Stocks to Watch: Aetna; Comcast, Exxon

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trading in Thursday's session are Aetna Inc., Comcast Corp., and Exxon Mobil Corp.

3M Co. (MMM) is expected to report second-quarter earnings of $1.18 a share, according to a survey of analysts by Thomson Financial.

Aetna (AET) is expected to post earnings of 80 cents a share for the second quarter.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (BMY) is expected to report second-quarter earnings of 36 cents a share.

Comcast (CMCSA) (CMCSK) is expected to post earnings of 19 cents a share for the second quarter.

Dow Chemical Co. (DOW) is expected to report second-quarter earnings of $1.05 a share.

Exxon Mobil (XOM) is expected to post earnings of $1.96 a share for the second quarter.

Ford Motor Co. (F) is expected to report a second-quarter loss of 35 cents a share.

Kellogg Co. (K) is expected to post earnings of 70 cents a share for the second quarter.

McKesson Corp. (MCK) is expected to report first-quarter earning of 71 cents a share.

Raytheon Co. (RTN) is expected to post earnings of 68 cents a share for the second quarter.

After Wednesday's closing bell, Apple Inc. (AAPL) reported a fiscal third-quarter profit that rose 73 percent from a year ago, spurred on by strong sales of its flagship Macintosh computers and iPod digital media players, as well as shipments of 270,000 of its new iPhones.

Also, E-Trade Financial (ETFC) reported second-quarter earnings that were a little higher than a year before as the discount broker continued to add customer accounts but was hit by legal and regulatory costs.

And Qualcomm Inc. (QCOM) posted higher-than-expected earnings for its third fiscal quarter despite a growing legal battle with rivals that could keep wireless phones featuring the company's chips off the U.S. market.

Watch List

Affymetrix Inc. (AFFX) swung to a second-quarter profit of $1.24 million, or 2 cents a share, from a loss of $10.1 million, or 15 cents a share, a year earlier on strong adoption of its new genotyping product. The latest quarter included a restructuring charge of $1.8 million, or 3 cents a share. Revenue grew 10 percent to $88.3 million from $80.1 million a year ago.

Airgas Inc. (ARG) reported fiscal first-quarter net earnings of $51.7 million, or 63 cents a share, up 34 percent from $38.7 million, or 48 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Radnor, Pa.-based chemical company said revenue in the three months ended June 30 rose to $915.1 million from $773 million in the same period last year.

Alcon Inc. (ACL) reported second-quarter net earnings of $448.4 million, or $1.48 a share, down 3.7 percent from $465.6 million, or $1.50 a share, in the year-ago period. The Swiss eye care products company said revenue in the three months ended June 30 rose 12 percent to $1.47 billion from $1.31 billion in the same period a year ago.

Amerigroup Corp. (AGP) reported second-quarter net earnings of $32.8 million, or 61 cents a share, up from $15.3 million, or 29 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Virginia Beach, Va.-based managed health-care company said revenue in the three months ended June 30 rose to $1 billion from $642.4 million in the same period last year.

Applied Micro Circuits Corp. (AMCC) reported that its fiscal first-quarter loss widened to $16.4 million, or 6 cents a share, from $817,000, or breakeven a share, in the year-ago period. The Sunnyvale, Calif.-based company said revenue for the quarter ended June 30 fell 28 percent to $50.1 million from $69.7 million a year ago.

Arch Capital Group Ltd.'s (ACGL) second-quarter earnings climbed 44 percent to $205.9 million, or $2.65 a share, from $142.9 million, or $1.81 a share, a year earlier. The insurance company's revenue rose slightly to $867.3 million from $859.2 million a year ago.

Arris Group Inc.'s (ARRS) second-quarter net income fell 6 percent to $23.3 million, or 21 cents a share, from $24.8 million, or 23 cents a share, a year earlier, hurt by income tax expense of $11.1 million. The Suwanee, Ga.-based telecommunications and broadband-access company's sales rose 15 percent to $252.7 million from $220 million a year earlier.

