Stocks to Watch, Dec. 21: Red Hat, Bed Bath & Beyond

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Thursday's session are Red Hat Inc., Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. and Accenture Ltd.

Red Hat (RHT) is expected to report earnings per share of 12 cents for the third quarter, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call.

Research in Motion Ltd. (RIMM) is expected to post third-quarter per-share income of 94 cents.

Rite Aid Corp. (RAD) is expected to report a third-quarter loss of 2 cents per share.

Shuffle Master Inc. (SHFL) is expected to report fourth-quarter per-share earnings of 19 cents.

Solectron Corp. (SLR) is expected to post income of 5 cents per share for the first quarter.

Tibco Software Inc. (TIBX) is expected to report fourth-quarter income of 12 cents per share.

After Wednesday's closing bell, Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) posted a third-quarter profit rise of about 6%, bolstered by both same-store-sales growth and new-store openings.

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Accenture (ACN) reported first-quarter net earnings of $284.2 million, or 46 cents a share, compared with $214.9 million, 36 cents a share, in the same period last year, on the back of strong sales.

Delta Air Lines Inc.'s (DALRQ) official creditors' committee said it supported the air carrier's decision to file its proposed reorganization plan, but said the committee "will continue to consider potential alternatives in order to maximize the ultimate recoveries for the unsecured creditors in the Delta bankruptcy."

Finish Line Inc. (FINL) said it swung to a third-quarter net loss, as expenses rose, of $2.98 million, or 6 cents a share. During the same period in the prior year, the retailer reported net income of $845,000, or 2 cents a share.

Heico Corp. (HEI) said fourth-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $9.32 million, or 35 cents a share, from $6.63 million, or 25 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. Analysts had expected per-share income of 31 cents.

Herman Miller Inc. (MLHR) reported second-quarter net earnings of $36.6 million, or 56 cents a share, compared with $27.9 million, or 40 cents a share, in the same period last year, on the back of record-high orders.

Jabil Circuit Inc. (JBL) posted fiscal first-quarter revenue of $3.2 billion, up 33% from $2.4 billion during the year-ago period. The provider of electronic manufacturing services said it expects second-quarter revenue of $2.75 billion to $2.85 billion, and fiscal 2007 revenue growth of about 20%.

Joy Global Inc. (JOYG) said it has named Michael Sutherlin as chief executive and president. Sutherlin, who has served as president of Joy Mining Machinery since 2003, will assume his new role on Dec. 26.

Juniper Networks Inc. (JNPR) said the audit committee review of the company's stock-options grants is complete, and has determined that there were "numerous instances in which grant dates were chosen...so as to give favorable prices."

Merck & Co. (MRK) said the Food and Drug Administration approved Invanz, an injectable antibiotic, for the prevention of surgical site infections after elective colorectal surgery.

Nike Inc. (NKE) said its fiscal second-quarter profit rose to $325.6 million, or $1.28 a share, from $301.1 million, or $1.14 a share, in the year-ago period.

Paychex Inc. (PAYX) reported second-quarter net earnings of $132.7 million, or 35 cents a share, compared with $112.6 million, or 30 cents a share, in the same period last year, on the back of strong revenue from its human resource services segment.

PMC-Sierra Inc. (PMCS) cut its quarterly sales target due to slower demand for its chips used in high-speed Internet networking gear and data-storage equipment. PMC-Sierra forecast fourth-quarter revenue in the range of $100 million to $105 million, down from its prior outlook of $105 million to $112 million.

Siemens AG's (SI) Medical Solutions unit said it will begin clinical trials under an investigational new drug application submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for an imaging biomarker that could potentially identify Alzheimer's disease prior to the onset of noticeable symptoms.

3Com Corp. (COMS) said the second-quarter net loss narrowed, as revenue gained, to $3.52 million, or a penny a share, from a net loss of $10.7 million, or 3 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.

Ultratech Inc. (UTEK) revised its fourth-quarter outlook to a loss of 25 cents to 30 cents a share from its prior view of a loss of 10 cents to 15 cents a share.

Wet Seal Inc. (WTSLA) said it now expects its fiscal December same-store sales to rise from 1% to 3%, as compared with an increase in the low- to mid-single digit range as previously announced.