Stocks to Watch, Oct. 24: Amazon and Kraft Foods

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Tuesday's session are Amazon.com Inc., Texas Instruments Inc. and Kraft Foods Inc.

Ace Ltd. (ACE) is expected to report earnings per share if $1.66 for the third quarter, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call.

Altria Group Inc. (MO) is expected to post per-share income of $1.41 for the third quarter.

• Get more hot tips in FOXBusiness.com's Investing Center.

Amazon.com (AMZN) is expected to report income of 3 cents per share for the third quarter.

Boston Properties (BXP) is expected to post third-quarter per-share income of 63 cents.

Corning (GLW) is expected to report per-share earnings of 25 cents for the third quarter.

KLA-Tencor (KLAC) is expected to report earning per share of 61 cents for the third quarter.

Lockheed Martin (LMT) is expected to report per-share income of $1.24 for the third quarter.

Nabors Industries Ltd. (NBR) is expected to post third-quarter per-share income of 99 cents.

Northrop Grumman (NOC) is expected to report income of $1.07 per share for the third quarter.

XL Capital Ltd. (XL) is expected to post third-quarter per-share income of $2.13.

After Monday's closing bell, Texas Instruments (TXN) said its quarterly profit rose 11 percent, helped by stronger sales of its chips used in cell phones and other electronics equipment, but also signaled that its business is slowing.

Watch List

Alcon Inc. (ACL) said third-quarter net income fell, as expenses rose, to $232.1 million, or 76 cents a share, from $295.8 million, or 95 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. Excluding items, per-share income was $1.09, while analysts had expected earnings per share of $1.07.

Amgen Inc. (AMGN) reported a 14 percent rise in third-quarter profit that was powered by a surge in sales of the biotechnology company's lead product, the anemia treatment Aranesp.

Atheros Communications Inc. (ATHR) shares increased 2.6 percent after the company said third-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $6.32 million, or 11 cents a share, from $2.15 million, or 4 cents as share, during the same period in the prior year.

Brown & Brown Inc. (BRO) said third-quarter net income came in at $40.3 million, or 29 cents a share, up 16 percent from a year earlier when the insurance broker made $34.8 million, or 25 cents a share. Analysts expected the company to make 28 cents a share.

Cirrus Logic Inc. (CRUS) said the company has found information that "raises potential questions" about the measurement dates used to account for certain stock-option grants.

CNet Networks Inc. (CNET) said third-quarter sales rose 13 percent from a year ago, as advertising gains outpaced a dip in daily traffic to its collection of Web sites.

Everest Re Group Ltd. (RE) and PartnerRe Ltd. (PRE) reported better-than-expected third-quarter profits as a light hurricane season helped the reinsurers avoid big losses that hit them in 2005.

Transaction processor First Data Corp. (FDC) posted a 34 percent decline in third-quarter profit, reflecting in part its spin-off of money transfer firm Western Union.

Fisher Scientific International Inc. (FSH) said third-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $151.8 million, or $1.14 a share, from $93.5 million, or 73 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. The provider of scientific tools said quarterly revenue rose to $1.51 billion from $1.36 billion in the prior year.

Forward Air Corp. (FWRD) reported third-quarter net earnings of $12.7 million, or 41 cents a share, compared with $12.1 million, or 38 cents a share, in the same period last year. The result was boosted by strong growth in its logistics' business.

Grant Prideco Inc. (GRP) reported third-quarter net earnings of $126.5 million, or 95 cents a share, compared with $48.1 million, or 37 cents a share, in the same period last year, on strong sales and wider operating income margins. Analysts had expected per-share earnings of 84 cents.

Hercules Inc. (HPC) said earnings climbed as better volumes and pricing for its specialty chemicals offset drags from a divested business.

II-VI Inc. (IIVI) reported first-quarter net earnings of $7.5 million, or 25 cents a share, up 11 percent from $6.75 million, or 23 cents a share, during the year-ago period. The maker of optical components posted revenue of $60.8 million vs. $54.4 million.

Kraft (KFT) posted an 11 percent increase in third-quarter profit, boosted by strength in powdered drinks and convenience foods in the U.S., along with growth in Latin America and Europe.

Netflix Inc. (NFLX) said its third-quarter profit nearly doubled on a 48 percent revenue increase, as subscribers rose 58 percent to more than 5.6 million.

Pactiv Corp. (PTV) said third-quarter earnings more than doubled thanks to foreign exchange and tax gains and higher sales of its trademark Hefty products.

Petco Animal Supplies Inc. (PETC) said its shareholders have approved the company's acquisition by private equity investment firms Texas Pacific Group and Leonard Green & Partners L.P for $1.8 billion, including assumed debt. The transaction is expected to close this week.

Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI) posted a 6 percent rise in third-quarter profit as demand for its mailing equipment grew overseas, particularly in the U.K.

Plum Creek Timber Co. (PCL) reported a slight drop in its third-quarter earnings as rising profit from its rural properties business was offset by a weaker quarter for its lumber and plywood division.

Radyne Corp. (RADN) shares fell 10 percent after the manufacturer of products for the transmission of data over satellite said third-quarter net income fell, as revenue declined, to $2.75 million, or 15 cents per share, from $2.88 million, or 16 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.

SL Green Realty Corp. (SLG) said third-quarter net income for shareholders rose, as sales gains increased, to $118.7 million, or $2.53 a share, from $37.3 million, or 87 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. Quarterly per-share funds from operations remained flat at $1.13.

Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. (SXL) reported third-quarter net earnings of $17.7 million compared with $14.7 million in the same period last year. The oil company posted net income per limited partner unit of 59 cents vs. 56 cents last year. Revenue rose 29 percent to $1.61 billion from $1.25 billion.

United Therapeutics Corp. (UTHR) said it expects third-quarter net income and revenue to be "consistent" with results from the prior quarter. The biotechnology company also said the board has authorized the company to buy back up to 4 million of its shares within the next two years.

Waste Connections Inc. (WCN) reported third-quarter net earnings of $21.9 million, or 47 cents a share, down 11 percent from $24.5 million, or 51 cents a share, during the year-ago period. The solid waste services company posted revenue of $216.5 million vs. $188.7 million.

Western Digital Corp. (WDC) said a special board committee's three-month review has found that the annual employee stock-option grant made in November 1999 was "intentionally dated with hindsight" at a low price. The storage company said it has informed the Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement division staff and will cooperate in the event of an inquiry.

Visit FOXBusiness.com's Investing page.