Baidu.com Inc. (BIDU) reported second-quarter net earnings of 141.9 million yuan ($18.6 million), or 4.09 yuan per share (54 cents), up from 58.5 million yuan, or 1.69 yuan a share, in the year-ago period. The Beijing-based Internet search provider said revenue for the three months ended June 30 rose to 401.3 million yuan ($52.7 million) from 191.6 million yuan last year.

Charlotte Russe Holding Inc.'s (CHIC) fiscal third-quarter net income rose to $10.1 million, or 40 cent a share, from a year-earlier profit of $5.88 million, or 24 cents a share. The San Diego-based apparel retailer's net sales increased more than 12 percent to $180.3 million, from $160.7 million for the period ended June 30 a year earlier.

Cirrus Logic Inc.'s (CRUS) first-quarter net income fell 49 percent to $3.99 million, or 4 cents a share, from $7.82 million, or 9 cents a share, a year earlier, as revenue dropped 9 percent. The Austin, Texas, signal processing components company's revenue for the quarter ended June 30 sank to $41.1 million from $45.2 million in the year-ago period.

Conceptus Inc. (CPTS) narrowed its second-quarter loss to $2.14 million, or 7 cents a share, from a year-earlier loss of $5.33 million, or 18 cents a share. The company said second-quarter sales increased 57 percent to $15.7 million, from $10 million a year earlier, on higher sales of the Essure permanent birth-control system.

Covance Inc. (CVD) reported second-quarter net earnings of $41.5 million, or 64 cents a share, up 18.5 percent from $35 million, or 54 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Princeton, NJ.-based drug development services company said net revenue in the three months ended June 30 rose to $381.1 million from $335.2 million in the same period last year.

Duke Realty Corp. (DRE) reported net income available to common shareholders of $39.7 million, or 27 cents a share, up 66 percent from $23.9 million, or 16 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue in the three months ended June 30 rose to $219.7 million from $205 million in the comparable period last year, the Indianapolis-based real estate investment trust said.

Pharmacy benefit manager Express Scripts Inc. (ESRX) said that net income was $152.7 million, or 57 cents a share, compared with $1.07.8 million, or 38 cents a share, for the same period a year ago. Sales for the St. Louis-based company were $4.6 billion vs. last year's $4.42 billion.

F5 Networks Inc.'s (FFIV) fiscal third-quarter net income grew more than 28 percent and the company's board approved a 2-for-1 stock split with a record date of Aug. 10. The Seattle-based Internet services company's net income grew to $21.8 million, or 51 cents a share, from a year-earlier profit of $17 million, or 41 cents a share. Revenue grew 32 percent to $132.4 million, from $100.1 million.

Fiserv Inc.'s (FISV) second-quarter earnings fell 8 percent, due to costs related to the sale of its Fiserv ISS unit, a charge in its insurance segment and a charge related to the end of an investment in a new technology platform. The Milwaukee-based provider of integrated data processing and information management systems had second-quarter earnings of $108.2 million, or 64 cents a share, compared with $117.7 million, or 66 cents a share, a year earlier. Fiserv said revenue for the quarter rose 12 percent to $1.18 billion from $1.06 billion a year ago.

FormFactor Inc.'s (FORM) second-quarter net income grew 22 percent to $18.7 million, or 38 cents a share, from $15.3 million, or 32 cents a share, a year earlier, as revenue climbed 23 percent. The Livermore, Calif., semiconductor testing equipment company's revenue rose to $114.1 million from $92.4 million in the year-ago period.

Grant Prideco Inc. (GRP) reported second-quarter net earnings of $135 million, or $1.04 a share, up 28 percent from $105.6 million, or 79 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Houston-based oil equipment and services company said revenue in the three months ended June 30 rose to $522.2 million from $431.8 million in the same period last year.

Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co.'s (HRH) second-quarter net income rose 7.7 percent to $22.2 million, or 60 cents a share, from $20.6 million, or 57 cents a share, boosted by its core commissions and fees revenue. The Richmond insurance and risk-management company revenue rose 12 percent to $200.1 million from $178.4 million a year earlier.

LoopNet Inc. (LOOP) reported second-quarter net income of $5.1 million, or 13 cents a share, up from $3.44 million, or 9 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The San Francisco-based company, which operates an online marketplace for commercial real estate, said revenue in the three months ended June 30 came in at $17 million, up 46 percent from $11.6 million in the second quarter of 2006.

LSI Corp. (LSI) said it swung to a second-quarter loss, hurt by acquisition-related charges, and unveiled more cost-cutting measures.

Luminex Corp. (LMNX) said it swung to a second-quarter net loss of $3.2 million, or 9 cents a share, from net earnings of $271,000, or a penny a share, during the year-ago period. The Austin, Texas-based maker of biological testing technologies for the life sciences industry said revenue for the three months ended June 30 rose to $17.5 million from $13.3 million last year.

MEMC Electronic Materials Inc.'s (WFR) second-quarter net income climbed to $163.6 million, or 70 cents a share, from $81.9 million, or 36 cents a share, a year earlier. The St. Peters, Mo.-based maker of polysilicon wafers said sales increased 28 percent to $472.7 million from $370.5 million.

Micrel Inc.'s (MCRL) second-quarter earnings fell 3.9 percent to $8.64 million from $8.99 million a year earlier. The San Jose-based semiconductor maker had earnings of 11 cents per share in both quarters. Micrel said revenue for the latest quarter fell 7.3 percent to $65.1 million from $70.2 million a year ago.

Murphy Oil Co. (MUR) reported second-quarter earnings of $250.2 million, or $1.32 a share, compared with $216.2 million, or $1.14 a share, a year ago. Revenue for the El Dorado, Ark.-based company rose 21 percent to $4.61 billion from $3.8 billion. The company said lower oil and gas sales volume was offset by higher prices while its refining operations swung from a year-ago loss to yield $124 million in income.

Owens-Illinois Inc.'s (OI) second-quarter net income jumped to $149.7 million, or 89 cents a share, from $42.6 million, or 24 cents a share, a year earlier on glass factory operating performance and existing contractual sales price adjustments. Revenue for the Toledo, Ohio, glass container manufacturer rose 14 percent to $2.02 billion from $1.76 billion in the year-ago period.

Plexus Corp.'s (PLXS) fiscal third-quarter net income fell 38 percent to $15.5 million, or 33 cents a share, from $25.1 million, or 53 cents a share, a year earlier, as results included a $3.89 million income tax expense. The Neenah, Wis., electronics manufacturing services company's sales declined 4.5 percent to $379.6 million from $397.6 million.

Pulte Homes Inc. (PHM) said it swung to a second-quarter net loss of $507.6 million, or $2.01 a share, from net earnings of $243 million, or 94 cents a share, during the year-ago period. The Bloomfield, Mich.-based home builder said revenue in the three months ended June 30 fell 40 percent to $2.02 billion from $3.36 billion.

Questar Corp. (STR) said second-quarter net income grew 24 percent to $112.2 million, or 64 cents a share, from $90.4 million, or 52 cents a share, a year earlier. The Salt Lake City energy company's revenue declined 6.6 percent to $556.7 million from $596.2 million.

Rare Hospitality International Inc.'s (RARE) second-quarter earnings fell 24 percent to $10.2 million, or 33 cents a share, from $13.4 million, or 39 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue at the Atlanta-based restaurant operator increased 14 percent to $269.2 million from $237.1 million in the prior-year period.

