Stocks to Watch: Kodak, Starbucks and Wsahington Post

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trading in Friday's session are Eastman Kodak Co., Washington Post Co., and Starbucks Corp.

Alliant Techsystems Inc. (ATK) is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of $1.45 a share, according to a survey of analysts by Thomson Financial.

Apartment Investment & Management (AIV) is expected to post a loss of 42 cents a share for the first quarter.

CenterPoint Energy Inc. (CNP) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 34 cents a share.

Eastman Kodak (EK) is expected to post a loss of 2 cents a share for the first quarter.

KBR Inc. (KBR) is expected to post earnings of 24 cents a share for the first quarter.

Mediacom Communications Corp. (MCCC) is expected to report a first-quarter loss of a penny a share.

Public Service Enterprise Group (PEG) is expected to post earnings of $1.15 a share for the first quarter.

Tenaris S.A. (TS) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 87 cents a share.

Washington Post (WPO) is expected to post earnings of $8.72 a share for the first quarter.

Weyerhaeuser Co. (WY) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 31 cents a share.

After Thursday's closing bell, Starbucks (SBUX) reported that its fiscal second-quarter profit rose more than 18 percent, buoyed by the opening of hundreds of new stores, and the Seattle-based coffee shop operator backed its forecast for the full year.

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21st Century Holding Co. (TCHC) said first-quarter net income fell 86 percent to $842,805, or 10 cents a share, from $6.01 million, or 83 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 1.9 percent to $25.6 million from $25.1 million.

Aon Corp. (AOC) reported an 8 percent increase in first-quarter net income as a reorganization and cost-cutting plan helped boost profitability. But revenue from the company's main insurance brokerage business was constrained by a tough U.K. market.

Assured Guaranty Ltd. (AGO) reported first-quarter net earnings of $39 million, or 57 cents a share, up 12 percent from $34.9 million, or 47 cents a share, in the first quarter of 2006. Operating income came in at $46.1 million, or 67 cents a share, up from $35.6 million, or 48 cents a share, last year. The Bermuda-based insurance holding company said revenue in the three months ended March 31 rose to $85.4 million from $74.3 million in the comparable period last year, while net written premiums rose 35 percent to $68.4 million from $50.8 million.

Avanex Corp. (AVNX) reported its fiscal third-quarter loss narrowed to $6.65 million, or 3 cents a share, from $10.2 million, or 6 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding items, earnings were $3 million, or a penny a share. The Fremont, Calif., provider of fiber optic-based products said revenue for the quarter ended March 31 increased 37 percent to $55.1 million from $40.1 million a year ago.

Baldor Electric Co. (BEZ) reported first-quarter net earnings of $20.9 million, or 50 cents a share, up 84 percent from $11.4 million, or 34 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Excluding items, earnings came in at 52 cents a share. The Fort Smith, Ark.-based maker of industrial electric motors and power transmission products said revenue in the quarter ended March 31 more than doubled, rising to $395.7 million from $192.3 million in the comparable period last year.

Bebe Stores Inc.'s (BEBE) fiscal third-quarter earnings fell to $12.9 million, or 14 cents a share, from $13.3 million, or 14 cents a share, a year earlier as higher costs and expenses offset an increase in revenue. The Brisbane, Calif., women's apparel company said that net sales for the quarter ended April 7 rose 16 percent to $154.4 million from $132.8 million.

Big 5 Sporting Goods Corp. (BGFV) reported first-quarter net earnings of $7.59 million, or 33 cents a share, up 28 percent from $5.94 million, or 26 cents a share, during the year-ago period. Revenue at El Segundo, Calif.-based sporting goods retailer rose to $217 million from $207.2 million.

Cabela's Inc.'s (CAB) first-quarter net income fell 21 percent on increased depreciation, timing differences in recording incentive compensation expense, and new store-opening costs. Net income fell to $7.14 million, or 11 cents a share, from $9.08 million, or 14 cents a share, a year earlier. The Sidney, Neb., sporting goods retailer's revenue rose 14 percent to $462.1 million from $404.8 million, while same-store sales fell 0.9 percent.

Callaway Golf Co. (ELY) reported first-quarter net earnings of $32.8 million, or 48 cents a share, up 44 percent from $22.9 million, or 33 cents a share, during the year-ago period. Excluding charges, per-share earnings were 49 cents, compared with 34 cents, last year. Revenue at the Carlsbad, Calif.-based company rose to $334.6 million from $302.4 million.

Career Education Corp.'s (CECO) first-quarter net income fell 43 percent to $30 million, or 31 cents a share, from $52.7 million, or 53 cents a share, a year earlier. The Hoffman Estates, Ill., provider of post-secondary education said revenue decreased 13 percent to $424 million from $484.6 million a year ago.

Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) reported first-quarter net income fell to $232 million, or 50 cents a share, from $604 million, or $1.44, a year ago. Revenue for the three months ended March 31 fell to $1.58 billion from $1.94 billion.

Cost Plus Inc.'s (CPWM) fiscal first-quarter earnings fell to $7.5 million, or 34 cents a share, from $18.3 million, or 83 cents a share, a year earlier. The Oakland, Calif., home furnishing retailer said Thursday that revenue for the period ended Feb. 3 rose 8.1 percent to $396.7 million from $367 million in the year-earlier quarter, which was a week shorter.

Crocs Inc.'s (CROX) first-quarter net income soared to $24.9 million, or 61 cents a share, from $6.41 million, or 17 cents a share, a year earlier. The Niwot, Colo., footwear manufacturer and retailer said revenue more than tripled to $142 million from $44.8 million a year ago.

Darden Restaurants Inc. (DRI) reported U.S. same-restaurant sales for the four-week period ended April 29 at Olive Garden rose 5 percent to 6 percent, compared with about a 1 percent rise in the year-ago period. Darden, Orlando, Fla., said same-restaurant sales at Red Lobster fell 1 percent to 2 percent, compared with a 9 percent to 10 percent increase a year ago.

Standard & Poor's, a unit of McGraw-Hill Cos., said it plans to add Digital River Inc. (DRIV) to its S&P MidCap 400 Index to replace OSI Restaurant Partners Inc. (OSI). OSI is being acquired by an OSI's founders, Bain Capital Partners LLC and Catterton Partners.

Dun & Bradstreet Corp.'s (DNB) first-quarter net income rose 2.3 percent to $52.7 million, or 87 cents a share, from $51.5 million, or 75 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding items, the Short Hills, N.J., business information, data and services company's earnings rose to 98 cents a share from 81 cents a share a year earlier. Revenue rose 6.8 percent to $392.3 million from $367.2 million a year earlier.

Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS) said its fiscal first quarter profit surged from the period a year earlier, though sales fell slightly short of analysts' expectations. Plano, Texas-based EDS said for the quarter ended March 31 it had net income of $164 million, or 31 cents a share, compared to $24 million, or 5 cents a share in the period a year earlier. EDS said revenue meanwhile rose to $5.22 billion from $5.08 billion.

Emdeon Corp.'s (HLTH) (WBMD) first-quarter net income fell 63 percent to $6.04 million, or 3 cents a share, from $16.4 million, 6 cents a share, a year earlier, when the company included results from its business services segment. Revenue fell 56 percent to $122 million from $277.2 million a year earlier.

First Solar Inc. (FSLR) said it swung to a first-quarter net profit of $5.03 million, or 7 cents a share, from a year-ago net loss of $5.9 million, or 12 cents a share. The Phoenix-based maker of solar modules said revenue in the three months ended March 31 soared to $66.9 million from $13.6 million in the comparable period last year.

Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. (GMST) said first-quarter earnings rose to $34.4 million, or 8 cents a share, from $8.6 million, or 2 cents a share, a year earlier, helped by an increase in revenue, a decrease in expense and the reversal of $10.7 million in accrued liabilities. The Los Angeles-based media and entertainment company said revenue rose 8.8 percent to $156.7 million from $144 million in the year-ago period, helped in part by a 26 percent increase in its guidance technology and solutions segment.

Hain Celestial Group Inc.'s (HAIN) fiscal third-quarter net income increased 37 percent to $12.4 million, or 30 cents a share, from $9.06 million, or 23 cents a share, a year earlier. The food and personal care products company said Thursday sales for the third quarter ended March 31, rose 21 percent to $237.9 million from $196.4 million.

Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI) intends to cease production at three sewing and assembly operations in the Dominican Republic by September. The Winston-Salem, N.C., marketer of innerwear, outerwear and hosiery apparel said it's consolidating sewing production into fewer facilities that are aligned with textile fabric production. Hanesbrands, which markets under brands such as Hanes, Champion and Just My Size, expects the consolidation to result in about $3 million in charges and the loss of about 1,400 jobs.

Indevus Pharmaceuticals Inc. (IDEV) said its Supprelin product was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. The Lexington, Mass., company said Supprelin-LA is indicated to treat the premature onset of puberty in children. Indevus said Supprelin-LA is a once-yearly implant, inserted subcutaneously in the inner aspect of the upper arm, and is designed to provide a continuous release of a certain amount the gonadotropin releasing hormone analog histrelin.

Jones Soda Co. (JSDA) reported first-quarter net earnings of $58,312, or breakeven on a per-share basis, up from $2,542, or breakeven on a per-share basis, during the year-ago period. There were 26.4 million shares outstanding during the quarter and 22.6 million outstanding last year. The loss before interest income and taxes was $427,784. A year ago, earnings before interest income and taxes were $44,832. The Seattle-based soda manufacturer posted revenue of $9.19 million vs. $8.76 million.

