Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade
in Friday's session are Ford Motor Co. (F), Transocean Ltd. (RIG,
RIGN.VX) and Juniper Networks Inc. (JNPR).
Ford reported a record fourth-quarter profit on a one-time tax
allowance, although slower sales in the European markets and
production losses caused by the recent flooding in Thailand chipped
away at the auto maker's profitability. Shares declined 3.5% to
$12.30 in recent premarket trading.
Shares of Transocean rose 6.4% to $50.28 premarket after a U.S.
federal judge ruled Thursday that BP PLC (BP, BP.LN) must indemnify
the oilfield-services firm against compensatory damages linked to
the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill. However, the judge also said BP
wouldn't have to protect Transocean from punitive damages or civil
penalties under the Clean Water act. Shares of BP fell 2% to $43.89
in recent premarket trading.
Juniper's fourth-quarter profit fell 49% as the network-gear
maker's router sales continued to weaken. Shares dropped 9.4% to
$20.25 in recent premarket trading as the company forecast a grim
first-quarter adjusted profit that missed analysts' expectations.
Moreover, Stifel Nicolaus downgrades Juniper to hold from buy
disappointed by the company's first-quarter guidance on earnings
and margins. Miller Tabak says "it will be difficult for Juniper to
build back to flat for the year much less to get to double digit
growth."
Chubb Corp.'s (CB) fourth-quarter earnings fell 27% on higher
losses and loss expenses, as the property-and-casualty insurer's
core profit also dropped despite more written premium growth.
Separately Thursday, Chubb said its board authorized a new share
buyback program of up to $1.2 billion in shares. Shares loss 3.3%
to $68.00 in recent premarket trading.
Eastman Chemical Co.'s (EMN) fourth-quarter earnings soared as
the company reported broad revenue growth, led by its performance
chemicals and intermediates segment, and as charges weighed on
year-ago results. Further, Eastman agreed to acquire peer
specialty-chemicals maker Solutia Inc. (SOA) in a cash and stock
deal worth about $3.38 billion, a purchase it said will extend its
global presence and stabilize margins. For each Solutia shares,
stockholders will receive $22.00 in cash and 0.12 of an Eastman
common share. Shares of Eastman jumped 10% to $51.95 and Solutia
shares surged 43% to $27.90 in recent premarket trading.
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (CLF) predicted 2011 per-ton
revenue in its biggest segment would be at the low end of its
target range, with volumes and average revenue coming in below or
at the low ends of outlooks in other segments as well. Shares were
down 3.4% to $72.65 premarket.
KLA-Tencor Corp.'s (KLAC) fiscal second-quarter earnings fell
40% amid lower-than-expected revenue and weaker margins. However,
the company, which makes systems that monitor semiconductor wafer
production, was in line with its projected earnings and revenue
figures. Service revenue in particular saw an increase. Shares were
up 4.4% to $52.46 in recent premarket trading.
Seagate Technology PLC (STX) added $1 billion to its stock
buyback plan and raised its quarterly dividend by 39%, joining a
long list of companies putting their cash holdings to work and
returning value to shareholders. Shares were up 3.6% to $20.51 in
recent premarket trading.
Riverbed Technology Inc.'s (RVBD) fourth-quarter earnings rose
60% as revenue jumped across each of its regions, though margins
slipped. Shares declined 14% to $25.64 in recent premarket
trading.
Informatica Corp.'s (INFA) fourth-quarter earnings rose 22% on
higher sales, but the company predicted full-year profit below
expectations because of an expected loss of a tax benefit. Shares
gained 6.6% to $40.80 in recent premarket trading.
Cepheid (CPHD) swung to a fourth-quarter loss as a one-time
patent-expiration charge masked a higher core profit lifted by
rising clinical sales. However, the maker of biological testing
systems reported stronger-than-expected results and upbeat
guidance. Shares climbed 22% to $41.75 in recent premarket
trading.
Emulex Corp. (ELX) swung to a fiscal second-quarter profit
following a year-earlier write-down, while sales of its
data-storage products surged. Shares rose 6.8% to $9.90 premarket
as the company also predicted an optimistic adjusted third-quarter
profit.
Watch List:
Altria Group Inc.'s (MO) fourth-quarter earnings fell 9% as
several charges masked its revenue growth, while the tobacco giant
named Vice Chairman Martin J. Barrington chairman and chief
executive to succeed the retiring Michael E. Szymanczyk, effective
May 17. Altria also named Vice Chairman David R. Beran, president
and chief operating officer, effective May 17.
American Electric Power Inc.'s (AEP) fourth-quarter earnings
rose 75% on stronger wholesale volume, though retail volume shrank.
American Electric Power, one of the largest U.S. electric
utilities, has benefited recently from a manufacturing and mining
rebound. In the latest quarter, industrial volume was up 1%.
Amgen Inc.'s (AMGN) fourth-quarter earnings fell 8.6% on tax
impacts and charges as the biopharmaceutical company reported
stronger revenue and margins. The company gave full-year guidance
mostly in line with expectations.
A.O. Smith Corp.'s (AOS) fourth-quarter earnings edged down 0.3%
from a year-earlier quarter aided by discontinued operations, but
the company reported stronger water-heater sales in China, which
boosted overall revenue. The maker of water heaters continues to
see its bottom line buoyed by sales and market growth in China.
U.S. revenue also has improved on sales of energy-efficient
products, though the housing market remains weak.
Oil refiner and retailer, Delek US Holdings Inc. (DK), predicted
it would report a loss in the fourth quarter because of high oil
costs and a decline in asphalt prices.
DeVry Inc. (DV) fiscal second-quarter earnings plunged 90% on a
write-down at its health-care college and another revenue decline.
Earnings and revenue both fell more than expected.
D.R. Horton Inc. (DHI) swung to the black in its fiscal first
quarter as the home builder booked a double-digit jump in
home-building revenue and signaled cautious optimism for the
upcoming spring selling season.
Freescale Semiconductor Holdings I Ltd.'s (FSL) fourth-quarter
loss narrowed sharply even as its top line shrank on weaker sales.
Core earnings, meanwhile, notched a slightly weaker-than-expected
improvement driven by stronger margins.
Honeywell International Inc. (HON) swung to a fourth-quarter
loss amid substantial pension-related costs, though its aerospace
and automation and control-systems segments posted healthy growth.
The maker of aerospace, building control and safety products has
steadily benefited from a broad-based increase in demand.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.'s (JBHT) fourth-quarter
earnings rose 25% as the trucking company again reported revenue
gains across its segments, led by its intermodal unit.
Hancock Holding Co.'s (HBHC) fourth-quarter earnings rose 11%,
and the regional lender's core earnings jumped on takeover-boosted
interest income.
-Edited by Maya Pope-Chappell and Ian Thomson; write to
maya.pope-chappell@dowjones.com and ian.thomson@dowjones.com