U.S. HOT STOCK FUTURES: HOT STOCKS TO WATCH
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Tuesday's session are Yum Brands Inc. (YUM), VeriFone Systems Inc. (PAY) and Heckmann Corp. (HEK).
Yum said its KFC business showed signs of improvement in China last month, following a chicken controversy that caused its sales to plunge beginning late last year. Yum said Monday its China sales at stores open at least a year fell an estimated 20% in the first quarter, which includes January and February. Shares jumped 5.8% to $71.80 premarket, as the results weren't as bad as the 25% decline the company previously projected.
VeriFone Chief Executive Douglas Bergeron is stepping down after a dozen years at the helm of the card-payment systems maker, and will be succeeded on an interim basis by Chairman Richard McGinn. Shares jumped 7.5% to $22 premarket.
Heckmann swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the environmental-services company recorded a larger income-tax benefit and improved revenue, and also said it will rename itself and integrate its business units under a new brand. Shares jumped 9.2% to $4.05 premarket as analysts had projected the company to post a loss and as revenue also beat Wall Street expectations.
Diamond Foods Inc. (DMND) swung to a fiscal second-quarter profit as the snack-food company's operating expenses slipped, though nut sales weakened. Shares fell 6.4% to $16.48 premarket, as adjusted earnings and revenue fell short of analyst expectations.
Alphatec Holdings Inc. (ATEC) said that the company has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market and sell its Alphatec Solus internal fixation anterior lumbar interbody fusion device. Shares rose 22% to $2.44 premarket.
Government Properties Income Trust (GOV) said its stockholder CommonWealth REIT (CWH) will exit its approximate 18% stake in the company by offering about 10 million of its shares. Government Properties, a real-estate investment trust, had 54.6 million shares outstanding as of March 8. Shares were down 5.2% to $25.13 premarket.
Lexington Realty Trust (LXP) is offering 15 million shares as the REIT looks to raise funds to repay debt and for general corporate purposes. It had 188.8 million shares outstanding as of Feb. 21. Shares slipped 3.2% to $11.66 premarket.
OCZ Technology Group Inc. (OCZ) said it has signed a $30 million loan agreement with Hercules Technology Growth Capital Inc. (HTGC), a welcome infusion of cash for the embattled data-storage provider. OCZ shares rose 17% to $2.04 in premarket trading.
Perfect World Co.'s (PWRD) fourth-quarter earnings declined 67% as the Chinese online-game developer recorded higher operating expenses and weaker revenue. Shares were down 9% to $10.50 premarket, as the company offered revenue guidance for the current quarter below analyst expectations.
Urban Outfitters Inc.'s (URBN) fiscal fourth-quarter profit more than doubled as the clothing retailer's sales jumped and its margins continued to strengthen. Still, there has been some investor caution as the company itself exuded some conservatism during its conference call. Janney, for one, took the color provided by management to mean that Urban currently anticipates first quarter and fiscal year earnings per share below the latest consensus views. Shares fell 3.1% to $40.20 premarket.
Yandex N.V. (YNDX) unveiled an offering of 24.3 million Class A shares on behalf of shareholders BC&B Holdings B.V., Belka Holdings Limited, Ilya Segalovich and Emerald Trust. Yandex, one of Europe's largest Internet companies, had 328.7 million Class A and Class B shares outstanding as of Monday. Shares fell 5.7% to $23.61 premarket.
Watchlist:
Analogic Corp.'s (ALOG) fiscal second-quarter income fell 50%, absent a year-ago tax refund, though the electronics-component maker said sales increased.
Casey's General Stores Inc.'s (CASY) fiscal third-quarter earnings slipped 7.4% as the convenience-store operator's operating expenses outpaced revenue growth.
Chiquita Brands International Inc.'s (CQB) fourth-quarter loss widened as impairment charges and other expenses weighed on the fruit-and-vegetable company's bottom line.
Emeritus Corp. (ESC) said certain shareholders are offering about eight million shares. The provider of senior living services had 45.9 million shares outstanding as of Feb. 22.
