Stocks to Watch, July 26: Sun, Redback Networks and Stanley Works

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Wednesday's session are Sun Microsystems Inc., Redback Networks Inc. and Stanley Works.

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Anheuser-Busch Cos. (BUD) is expected to report earnings per share for the second quarter of 76 cents, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call.

Boeing Co. (BA) is expected to post a per-share loss of 22 cents for the second quarter.

Business Objects (BOBJ) is expected to report second-quarter per-share income of 28 cents.

ConocoPhillips (COP) is expected to post second-quarter earnings per share of $2.81.seocnd

General Motors Corp. (GM) is expected to post earnings per share for the second quarter of 55 cents.

Lucent Technologies Inc. (LU) is expected to report third-quarter earnings per share of 3 cents.

Meritage Homes Corp. (MTH) is expected to post per-share income of $2.38 for the second quarter.

Monster Worldwide (MNST) is expected to report second-quarter earnings per share of 30 cents.

Mylan Laboratories (MYL) is expected to post earnings per share for the first quarter of 28 cents.

Norfolk Southern Corp. (NSC) is expected to report second-quarter per-share income of 92 cents.

After Tuesday's closing bell, Sun Microsystems (SUNW) reported a fourth-quarter loss, compared with a profit in the final quarter of the previous fiscal year, as the server and software maker recorded a 29 percent rise in revenue but took several restructuring charges.

Redback (RBAK) said it narrowed its second-quarter loss, helped by surging sales of its Internet routers, as the company's newest products helped it better compete with larger rivals Juniper Networks Inc. (JNPR) and Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO).

Stanley Works (SWK) said its second-quarter profit rose 13 percent, bolstered by rising demand for hand tools in the U.S., while sales surged thanks to the acquisition of Facom Tools and National Hardware.

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Ace Ltd. (ACE) and Chubb Corp. (CB) reported increases of more than 20% in second-quarter net income as the property and casualty insurers benefited from a lack of major catastrophes in the period.

Aflac Inc. (AFL) reported a 21 percent increase in second-quarter net income late Tuesday, but warned that sales in Japan may fall during the rest of 2006.

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) reported second-quarter profit fell by more than half, sending its shares down sharply in after-hours trading, as the online retailing pioneer was hurt by the cost of employee stock options and higher operating expenses.

American International Group Inc. (AIG) said it has ended an agency relationship with American International Marine Agency of New York, a subsidiary of C.V. Starr & Co., in another step in the insurer's separation from its former chairman and chief executive Maurice "Hank" Greenberg.

Ameriprise Financial Inc. (AMP) said second-quarter net income came in at $141 million, or 57 cents a share, down 9 percent from a year earlier, when the financial-planning company made $155 million, or 63 cents a share.

Charles Schwab & Co. (SCHW) said its board has approved a share buyback of up to $500 million.

Chordiant Software Inc. (CHRD) said the Securities and Exchange Commission has contacted the company regarding an inquiry about past stock-option-grant practices.

Corning Inc. (GLW) said second-quarter earnings more than tripled as several onetime gains and stronger demand for fiber-optic products offset a glut in glass panels used in electronic displays.

Dover Corp. (DOV) reported second-quarter net income of $71.9 million, or 35 cents a share, down sharply from $173.2 million, or 85 cents, a year ago.

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (ETH) said its board has approved increasing the quarterly cash dividend 11 percent to 20 cents from 18 cents a share. The board has also increased the share buyback authorization by 1.4 million shares to 2.5 million shares.

Fiserv Inc. (FISV) said its second-quarter profit rose 3.2 percent to exceed expectations as revenue increased 9.7 percent.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) said it has agreed to acquire Mercury Interactive Corp. (MERQ) , a troubled maker of testing and optimization software, through a cash tender offer worth at least $4.5 billion.

H.J. Heinz Co. (HNZ) said all of its stockholders with shares held through banks, brokers or financial intermediaries are now able to vote via the Internet in the company's proxy fight with Nelson Peltz and his Trian Group. Heinz said Internet voting was restored, following an 8-day shutdown, after ADP Proxy Services amended Trian's voting instruction form.

Integrated Device Technology Inc. (IDTI) said first-quarter expenses rose as the company swung to a net loss of $1.56 million, or a penny a share. During the same period in the prior year, the company reported net income of $6.58 million, or 6 cents a share.

Lattice Semiconductor Corp. (LSCC) said second-quarter revenue rose as the company swung to net income of $2.07 million, or 2 cents a share. During the same period in the prior year, the company reported a net loss of $8.16 million, or 7 cents a share.

Linear Technology Corp. (LLTC) reported fiscal fourth-quarter net earnings of $115.7 million, or 37 cents a share, up from $106 million, or 34 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Excluding items, net profit came in at $125.9 million, or 41 cents a share.

Lone Star Technologies Inc. (LSS) reported second-quarter earnings of $32.2 million, or $1.04 cents a share, compared with $63.5 million, or $2.09 cents a share, in the same period last year, as expenses rose.

Phelps Dodge Corp. (PD) said it has received an advance ruling certificate from the Canadian Competition Bureau clearing its offer to purchase all of the outstanding shares of Inco Ltd. (N).

RF Micro Devices Inc.'s (RFMD) reported first-quarter earnings of $13.9 million, or 7 cents a share. In the same period last year, the maker of radio system components for mobile communications posted a net loss of $2.7 million, or 1 cent a share.

Select Comfort Corp. (SCSS) said second-quarter revenue rose as net income increased to $10.7 million, or 19 cents a share, from $7.86 million, or 13 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had expected a per-share result of 17 cents.

Sigma-Aldrich (SIAL) posted a second-quarter profit of $70.3 million, or $1.04 a share, up from $62.5 million, or 91 cents a share, a year earlier.

SigmaTel Inc. (SGTL) said second-quarter revenue fell as net income dropped to $2.93 million, or 8 cents a share, from $10.9 million, or 29 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.

Xstrata Plc (XTA) said its acquisition offer for Falconbridge Ltd. (FAL) has been approved by the Minister of Industry under the Investment Canada Act.

Washington Mutual Inc. (WM) said it has agreed to sell its WM Advisors asset management business to Principal Financial Group for $740 million in cash.

Sierra Health Services Inc. (SIE) said second-quarter revenue rose 22 percent, buoyed by a rise in medical premiums, and the managed healthcare provider raised its full-year earnings forecast.

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