Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Thursday's session are Oracle Corp. (ORCL), Rite Aid Corp. (RAD)
and Agilent Technologies Inc. (A).
Oracle returned to modest growth in its first quarter as demand
for the company's software appeared to rebound a bit despite
pressure from online rivals. But the company said revenue rose 2%
in the fiscal period ended Aug. 31, less than analysts expected,
while profit rose 8%. Shares fell 1.4% to $33.40 in premarket
trading.
Rite Aid swung to an unexpected fiscal second-quarter profit due
to continued sales growth and stronger margins. Shares jumped 11%
to $4.13 in recent premarket trading as the drugstore chain also
raised its guidance for the year.
Diversified testing-equipment company Agilent plans to break up
into two publicly traded firms, spinning off its
electronic-measurement products business, which has faced weak
demand lately. The other company will focus on life sciences and
diagnostics and retain the Agilent name. Shares jumped 11%
premarket to $54.50.
Pier 1 Imports Inc.'s (PIR) fiscal second-quarter earnings fell
32% as the home-furnishings retailer logged weaker margins and said
its traffic was lower-than-expected, citing marketing issues. The
company lowered its full-year earnings guidance. Shares dropped 10%
to $21.21 in light premarket trading.
"Grand Theft Auto V" raked in some $800 million in sales
world-wide on its first day, Take-Two Interactive Interactive
Software Inc. (TTWO) said. Tuesday's total was the biggest
first-day haul for a game in the Rockstar Games series. The prior
installment in the 15-year-old franchise pulled in $310 million in
its first day, according to Edward Williams at BMO Capital Markets.
Shares rose 4.9% to $18.05 premarket.
SS&C Technologies Holdings Inc. (SSNC) said Carlyle Group LP
(CG), its third-largest shareholder, will offer all of its 7.47
million shares, or 9.2% stake, in the financial-software company.
The company won't receive any of the proceeds from the offering.
Shares slipped 3.8% to $37.95 premarket.
Shares of BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc. (BMRN) jumped 7.6% in
premarket trade after Dealreporter said Swiss drug maker Roche
Holding AG is lining up debt financing for an acquisition of the
maker of drugs to treat rare diseases. A representative from Roche
declined to comment on the report, while BioMarin wasn't
immediately available for comments. BioMarin surged 9.4% to $84.81
premarket.
Pacific Coast Oil Trust (ROYT) said Pacific Coast Energy Company
LP and other selling unitholders intend to offer 13.5 million trust
units in an underwritten public offering. The Trust will not sell
any trust units in the offering and will not receive any proceeds
from the offering. Shares fell 7.1% to $16.70 premarket.
Watch list:
Apogee Enterprises Inc.'s (APOG) fiscal second-quarter profit
jumped 21% as the glass-products designer reported higher
architectural glass sales and wider gross margins. But results
missed Wall Street's expectations.
Clarcor Inc.'s (CLC) fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 5.2% as
the filter-and-packaging company's bottom line was weighed by $7.7
million in pre-tax charges, masking a small net sales increase.
Results in the quarter were mixed, as Clarcor's adjusted profit
topped expectations but revenue growth fell short.
Sporting-goods retailer Dick's Sporting Goods Inc. (DKS) plans
to spend more than $1.8 billion over the next five years on new
stores, store upgrades and to expand its e-commerce business in an
effort to reach a sales target of $10 billion.
East West Bancorp Inc. (EWBC) agreed to pay roughly $273 million
to acquire smaller banking peer MetroCorp Bancshares Inc. (MCBI), a
cash-and-stock deal to bolster the larger bank's presence in
Houston and enter the Dallas market.
Gentiva Health Services Inc. (GTIV) has agreed to acquire Harden
Healthcare Holdings Inc. for $409 million in cash and stock,
strengthening the company's core home health and hospice businesses
and expanding its service offerings for the dual eligible
population. Harden, a provider of home health, hospice and
community care services, has a large presence in Texas and several
other south central states.
Herman Miller Inc.'s (MLHR) fiscal first-quarter earnings rose
13% as results beat the office-furniture company's expectations
behind wider margins and growth in revenue, particularly outside
its core North American business.
IHS Inc.'s (IHS) fiscal third-quarter profit shrank 47% as the
market-research provider's higher costs outpaced a jump in revenue.
Results beat expectations, and the company affirmed its outlook for
the year.
McDonald's Corp.'s (MCD) board approved a 5% hike to the
fast-food chain's dividend, a move that highlights the company's
preference to return cash to shareholders first through dividends,
with a secondary focus on buybacks.
In the midst of a merger with Office Depot Inc. (ODP), OfficeMax
Inc. (OMX) said Chief Executive Ravi Saligram has withdrawn his
name from consideration for chief executive of the combined
company. The retailers agreed in February to merge in a deal that
valued OfficeMax at around $1.19 billion.
Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL) shuffled some of the premium-brand
clothing maker's top executive posts, part of the creation of a
so-called "office of the chairman" that comes less than two months
after a disappointing quarterly earnings report.
Retrophin Inc. (RTRX) said it has made a proposal to board of
Transcept Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TSPT) to acquire all of the shares
of Transcept stock that Retrophin doesn't already own for $4 per
share in cash.
Scholastic Corp.'s (SCHL) fiscal first-quarter loss narrowed as
the children's book publisher offset lower sales of "The Hunger
Games" trilogy by trimming costs. It backed its outlook for the
year.
Steelcase Inc.'s (SCS) fiscal second-quarter earnings slipped
6.4% as the office-furniture maker recorded an uptick in operating
expenses and restructuring costs, while a drop in sales in the
company's Europe, Middle East and Africa segment weighed on overall
revenue.
Write to Lauren Pollock at lauren.pollock@wsj.com
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