Stocks to Watch, Sept. 26: Lowe's, Red Hat

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Tuesday's session are Lowe's Cos., Red Hat Inc. and PMC-Sierra Inc.

Analogic Corp. (ALOG) is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of 14 cents a share, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call.

Dress Barn Inc. (DBRN) is expected to post per-share earnings of 31 cents for the fourth quarter.

H.B. Fuller Co. (FUL) is expected to report 33 cents a share for third-quarter income.

Jabil Circuit Inc. (JBL) is expected to report per-share income of 34 cents for the fourth quarter.

Paychex (PAYX) is expected to post first-quarter earnings of 34 cents for the first quarter.

Red Hat (RHAT) is expected to report second-quarter per-share income of 10 cents.

After Monday's closing bell, Lowe's said it expects annual income to come in toward the lower end of its prior view, with the home improvement retailer citing near-term pressures on consumers such as high energy costs.

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Advanced Medical Optics Inc. (EYE) said it now sees 2006 adjusted per-share earnings of $1.90 to $1.95, compared with its prior view of $2.05 to $2.21. The medical device company also lowered its outlook for annual revenue, and now sees it ranging from $1.01 billion to $1.02 billion, compared with the prior view $1.02 billion to $1.04 billion.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (ARE) said it will sell 2.5 million of its shares in a public offering. Gross proceeds will be $240 million, which the company intends to use to reduce the outstanding balance on its unsecured line of credit, among other moves.

American Railcar Industries Inc. (ARII) said it will make and sell 2,400 tank railcars to American Railcar Leasing LLC, which is controlled by Carl Icahn, ARI's chairman and principal shareholder.

AngioDynamics Inc. (ANGO) said first-quarter net income rose, as sales gained, to $1.9 million, or 12 cents a share, from $1.29 million, or 10 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ARNA) said an investigational niacin receptor agonist, being developed under partnership with Merck & Co. (MRK) , is no longer in development for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Avid Technology Inc. (AVID) said softness in the company's audio business is adversely impacting expected third-quarter results. The company said it is narrowing its estimate for pro-forma, per-share income to the lower half of its prior outlook that ranged from 35 cents to 49 cents.

Cabot Corp. (CBT) said it plans to eliminate 130 positions as part of cost reduction. The plans are projected to result in a $15 million pretax charge, of which about $8 million is expected to be recorded in the fourth quarter.

Cephalon Inc. (CEPH) said it has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to market Fentora, a tablet to manage breakthrough pain in patients with cancer who are already receiving and tolerant to opioid therapy for underlying persistent cancer pain.

EpiCept Corp. (EPCT) said Myriad Genetics Inc. (MYGN) has reported positive clinical results for Azixa, a compound discovered by EpiCept and licensed to Myriad. Based on the results, Myriad intends to initiate Phase II clinical trials, triggering a milestone payment to EpiCept.

Helix Energy Solutions Group Inc. (HLX) said it has named Martin Ferron chief executive, effective Oct. 1. The company said Ferron, a former chief operating officer at Helix, will succeed Owen Kratz, who will continue with the company as executive board chairman.

Innovex Inc. (INVX) said it has cut its fourth-quarter revenue outlook to $32 million from its prior estimate of $39 million to $42 million. Innovex said the revision is due to lower demand from its disk drive industry customers.

Interpool Inc. (IPX) said its board has approved raising the dividend for each quarter in 2007 to 25 cents a share, for an annual dividend rate of $1. The current annual dividend rate is 32 cents per share.

Lear Corp. (LEA) said it is consolidating its North American Customer Group into three product groups: Seating, Electrical and Interior Systems. The supplier of automotive interior systems and components said the move aims to improve operating efficiency.

Loudeye Corp. (LOUD) said it has received approval for its acquisition by Nokia Corp. (NOK) . The Seattle-based digital music distributor said it received early termination of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act.

Merix Corp. (MERX) said it now expects first-quarter earnings of $3 million to $3.6 million, or 15 cents to 17 cents a share, on revenue of about $106 million. On a pro forma basis, Merix said it now sees per-share earnings of $4 million to $4.6 million, or 19 cents to 21 cents. The circuit-board maker had previously forecast per-share earnings of 25 cents to 30 cents, or 31 cents to 35 cents on a pro forma basis, on revenue of $102 million to $106 million.

Murphy Oil Corp. (MUR) said its USA Inc. unit has reached a proposed $330 million settlement for the consolidated class action litigation pending in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana. The litigation involves an oil spill from a crude oil storage tank that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Progressive Gaming International Corp. (PGIC) said it will defend a lawsuit alleging patent infringement filed against it by Paltronics Inc.

Pegasus Wireless Corp. (PGWC) said it has applied to withdraw its stock from Nasdaq by Oct. 26. The shares will trade on another listed exchange or on the OTC Bulletin Board. The company cited volume increases, price reductions and volatility in its stock as the reason for the switch.

Perrigo Co. (PRGO) said it has received approval from the Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market over-the-counter famotidine tablets. The FDA determined the tablets to be bioequivalent to Maximum Strength Pepcid AC tablets indicated for the relief of heartburn due to acid indigestion.

PMC-Sierra (PMCS) said it cut its third-quarter revenue outlook to $114 million to $116 million from $122 million to $124 million.

Reynolds American Inc.'s (RAI) R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. subsidiary said it plans to appeal a federal judge's decision earlier Monday approving a class certification in a "lights" case that charges cigarette makers with racketeering.

Standard & Poor's said Western Union Co. (WUWI) will replace Andrew Corp. (ANDW) in the S&P 500 after the market's close on Friday.

URS Corp. (URS) said its EG&G Division has been awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract by the Air Force to provide spare parts and repair services on allied weapon systems. The five-year contract has a maximum value of $275 million.