Stocks to Watch: DirecTV, Legg Mason and Whole Foods Market

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trading in Wednesday's session are DirecTV Group Inc., Legg Mason Inc., and Whole Foods Market Inc.

Archstone-Smith Trust (ASN) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 32 cents a share, according to a survey of analysts by Thomson Financial.

Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc. (BRL) is expected to post earnings of 61 cents a share for the first quarter.

DirecTV Group Inc. (DTV) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 30 cents a share.

Edison International (EIX) is expected to post earnings of 64 cents a share for the first quarter.

Hospira Inc. (HSP) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 53 cents a share.

Integrys Energy Group Inc. (TEG) is expected to post earnings of $1.61 a share for the first quarter.

Legg Mason Inc. (LM) is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of $1.17 a share.

Toll Brothers Inc. (TOL) is expected to post earnings of 40 cents a share for the second quarter.

TXU Corp. (TXU) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of $1.11 a share.

Whole Foods Market (WFMI) is expected to post earnings of 36 cents a share for the second quarter.

After Tuesday's closing bell, Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO) said third-quarter profit leaped 34 percent, as the company whetted a growing appetite by corporate customers and Internet service providers for its networking gear.

Also, despite expectations for a relatively flat quarter, Walt Disney Co. (DIS) said that second-quarter earnings climbed 27 percent, as the entertainment giant saw double-digit operating profit gains in all its major segments.

And, Electronic Arts (ERTS) said it reported a wider quarterly loss from a year ago, hurt by stock expense charges and a stale video game line-up.

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Alcoa, Inc. (AA) filed a notice with the Securities and Exchange Commission to offer to buy all of the shares of rival Alcan, Inc. (AL) in a cash and stock swap worth about $27 billion. On Monday, Alcoa said it planned to make the offer directly to Alcan shareholders after two years of talks with management of Montreal-based Alcan failed. Alcoa has offered to exchange $58.60 in cash and 0.4108 of its shares for each share of Alcan, representing an offer of $73.25 based on Friday closing prices.

Allscripts Healthcare Solutions Inc. (MDRX) said first-quarter earnings rose to $4.47 million, or 8 cents a share, from $1.32 million, or 3 cents a share, a year earlier. The Chicago-based prescription-management software company said revenue rose 54 percent to $65 million from $42.2 million.

Allied World Assurance (AWH) said that first-quarter net income came in at $113.9 million, or $1.83 a share, up 16 percent from a year earlier when the Bermuda-based insurer made $98.1 million, or $1.94 a share. The number of Allied World shares outstanding grew during the past year. Operating income was $120.4 million, or $1.94 a share. Net premiums written were $357.8 million in the first quarter, a 16.3 percent decrease from a year ago, the company added.

Atwood Oceanics Inc. (ATW) said second-quarter net earnings more than doubled, rising to $31.8 million, or $1.01 a share, from $15.6 million, or 50 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Houston-based drilling contractor said revenue in the three months ended March 31 climbed to $94.3 million from $67.5 million in the comparable period last year.

Brightpoint Inc.'s (CELL) first-quarter earnings plunged 79 percent, due to a shift to lower-margin distribution, $1 million in consulting fees, larger stock-option payments and a charge related to the replacement of its asset-backed credit facilities in North America and Australia. The Plainfield, Ind., provider of outsourced services to wireless telecom and data companies said first-quarter earnings fell to $1.85 million, or 4 cents a share, from year-earlier earnings of $8.87 million, or 18 cents a share. Brightpoint said revenue for the quarter rose 8.9 percent to $641.6 million from $564.6 million a year ago.

Champps Entertainment Inc. (CMPP) reported a fiscal third-quarter net loss of $571,000, or 4 cents a share, compared with a net loss of $1.93 million, or 15 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Littleton, Colo.-based restaurant operator said revenue in the three months ended April 1 fell 4.8 percent to $49.2 million from $51.7 million in the comparable period last year, while same-store sales fell 4.3 percent.

Charles River Laboratories International Inc. (CRL) reported first-quarter net earnings of $36.8 million, or 54 cents a share. During the year-ago period, the Wilmington, Mass.-based biotechnology company posted a net loss of $100.1 million, or $1.37 a share. Revenue in the three months ended March 31 rose to $291.2 million from $254.1 million in the comparable period last year.