RightNow Technologies Inc.'s (RNOW) second-quarter loss widened to $5.74 million, or 17 cents a share, from $1.76 million, or 5 cents a share, a year earlier, hurt in part by its shift away from perpetual licenses. The Bozeman, Mont.-based technology company's revenue fell 1.6 percent to $26.5 million from $26.9 million a year ago, hurt by lower professional services revenue.

Ryland Group Inc. (RYL) said it swung to a second-quarter net loss of $52.4 million, or $1.25 a share, from net earnings of $94.8 million, or $2.03 a share, in the year-ago period. The Calabasas, Calif.-based home builder said revenue in the quarter fell 38.2 percent to $739.7 million from $1.2 billion in the comparable period last year.

Sanmina-SCI Corp.'s (SANM) fiscal third-quarter net loss narrowed to $27.6 million, or 5 cents a share, from $54.8 million, or 10 cents a share, a year earlier. The San Jose electronics contract manufacturer's revenue fell to $2.49 billion from $2.71 billion, due in part to its components unit.

Sciele Pharma Inc. (SCRX) reported second-quarter net earnings of $10.6 million, or 29 cents a share, up from $10.2 million, or 27 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The Atlanta-based pharmaceutical company said revenue for the three months ended June 30 rose to $95.7 million from $72.4 million last year.

Select Comfort Corp.'s (SCSS) second-quarter net income fell to $1.9 million, or 6 cents a share, from a year-earlier profit of $10.7 million, or 19 cents a share. The Minneapolis bed retailer's net sales fell 5 percent to $179 million, from $188.1 million a year earlier.

StanCorp Financial Group Inc. (SFG) reported second-quarter net income of $52.1 million, or 97 cents a share, up 21 percent from $42.9 million, or 78 cents a share, for the second quarter of 2006. The Portland, Ore.-based financial services company said revenue rose to $677.9 million from $611.7 million in the comparable period last year.

Stats ChipPac Ltd.'s (STTS) second-quarter net income fell to $7.43 million, or 4 cents per American Depositary Share, from $18 million, or 9 cents an ADS, a year earlier, which the company attributed to weak demand from certain large customers. Revenue for the Singapore-based semiconductor test and assembly services company fell 12 percent to $370.2 million from $418.1 million.

Symantec Corp. (SYMC) said its first-quarter profit slid lower compared to the period a year earlier, though the security software maker still managed to turn in a better-than-expected performance.

Tractor Supply Co.'s (TSCO) second-quarter earnings rose 1.9 percent, as sales of animal-health products and apparel offset weakness in seasonal merchandise due to unseasonably cool weather in April and drought conditions in the southeast in May and June. The Brentwood, Tenn., retail farm store chain had second-quarter earnings of $43.8 million, or $1.08 a share, compared with $42.9 million, or $1.05 a share, a year earlier. Tractor Supply said net sales for the quarter rose 11 percent to $790.9 million from $714.9 million a year ago.

Varian Inc. (VARI) reported third-quarter net earnings of $14.6 million, or 47 cents a share, up slightly from $14.5 million, or 46 cents a share, during the year-ago period. The Palo Alto, Calif.-based maker of scientific instruments and vacuum products said revenue rose to $227.1 million from $209.7 million.

Varian Medical Systems Inc. (VAR) said third-quarter earnings fell to $50.3 million, or 39 cents a share, from $65.7 million, or 49 cents a share, a year earlier, as the year-ago period was helped by a gain of 8 cents. The Palo Alto, Calif., cancer-therapy systems company's revenue rose to $423.7 million from $395.7 million in the year-ago period.

Zimmer Holdings Inc. (ZMH) reported second-quarter net earnings of $231.5 million, or 97 cents a share, up 15 percent from $200.9 million, or 81 cents a share, during the year-ago period. On an adjusted basis, the company posted a profit of 98 cents a share The Warsaw, Ind.-based medical device maker said revenue for the three months ended June 30 rose 10 percent to $970.6 million from $881.6 million in the comparable period last year.