Among companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Thursday's session are CBS Corp. (CBS), Columbia Sportswear Co.
(COLM) and Nu Skin Enterprises Inc. (NUS).
CBS is taking steps to divest itself of its outdoor advertising
business, disclosing Wednesday that it will convert the North and
South American operation into a real-estate investment trust and
put its European and Asian outdoor businesses up for sale. Shares
jumped 8.2% to $41.05 after hours.
Columbia Sportswear lowered its fourth-quarter expectations as
the maker of active outdoor apparel's net sales were hurt by mild
winter weather in North America during most of the holiday shopping
season, lower customer traffic in key markets and a more
promotional environment. Shares fell 7.8% to $48.10 in after-hours
trading.
Nu Skin Enterprises raised its fourth-quarter earnings and
revenue guidance, sending the seller of anti-aging skin-care
products shares up 5.3% to $44.75 after hours.
Aveo Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AVEO) said it plans to offer an
undisclosed number of shares Wednesday, As of Nov. 1, the drug
maker had about 43.7 million shares outstanding. Shares fell 3.2%
to $7.86 after hours.
Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co. (CCSC) said it
anticipates fourth-quarter revenue to be slightly lower than its
previous guidance, as new stores have opened at a
slower-than-expected rate. American depositary shares of the
China-based fast-food restaurant were down 6.2% at $7.60 in
after-hours trading.
Forum Energy Technologies Inc. (FET) lowered its full-year
earnings projection, pointing to lower than anticipated customer
spending on capital equipment and consumable products especially in
its drilling product line, among other factors. The oilfield
products company's shares were off 2.2% to $26 after hours.
Northern Tier Energy LP (NTI) is offering nine million units
representing limited-partner interests in the partnership held by
Northern Tier Holdings LLC. The energy company, which has refining,
retail and pipeline operations, said it would have about 91.9
million units outstanding after the offering. Northern Tier won't
receive any proceeds from the sale. Units were off 3.1% to $24.70
after hours.
Williams-Sonoma Inc. (WSM) reported a solid 4.4% increase in
holiday comparable brand revenue and its 4.8% increase in top-line
sales puts the company on course for its fiscal fourth-quarter
target, given holiday weeks usually make up about 70% to 75% of
total quarter revenue. But the company's fourth-quarter
earnings-per-share outlook stayed pat, and analysts were expecting
the EPS target to go a couple cents higher. Shares were down 1.9%
to $46.22 after hours.
Watchlist:
A.M. Castle & Co. (CAS) unveiled restructuring plans,
including plans to cut its workforce by about 10%, that will help
the specialty metals and plastics distributor cut costs and improve
operating performance.
Bank of the Ozarks Inc.'s (OZRK) fourth-quarter profit jumped
18% as the regional bank's noninterest income strengthened and
credit quality improved.
Clarcor Inc.'s (CLC) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings slipped 2.5%
as it recorded weaker sales in its engine/mobile filtration and
packaging divisions. The filter-and-packaging company also offered
guidance for the new year below analyst expectations.
EBay Inc. (EBAY) on Wednesday posted a sharp drop in
fourth-quarter profit due to the big gain the e-commerce giant
recorded the same period last year from its sale of the Skype
Internet phone service. Excluding the Skype comparison and a
resulting 62% drop in earnings, eBay turned in quarterly
performance that largely met Wall Street expectations and bolstered
faith in the ongoing turnaround of its core business.
H.B. Fuller Co.'s (FUL) fiscal fourth-quarter profit fell 4.9%
as the paint and adhesive maker's year-ago results included
recorded flat margins and higher expenses, though revenue continued
to strengthen.
Kinder Morgan Inc.'s (KMI) fourth-quarter earnings more than
doubled as the energy company reported strong performances from its
affiliates Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (KMP) and El Paso
Pipeline Partners LP (EPB), driven by strong demand for the
transport of natural gas.
Liquidity Services Inc. (LQDT) said its fiscal first-quarter
gross merchandise volume missed its expectations, due to several
delayed energy equipment sales within the company's capital assets
group.
Michael Baker Corp. (BKR) said its chairman, Richard L. Shaw,
will retire at the end of the month, and will be succeeded by
current board member Robert N. Bontempo.
SLM Corp. (SLM) reported better core earnings than expected in
the fourth quarter, but its level of uncollectible loans jumped.
The U.S.'s largest education loan company, commonly known as Sallie
Mae, has cautioned that its charge-off rate would rise as it steers
more of its borrowers into repayment plans rather than forbearance,
which is a period of suspended payment. But the jump in
uncollectible loans was more grave in the latest period than in the
third quarter, when it first warned of the trend.
Recreational-vehicle maker Thor Industries Inc. (THO) has named
former IDEX Corp. (IEX) executive Dominic Romeo as its chief
financial officer.
Write to Nathalie Tadena at nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com
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