FuelCell Energy Inc.'s (FCEL) fiscal first-quarter loss widened as the power-equipment maker incurred heavy costs that outweighed revenue growth.
HeartWare International Inc. (HTWR) intends to offer 1.5 million shares and the manufacturer of implantable heart pumps plans to use proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes. The company had 14.6 million shares outstanding as of March 8.
Hewlett-Packard Co.'s (HPQ) board defended its record against charges by proxy-advisory firms of oversight problems and leadership deficiencies, and said changing the make-up of the board could be destabilizing.
Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc.'s (HMIN) fourth-quarter earnings declined 81% as a loss on the change in fair value of convertible notes weighed on the Chinese hotel chain's results and as occupancy weakened.
IRobot Corp. (IRBT) named Alison Dean its new chief financial officer and also raised its first-quarter guidance, citing strong results in both of its business units.
Salesforce.com Inc. (CRM) said it plans to offer $1 billion in convertible senior notes due in 2018, as the Web-based business-software company looks to raise funds for general corporate purposes, including possible acquisitions.
Scientific Games Corp.'s (SGMS) fourth-quarter loss widened as the instant-ticket company said that depreciation of its terminals and software affected its bottom line.
Sun Communities Inc. (SUI) plans to offer 4.5 million shares and will use proceeds to pay down debt, fund possible future acquisitions of properties and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The REIT had 30.1 million shares outstanding prior to the offering.
U.S. Silica Holdings Inc. (SLCA) said GGC USS Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital, has agreed to sell 8.5 million shares. GGC owned about 77.8% of U.S. Silica's shares prior to the offering and will reduce its stake to 62%. The producer of commercial silica had 52.9 million shares outstanding as of Feb. 26.
Vail Resorts Inc. (MTN) has promoted Michael Barkin to the post of chief financial officer, a move that comes after the ski-resort operator's former financial chief, Jeff Jones, retired at the end of last year.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@dowjones.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Tuesday's session are Yum Brands Inc. (YUM), VeriFone Systems Inc. (PAY) and Heckmann Corp. (HEK).
Yum said its KFC business showed signs of improvement in China last month, following a chicken controversy that caused its sales to plunge beginning late last year. Yum said Monday its China sales at stores open at least a year fell an estimated 20% in the first quarter, which includes January and February. Shares jumped 5.8% to $71.80 premarket, as the results weren't as bad as the 25% decline the company previously projected.
VeriFone Chief Executive Douglas Bergeron is stepping down after a dozen years at the helm of the card-payment systems maker, and will be succeeded on an interim basis by Chairman Richard McGinn. Shares jumped 7.5% to $22 premarket.
Heckmann swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the environmental-services company recorded a larger income-tax benefit and improved revenue, and also said it will rename itself and integrate its business units under a new brand. Shares jumped 9.2% to $4.05 premarket as analysts had projected the company to post a loss and as revenue also beat Wall Street expectations.
Diamond Foods Inc. (DMND) swung to a fiscal second-quarter profit as the snack-food company's operating expenses slipped, though nut sales weakened. Shares fell 6.4% to $16.48 premarket, as adjusted earnings and revenue fell short of analyst expectations.
Alphatec Holdings Inc. (ATEC) said that the company has received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to market and sell its Alphatec Solus internal fixation anterior lumbar interbody fusion device. Shares rose 22% to $2.44 premarket.
Government Properties Income Trust (GOV) said its stockholder CommonWealth REIT (CWH) will exit its approximate 18% stake in the company by offering about 10 million of its shares. Government Properties, a real-estate investment trust, had 54.6 million shares outstanding as of March 8. Shares were down 5.2% to $25.13 premarket.
Lexington Realty Trust (LXP) is offering 15 million shares as the REIT looks to raise funds to repay debt and for general corporate purposes. It had 188.8 million shares outstanding as of Feb. 21. Shares slipped 3.2% to $11.66 premarket.
