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
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