Conseco Inc. (CNO) reported first-quarter net earnings $10.4 million, down from $64.6 million in the same quarter last year. Net income applicable to common stockholders came in at $900,000, or a penny a share, down from $55.1 million, or 35 cents a share, in the year-ago period, while operating income fell to $14.6 million, or 10 cents a share, from $55.8 million, or 36 cents a share. The Carmel, Ind.-based insurance company said revenue in the three months ended March 31 fell to $1.11 billion from $1.12 billion in the comparable period last year.

Copano Energy LLC (CPNO) reported first-quarter net earnings of $8.7 million, or 20 cents per unit, up from $7.41 million, or 20 cents per unit, during the year-ago period. There were 39.4 million units outstanding during the quarter compared with 36.7 million last year. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, were $23.3 million vs. $23.2 million a year ago. The Houston-based midstream natural gas company said revenue for the three months ended March 31 fell to $211 million from $214 million.

Digene Corp.'s (DIGE) fiscal third-quarter net income soared to $5.33 million, or 21 cents a share, from $1.11 million, or 5 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding items, earnings were $6.2 million, or 25 cents a share. The Gaithersburg, Md., developer of DNA and RNA testing systems said revenue for the quarter ended March 31 increased 34 percent to $52.5 million from $39.1 million a year ago.

Esco Technologies Inc. (ESE) reported fiscal second-quarter net earnings of $9.6 million, or 36 cents a share, up from $7.34 million, or 28 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The St. Louis-based company, which supplies communications systems for electric, gas and water utilities, said revenue in the three months ended March 31 rose to $129.1 million from $122.9 million in the comparable period last year.

Gateway Inc. (GTW) reported a first-quarter loss of $8.6 million, or 2 cents a share. During the same period a year ago, the No. 3 U.S. personal-computer company lost $12.3 million, or 3 cents a share. Revenue fell almost 7 percent to $1 billion from last year's sales of $1.08 billion.

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) said its board has approved a two-for-one stock split to shareholders of record as of May 24. The Foster City, Calif.-based biopharmaceutical company said its stock will begin trading at the post-split price on June 25.

Leap Wireless International Inc. (LEAP) swung to a first-quarter loss of $8.12 million, or 12 cents a share, from a year-earlier profit of $17.7 million, or 29 cents a share, as expenses, including those associated with acquiring new customers, increased 56 percent. The San Diego mobile wireless services company said Tuesday that total revenue climbed 46 percent to $389.4 million from $266.7 million a year earlier.

Maidenform Brands Inc. (MFB) reported first-quarter net earnings of $10.6 million, or 44 cents a share, up from $6.25 million, or 26 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Bayonne, N.J.-based apparel company said revenue in the three months ended March 31 rose to $107.2 million from $100.8 million in the same month last year.

Multi-Fineline Electronix Inc. (MFLX) said its fiscal second-quarter net income fell 75 percent to $3.07 million, or 12 cents a share, from $12.5 million, or 49 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Anaheim, Calif.-based maker of flexible circuit boards used in mobile phones said revenue in the three months ended March 31 fell 8 percent to $113.4 million from $123.8 million in the comparable period last year.

Nordson Corp. (NDSN) said it has acquired YESTech Inc. and Pico Dosiertechnik in separate transactions for a total of $53 million. The Westlake, Ohio-based maker of dispensing equipment said it expects the acquisitions to add to its fiscal 2007 earnings.

Papa John's International (PZZA) reported first-quarter net earnings of $13.2 million, or 43 cents a share, down 18 percent from $16 million, or 47 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Louisville, Ky.-based restaurant chain said revenue rose to $260.6 million from $242.3 million in the comparable period last year.

Priceline.com Inc. (PCLN) reported a first-quarter net loss of $14.7 million compared with $99,000, during the year-ago period. The net loss applicable to common shareholders was $16.3 million, or 44 cents a share, vs. $964,000, or 2 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The net results include the impact of litigation settlement expenses and an excise tax refund, among other items, the company said. The Norwalk, Conn.-based travel Web site said revenue in the three months ended March 31 rose to $301.4 million from $241.9 million in the comparable period last year.

Xerium Technologies Inc. (XRM) reported first-quarter net earnings of $4.14 million, or 9 cents a share, down from $9.54 million, or 22 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Youngsville, N.C.-based company, which makes clothing and roll covers used primarily in the paper production process, said revenue in the three months ended March 31 fell to $144 million from $146.7 million in the comparable period last year.