OCZ Technology Group Inc. (OCZ) said it has signed a $30 million loan agreement with Hercules Technology Growth Capital Inc. (HTGC), a welcome infusion of cash for the embattled data-storage provider. OCZ shares rose 17% to $2.04 in premarket trading.
Perfect World Co.'s (PWRD) fourth-quarter earnings declined 67% as the Chinese online-game developer recorded higher operating expenses and weaker revenue. Shares were down 9% to $10.50 premarket, as the company offered revenue guidance for the current quarter below analyst expectations.
Urban Outfitters Inc.'s (URBN) fiscal fourth-quarter profit more than doubled as the clothing retailer's sales jumped and its margins continued to strengthen. Still, there has been some investor caution as the company itself exuded some conservatism during its conference call. Janney, for one, took the color provided by management to mean that Urban currently anticipates first quarter and fiscal year earnings per share below the latest consensus views. Shares fell 3.1% to $40.20 premarket.
Yandex N.V. (YNDX) unveiled an offering of 24.3 million Class A shares on behalf of shareholders BC&B Holdings B.V., Belka Holdings Limited, Ilya Segalovich and Emerald Trust. Yandex, one of Europe's largest Internet companies, had 328.7 million Class A and Class B shares outstanding as of Monday. Shares fell 5.7% to $23.61 premarket.
Watchlist:
Analogic Corp.'s (ALOG) fiscal second-quarter income fell 50%, absent a year-ago tax refund, though the electronics-component maker said sales increased.
Casey's General Stores Inc.'s (CASY) fiscal third-quarter earnings slipped 7.4% as the convenience-store operator's operating expenses outpaced revenue growth.
Chiquita Brands International Inc.'s (CQB) fourth-quarter loss widened as impairment charges and other expenses weighed on the fruit-and-vegetable company's bottom line.
Emeritus Corp. (ESC) said certain shareholders are offering about eight million shares. The provider of senior living services had 45.9 million shares outstanding as of Feb. 22.
FuelCell Energy Inc.'s (FCEL) fiscal first-quarter loss widened as the power-equipment maker incurred heavy costs that outweighed revenue growth.
HeartWare International Inc. (HTWR) intends to offer 1.5 million shares and the manufacturer of implantable heart pumps plans to use proceeds for working capital and general corporate purposes. The company had 14.6 million shares outstanding as of March 8.
Hewlett-Packard Co.'s (HPQ) board defended its record against charges by proxy-advisory firms of oversight problems and leadership deficiencies, and said changing the make-up of the board could be destabilizing.
Home Inns & Hotels Management Inc.'s (HMIN) fourth-quarter earnings declined 81% as a loss on the change in fair value of convertible notes weighed on the Chinese hotel chain's results and as occupancy weakened.
IRobot Corp. (IRBT) named Alison Dean its new chief financial officer and also raised its first-quarter guidance, citing strong results in both of its business units.
Salesforce.com Inc. (CRM) said it plans to offer $1 billion in convertible senior notes due in 2018, as the Web-based business-software company looks to raise funds for general corporate purposes, including possible acquisitions.
Scientific Games Corp.'s (SGMS) fourth-quarter loss widened as the instant-ticket company said that depreciation of its terminals and software affected its bottom line.
Sun Communities Inc. (SUI) plans to offer 4.5 million shares and will use proceeds to pay down debt, fund possible future acquisitions of properties and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The REIT had 30.1 million shares outstanding prior to the offering.
U.S. Silica Holdings Inc. (SLCA) said GGC USS Holdings LLC, an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital, has agreed to sell 8.5 million shares. GGC owned about 77.8% of U.S. Silica's shares prior to the offering and will reduce its stake to 62%. The producer of commercial silica had 52.9 million shares outstanding as of Feb. 26.
Vail Resorts Inc. (MTN) has promoted Michael Barkin to the post of chief financial officer, a move that comes after the ski-resort operator's former financial chief, Jeff Jones, retired at the end of last year.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@dowjones.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires
