Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Wednesday's session are Plexus Corp. (PLXS), LivePerson Inc. (LPSN)
and News Corp. (NWSA, NWS).
Plexus disclosed its disengagement as a supplier to Juniper
Networks Inc. (JNPR), which was its biggest customer. Shares sank
23% to $21.50 after hours.
LivePerson's third-quarter profit fell 41% as the company's
costs increased, masking higher revenue. Shares dropped 11% to
$13.04 in after-hours trading as the company also lowered its
earnings and revenue outlook for the year.
News Corp.'s earnings tripled in the three months to September,
thanks to a one-time gain from an asset sale and higher
cable-network revenue that offset weakness in the publishing group.
Class A shares were up 2.5% to $24.88 after hours as per-share
earnings were better than analyst estimates. News Corp. owns Dow
Jones & Co., publisher of this newswire, and The Wall Street
Journal.
Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (ALXA) fiscal third-quarter loss
narrowed as the drug maker recorded a smaller nonoperating loss
related to cash flows from its drugs. Alexza on Tuesday said that
in September it received two "major objections" from the European
Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use
that preclude a recommendation for its schizophrenic and bipolar
disorder treatment Adasuve's marketing authorization. Shares
slipped 5.6% to $4.21 after hours.
Blyth Inc. (BTH) swung to a third-quarter profit as the company
reported strong sales growth for its ViSalus personal-health
business. However, shares slipped 3.3% to $18.40 after hours as the
company lowered its full-year earnings guidance, noting the
difficult macroeconomic environment makes it challenging to
forecast the demand for discretionary consumer product.
Buckle Inc.'s (BKE) board authorized a special dividend of $4.50
a share, as the youth-geared apparel retailer looks to boost
shareholder value. The payout is double the $2.25 special dividend
the company paid in October 2011. Shares rose 5% to $50 after
hours.
EZCORP Inc.'s (EZPW) fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 6.1% as
the pawn shop operator posted strong revenue growth from
merchandise sales and service charges. But EZCORP said weakness in
the gold market and regulatory pressures in Texas would drag down
earnings. In after-hours trading, shares slid 7.2% to $19.25.
Rubicon Technology Inc.'s (RBCN) third-quarter profit plummeted
as demand for its crystalline products remained weak. Shares fell
5.4% in after hours trading to $8.54 as the company offered
guidance for the current-quarter below analyst estimates.
Procera Networks Inc.'s (PKT) third-quarter earnings jumped 35%
as the technology company's product sales and margins continued to
strengthen. Shares climbed 12% to $22.70 as adjusted profits easily
topped Wall Street estimates.
Watchlist:
AT&T Inc. (T) has agreed to pay $700,000 to resolve
complaints it switched some customers to monthly data plans after
promising they could stay on pay-as-you-go plans, the Federal
Communications Commission said.
BorgWarner Inc. (BWA) expects to see $2.3 billion of new
business for 2013 through 2015, driven by demand for fuel-efficient
technology from vehicle makers.
Cache Inc.'s (CACH) third-quarter loss widened as the mall-based
seller of women's apparel saw lower sales and booked a higher
tax-related cost.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted priority
review to an investigational breast cancer treatment that is being
developed by Genentech and ImmunoGen Inc. (IMGN), the companies
said.
PacWest Bancorp (PACW) has agreed to acquire First California
Financial Group Inc. (FCAL) for $231 million in common stock, a
deal that adds nearly $2 billion in assets to the bank holding
company. PacWest will buy First California for $8 a share, a 19%
premium to Tuesday's closing price.
Rackspace Hosting Inc.'s (RAX) third-quarter profit rose 36% as
the data-center provider continued to add customers to its
fast-growing cloud-storage business.
Scientific Games Corp.'s (SGMS) third-quarter loss widened as
the instant-ticket company posted higher depreciation related to
writedown and acquisition costs, offsetting an increase in
revenue.
Silicon Graphics International Corp.'s (SGI) fiscal
first-quarter loss widened as the large-scale computing company's
profit margin came under pressure, masking an increase in
revenue.
Standard & Poor's Ratings Services lowered Walter Energy
Inc.'s (WLT, WLT.T) junk rating a notch as weak coal prices
continue to affect its financial health.
URS Corp. (URS) swung to a third-quarter profit as the
construction and engineering company received a boost from its
Flint Energy Services Ltd. acquisition.
Western Refining Inc.'s (WNR) board is issuing a special cash
dividend of $1 a common share, boosting value for shareholders of
the crude oil refiner and marketer.
Write to Nathalie Tadena at nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com
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