00$-0.39,00-0.72%) .
RF Micro Devices (RFMD:$5.64,00$0.17,003.11%) said it expects its fiscal-third quarter revenue to miss its expectations due to weakened customer demand. Shares slid 16% to $4.76 after hours as the chip maker projects revenue of approximately $225 million, below its October view of $250 million.
Durect (DRRX:$1.18,00$0.03,002.61%) said a Phase III clinical study designed to measure the safety and efficacy of its post-operative pain relief drug Posidur in abdominal surgical procedures didn't yield statistically significant results. Shares plunged 47% to 62 cents in after-hours trading as the company said it intends to hold a pre-new drug application meeting with the Food and Drug Administration after a complete analysis of the study's data.
Apollo Group's (APOL:$53.72,00$-0.39,00-0.72%) fiscal first-quarter earnings fell 37% on another revenue slide, but the for-profit education company reported new-enrollment growth for the first time in at least a year. Shares were up 1.4% at $54.47 after hours, as adjusted profit fell less than analysts expected as well.
Family Dollar Stores Inc.'s (FDO:$57.96,00$0.81,001.42%) fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 8.1% as the discount retailer's same-store sales improved due to higher traffic and customer transaction values. However, shares slid 2.5% to $56.50 in after-hours trading as revenue missed analyst expectations.
ViroPharma Inc. (VPHM:$28.16,00$0.25,000.90%) predicted product sales of $600 million to $660 million this year, an increase from the revenue analysts expect it to post in 2011. Shares were up 4.8% at $29.50 after hours.
Xyratex Ltd.'s (XRTX:$14.16,00$0.13,000.93%) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings slid 43% as lower storage infrastructure sales weighed on results. However, shares rose 2.2% to $14.47 in after-hours trading as results beat the company's expectations.
Ruby Tuesday Inc. (RT:$7.06,00$0.03,000.43%) swung to a loss in its fiscal second quarter on higher costs and interest expense, as predicted, while the casual-dining chain reported another quarter of comparable sales declines. Shares were down 4.5% at $6.74 after hours, as Ruby Tuesday (RT:$7.06,00$0.03,000.43%) also predicted weak results for the current quarter.
Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corp. (IART:$30.50,00$-0.25,00-0.81%) said it expects its full-year and fourth-quarter earnings will miss its expectations, as a revenue shortfall in the fourth quarter resulted from inventory reduction, weakness outside of the U.S. and weaker-than-expected sales of its domestic Extremity Reconstruction products. Shares slipped 9.8% to $27.50 in after-hours trading.
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services became the third ratings firm to downgrade Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD:$30.12,00$-0.68,00-2.21%) since last week, saying it expects negative earnings and constrained liquidity after the company's warnings of weak holiday sales. Shares were down 1.2% at $29.77 after hours.
Watch List:
A. Schulman Inc.'s (SHLM:$22.15,00$0.26,001.19%) fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 45% as the company's revenue improved due to higher average selling prices.
AMR Corp.'s (AMR:...) American Airlines reported a modest decline in traffic in December as the carrier reduced domestic capacity.
AngioDynamics Inc.'s (ANGO:$14.63,00$0.12,000.83%) fiscal second-quarter earnings fell 29% amid costs related to a recall of some procedure kits, though it continued to post revenue growth.
Moody's Investors Service lowered its credit ratings on Eastman Kodak Co. (EK:$0.42,00$-0.05,00-10.64%) further into junk territory citing the imaging company's increased probability of filing for bankruptcy, and peer Standard & Poor's Ratings Services also downgraded its ratings on liquidity concerns.
Global Payments Inc.'s (GPN:$47.99,00$-0.22,00-0.46%) fiscal second-quarter earnings rose 14% as the payment-processing company saw international revenue continue to increase. The company again raised its view for the year.
Saba Software Inc.'s (SABA:$7.41,00$-0.21,00-2.76%) posted a wider fiscal second-quarter loss as margins weakened, and the company also appointed a Gaia Interactive executive as its new chief financial officer.
Shoe Carnival Inc. (SCVL:$24.38,00$-0.79,00-3.14%) lowered its already-downbeat outlook for the fiscal fourth quarter Thursday, saying its profit would fall because unseasonably warm weather hurt boot sales.
Transocean Ltd. (RIG:$39.73,00$-0.82,00-2.02%) said Chief Financial Officer Ricardo Rosa will step down Monday ahead of retiring in April, and it said it would bring back a former financial chief to serve in that office on an interim basis.
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