Longs Drug Stores Corp. (LDG) said that April sales from continuing operations at stores open more than a year rose 0.2 percent. The Walnut Creek, Calif., drugstore chain said total retail drug store sales from continuing operations climbed 3.6 percent to $364.8 million in the four-week period ended April 26 from $352.2 million in the year-earlier month.

Moog Inc. (MOGA) (MOGB) said late Thursday it has acquired Thermal Control Products Inc. for $7.5 million, including $4.3 million in cash, with the balance due in notes payable over 3 years. Thermal Control Products makes electronic cooling and air moving systems. East Aurora, N.Y.-based Moog expects the acquisition to add roughly $2.2 million to its components segment sales in the last five months of the fiscal year ending Sept. 29.

Nabors Industries (NBR) posted a profit of $262.2 million, or 92 cents a share, up from $256.8 million, or 79 cents a share, a year ago. Sales came in at $1.30 billion, up from $1.18 billion last year. Earnings benefited from a share-count reduction as well as a lower tax rate, the oil equipment maker said.

Nationwide Financial Services Inc. (NFS) reported first-quarter net earnings of $203.2 million, or $1.38 a share, up from $142.3 million, or 93 cents a share, during the year-ago period. Revenue at Columbus, Ohio-based insurance and financial services company rose to $1.12 billion from $1.08 billion.

Odyssey Re Holdings Corp. (ORH) reported first-quarter net earnings of $86.6 million, down 42 percent from $152.4 million last year. The Stamford, Conn.-based reinsurer reported net income available to common shareholders of $86.6 million, or $1.20 a share, compared with $150.4 million, or $2.08 a share, for the year-ago period. Operating income after tax, which excludes net realized capital gains and net realized capital gains of an equity investee, was $55.3 million, or 77 cents a share, compared with $57.8 million, or 80 cents a share, for the first quarter of 2006.

Playtex Products Inc. (PYX) reported first-quarter net income of $12.8 million, or 20 cents a share, up 36 percent from $9.41 million, or 15 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Westport, Conn.-based consumer products company said revenue in the quarter ended March 31 rose 3 percent 180.9 million from $176 million in the comparable prior year quarter.

QLogic Corp. (QLGC) reported fiscal fourth-quarter net earnings of $18.4 million, or 12 cents a share, down 43 percent from $32.5 million, or 19 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based maker of storage network infrastructure components said revenue in the three months ended April 1 rose to $147.1 million from $130.5 million n the comparable period last year.

Scientific Games Corp. (SGMS) reported first-quarter net earnings of $24.8 million, or 26 cents a share, up 11 percent from $22.4 million, or 24 cents a share, during the year-ago period. The New York-based supplier of technology-based products, systems, and services to gaming markets posted revenue of $242.3 million vs. $208.1 million.

Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD) said it expects first-quarter earnings of $1.30 to $1.53 a share, and net income of between $200 million and $235 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial are currently forecasting first-quarter earnings of $1.46 a share.

Tim Hortons Inc.'s (THI) first-quarter profit dropped about 7 percent in the first quarter on a higher effective tax rate of 34.6 percent vs. 14.8 percent a year ago, as well as more shares outstanding in the latest period. The Oakville, Ontario company said it earned C$59.3 million or 31 Canadian cents a share in the first quarter, vs. C$63.6 million or 39 Canadian cents a year earlier. Total revenue rose to C$424.6 million in the first quarter, up 14 percent compared to C$372.8 million in the first quarter of 2006.

Vonage Holdings Corp.'s (VG) bid for a retrial in its patent dispute with Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ) was thrown out by a Federal Circuit Court. The Internet phone provider had sought to have the original jury verdict that it had violated three of Verizon's five patents overturned and a new trial ordered.

Weight Watchers International Inc.'s (WTW) first-quarter net income fell 5.6 percent on higher interest expense to $53.8 million, or 63 cents a share, from a year-earlier profit of $57 million, or 56 cents a share, on more shares outstanding. The Woodbury, N.Y., weight loss service company's revenue grew nearly 17 percent to $399.4 million, from $342 million a year earlier.

Weingarten Realty Investors (WRI) reported first-quarter net earnings of $51.4 million, down from $54.6 million in the same period last year. Net income available to common shareholders came in at $47.8 million, or 53 cents a share, compared with $53.5 million, or 57 cents a share, in the year-ago period, while funds from operations rose to 74 cents from 72 cents last year. The Houston based real estate investment trust said revenue in the three months ended March 31 rose to $146.6 million from $131.3 million in the same period last year.