Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in
Wednesday's session are FedEx Corp. (FDX), American Apparel Inc.
(APP) and Auspex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ASPX)
FedEx, in the midst of its holiday shipping rush, reported
earnings for its November quarter that increased less than
expected, though the shipping giant benefited from higher volumes
and margins. Shares fell 3.9% to $167.50 premarket.
American Apparel said it terminated the employment of Chief
Executive Dov Charney and named veteran fashion executive Paula
Schneider as his successor. Shares rose 16% to 67 cents
premarket.
Auspex Pharmaceuticals reported favorable results from a Phase 3
trial evaluating its SD-809 treatment for chorea related to
Huntington's disease. Shares surged 84% to $46.10 premarket.
Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI) has begun showing progress in
turning around its ailing Olive Garden chain, posting on Tuesday
the first positive quarter of same-store sales in more than a year
and beating analysts' expectations. Shares rose 1.8% to $56.90
premarket.
General Mills Inc. (GIS) said its sales fell in the most recent
quarter amid continued weakness in the U.S. food industry and
slowing growth in emerging markets. Earnings for the period topped
the company's outlook, reflecting a shift in the timing of
expenses, while sales fell below analysts' projections. Shares rose
six cents to $51.19 premarket.
Joy Global Inc. (JOY) more than doubled its earnings in the
fourth quarter, but the struggling mining-equipment maker warned
that 2015 would be another challenging year amid an unfavorable
pricing environment and falling industry investment in new
equipment. Shares fell 1.7% to $45.25 premarket.
Pentair PLC (PNR) offered a weak outlook for next year on
expectations for modest growth in global gross domestic product.
Still, the water-treatment and technical products company expects
next year's results will be solid, including margin growth, despite
expected modest global economic growth next year. Shares fell 55
cents to $60.41 premarket.
Pharmaceutical company Pozen Inc. (POZN) said the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration again denied approval for its aspirin drug
Yosprala. Shares fell 13% to $7.90 premarket.
SeaWorld Entertainment Inc. (SEAS) plans to cut about 300 jobs
in an effort to save roughly $50 million a year by the end of 2015.
The theme-park operator continues to deal with the backlash from
animal-rights activists and consumers about its treatment of
animals, especially killer whales. Shares rose 1.4% to $15.65
premarket.
Watch list:
Investor Mario Gabelli is considering nominating candidates to
the board of Brinks Co. (BCO), saying the security-services company
"trades at a significant discount to its private market value."
Dave & Buster's Entertainment Inc.'s (PLAY) loss narrowed in
the third quarter as the arcade and restaurant chain said it sees
the long-term potential to nearly triple its store count in North
America.
21st Century Fox Inc. (FOXA) reached a preliminary deal to
acquire the online advertising technology company TrueX Media.
TrueX Media licenses to media companies a digital ad product that
allows Web consumers to opt to briefly interact with a full-screen,
multifaceted ad rather than seeing a series of standard ads while
streaming video content. Financial terms weren't provided.
MasTec Inc. (MTZ), which has most of its business in
communications and oil-and-gas construction, lowered its guidance
for next year due to tumbling oil prices and expected lower levels
of wireless activity. Separately, its board authorized the
repurchase of $100 million of stock.
Moody's Corp. (MCO) said boosted its quarterly dividend by 21%
and authorized a new $1 billion stock-buyback program, as the
company continues to benefit from strong demand for its credit
ratings and market analytics.
Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) has received a U.S. Air Force
contract to provide unmanned surveillance aircraft for South Korea,
the U.S. Department of Defense said Tuesday.
Ruby Tuesday Inc. (RT) said sales and customer traffic at its
restaurants, excluding recently opened and closed ones, missed the
company's expectations in its latest quarter.
State Street Corp. (STT) appointed Michael F. Rogers as its
chief operating officer and also promoted two other company
veterans to its management committee.
United Therapeutics Corp. (UTHR) slashed its top executive's
long-term pay after coming under shareholder pressure this summer
to rein in its compensation. The company also promoted its chief
operating officer, Roger Jeffs, to co-chief executive, to serve
alongside current CEO Martine Rothblatt starting Jan. 1.
Verisk Analytics Inc. (VRSK) said Tuesday it was abandoning a
proposed $650 million deal to acquire EagleView Technology Corp. in
the face of an antitrust challenge by the U.S. Federal Trade
Commission.
Write to Maria Armental at maria.armental@wsj.com and Tess
Stynes at tess.stynes@wsj.com
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