Stocks to Watch, Sept. 20: Oracle and Morgan Stanley

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Wednesday's session are Oracle Corp., Morgan Stanley and Agile Software Corp.

AAR Corp. (AIR) is expected to report earnings per share for the first quarter of 28 cents, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call.

Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) is expected to post per-share income of 51 cents for the second quarter.

Biomet Inc. (BMET) is expected to report earnings of 43 cents per share for the first quarter.

CarMax Inc. (KMX) is expected to post second-quarter per-share income of 41 cents.

Cintas Corp. (CTAS) is expected to report income of 51 cents per share for the first quarter.

Circuit City Stores Inc. (CC) is expected to post second-quarter per-share income of 5 cents.

Dynamex Inc. (DDMX) is expected to report earnings of 31 cents per share for the fourth quarter.

Morgan Stanley (MS) is expected to post third-quarter earnings of $1.37 per share.

Steelcase Inc. (SCS) is expected to report per-share income of 18 cents for the second-quarter.

After Tuesday's closing bell, Oracle (ORCL) said quarterly profit rose 29 percent and revenue jumped 30 percent as the software giant benefited from Chief Executive Larry Ellison's $20 billion acquisition spree.

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Agile Software (AGIL) said the preliminary first-quarter net loss widened to 7 cents a share from a net loss of 6 cents per share during the same period in the prior year. Agile said preliminary revenue fell to $31 million from $34.4 million in the prior year. The company added that a delay in revenue recognition related to transactions by the company's Taiwan sales office will result in cutting per-share income by a penny in both the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 and the first quarter of fiscal 2007.

Applied Micro Circuits Corp. (AMCC) said it will delay its special stockholder meeting until Oct. 20 due to an ongoing review of the company's historical stock option grant practices.

Autodesk Inc. (ADSK) said it will request a hearing before the Nasdaq's Listing Qualifications Panel in response to a staff determination letter indicating that the company is not in compliance with the filing requirements for continued listing.

Broadcom Corp. (BRCM) said Chief Financial Officer William Ruehle has decided to retire, effective immediately, accelerating his retirement as a result of Broadcom's previously disclosed equity award review.

Cbeyond Inc. (CBEY) said it has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission ahead of a proposed public offering of up to 4.11 million shares by some of its shareholders.

Chaparral Steel Co. (CHAP) said first-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $59.1 million, or $1.23 a share, from $17.8 million, or 39 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.

Christopher & Banks Corp. (CBK) reported second-quarter net earnings of $7.92 million, or 21 cents a share, compared with $5.69 million, or 16 cents a share, in the same period last year, on the back of strong sales.

CKE Restaurants Inc. (CKR) said second-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $14.2 million, or 20 cents a share, from $8.45 million, or 13 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.

Connetics Corp. (CNCT) said the Food and Drug Administration has approved Verdeso foam, 0.05 percent, for the treatment of mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis.

ConocoPhillips (COP) Chairman and Chief Executive Jim Mulva said that he expects "pretty tight surplus capacity" for crude oil production in the years ahead, with return to the five million-per-day supply cushion of years past highly unlikely.

Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI) said Chief Financial Officer Linda Dimopoulos will retire effective June 30, 2007. The Orlando, Fla.-based restaurant operator named corporate controller Brad Richmond CFO, effective Dec. 1. The company added that it earned $88.5 million, or 59 cents a share in its fiscal first quarter, up from $85.5 million, or 53 cents, in the year-ago period. Sales at the casual-dining-chain operator rose 3.3 percent to $1.46 billion.

Dentsply International Inc. (XRAY) increased its quarterly cash dividend 14 percent to 4 cents from 3.5 cents a share. The dividend is payable on Jan. 9 to shareholders as of Dec. 28.

Dollar General Corp. (DG) said it has extended the term of Chief Executive David Perdue's employment contract by one year to March 31, 2008. The Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based discount retailer also said it increased Perdue's base salary by $100,000 and granted him 365,000 restricted stock units that are scheduled to vest ratably over a three-year period.

En Pointe Technologies Inc. (ENPT) said it has agreed to acquire 70 percent of the stock of two privately-owned Pakistan companies, headquartered in Lahore, that provide business process outsourcing services.

Focus Media Holding Ltd. (FMCN) announced a secondary offering of 2.5 million American Depositary Shares for $57 each. The shares, each of which represents ten ordinary shares, are being offered by David Feng Yu, current president of Focus Media, certain Carlyle funds and other former shareholders of Target Media.

Herley Industries Inc. (HRLY) said it has received notice from Nasdaq that it has regained compliance with the exchange's rules and its securities will continue to be listed.

Hiland Holdings GP (HPGP) priced its initial public offering of 7 million units at $18.50 each, raising $130 million. Hiland Holdings' common units will begin trading Wednesday on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol "HPGP."

International Paper Co. (IP) said it has accepted for purchase around $1.385 billion of its stock in a Dutch auction tender offer that expired on Sept. 13. The paper company repurchased 38.5 million shares, or 7.8 percent of its outstanding stock, for $36 each.

Marsh & McLennan Cos. (MMC) said there have been repeated inquiries over the last few months by parties interested in either acquiring or partnering with its subsidiary, Putnam Investments. President and Chief Executive Michael Cherkasky said he has decided to do a market check to determine the value others would put on Putnam.

Medtronic Inc. (MDT) said the Food and Drug Administration's orthopedic and rehabilitation devices advisory panel has unanimously recommended approval of its Prestige cervical disc system. Also, the company has received Japanese regulatory approval and will begin sales of the Micro-Driver coronary stent system.

MetLife Inc. (MET) said it has been awarded a contract by the Office of Personnel Management to provide dental benefits for federal employees and beneficiaries of annuities.

Mips Technologies Inc. (MIPS) said it has received a non-compliance letter from Nasdaq due to the delayed filing of its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30.

Monster Worldwide Inc. (MNST) said its board has suspended its general counsel, Myron Olesnyckyj, effective immediately, pending the results of the company's ongoing review of its stock-option-grant practices. See related story.

Nike Inc. (NKE) said it plans to consolidate two distribution centers in Oregon and Tennessee into a single location by 2008. The athletic footwear maker said the change will result in $200 million in cost savings over 20 years, reduced shipping times and increased service capabilities.

Peregrine Pharmaceuticals Inc. (PPHM) said new research shows that a fusion protein approach combining two proprietary Peregrine technology platforms has demonstrated significant anti-tumor potential.

Sycamore Networks Inc. (SCMR) said it plans to restate past financial results to record additional non-cash charges for stock-based compensation expense. An ongoing review has found certain stock-option grants were misdated.

Valero LP (VLI) said it has signed a definitive purchase and sale agreement to acquire Koch Supply and Trading LP's St. James crude oil facility located in Louisiana for $140 million.

Ventana Medical Systems Inc. (VMSI) said it has commenced patent litigation against Vision Systems Ltd.'s BioSystems unit. Ventana alleges that Vision's Bond X and maX OCR instruments infringe its patent for scheduling algorithms that enable optimal sequencing of multiple tests.