Updated

Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trading in Wednesday's session are Cigna Corp., Starbucks Corp., and Time Warner Inc.

CA Inc. (CA) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 23 cents a share, according to a survey of analysts by Thomson Financial.

Cigna (CI) is expected to post earnings of 88 cents a share for the second quarter.

Jones Apparel Group Inc. (JNY) is expected to report second-quarter earnings of 31 cents a share.

Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT) is expected to post earnings of 47 cents a share for the second quarter.

MasterCard Inc. (MA) is expected to report second-quarter earnings of $1.32 a share.

Parker Hannifin Corp. (PH) is expected to post earnings of $1.78 a share for the fourth quarter.

Qwest Communications International Inc. (Q) is expected to report second-quarter earnings of 15 cents a share.

Starbucks (SBUX) is expected to post earnings of 21 cents a share for the third quarter.

Sunoco Inc. (SUN) is expected to report second-quarter earnings of $3.85 a share.

Time Warner (TWX) is expected to post earnings of 21 cents a share for the second quarter.

Walt Disney Co. (DIS) is expected to report third-quarter earnings of 55 cents a share.

After Tuesday's closing bell, Whole Foods Market Inc. (WFMI) said fiscal third-quarter profit fell 9 percent, hurt by expenses related to store openings, but results beat Wall Street estimates and shares jumped in after-hours trading.

Also, RealNetworks Inc. (RNWK) saw revenue surge more than 50 percent for the second quarter while earnings slid from the year-ago period, which was skewed by a large settlement with Microsoft.

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Aon Corp. (AOC) said that second-quarter net income came in at $240 million, or 75 cents a share, up 24 percent from a year earlier when the insurance broker made $193 million, or 57 cents a share. Net income from continuing operations jumped 36 percent to $238 million, or 74 cents a share. Organic revenue growth, which measures sales excluding currency fluctuations and acquisitions and divestitures, was 8 percent, Aon also reported.

Aon Corp. (AOC) said it's considering strategic options for its Combined Insurance Company of America (CICA) business. That could include a sale or a spin off to shareholders, Greg Case, Aon's chief executive, said in a statement. "We are making preparations for a spin-off of the company to our shareholders, but we anticipate receiving inquiries from potential buyers and are prepared to respond accordingly," Case explained. CICA and its subsidiaries, including Sterling Life Insurance Company, provide accident, health and life insurance coverage, mainly through more than 7,000 agents. Aon said it has hired Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch and Aon Capital Markets to advise on any deal.

AvalonBay Communities Inc.'s (AVB) second-quarter net income fell 24 percent to $51.1 million, or 61 cents a share, from $67 million, or 86 cents a share, a year earlier. Year-ago earnings include gains from sales of land and communities, the Alexandria, Va., real estate investment trust said. Funds from operations increased 26 percent to $94 million, or $1.17 a share, from $74.9 million, or 99 cents a share, a year ago. Total revenue increased 12 percent to $400.2 million from $357.6 million a year ago, the company said.

Biopharmaceutical firm Cephalon Inc. (CEPH) reported a second-quarter loss of $4.3 million, or 6 cents a share, vs. a gain of $50.4 million, or 76 cents a share, for the same period a year ago. Revenue for the Frazer, Pa.-based company was $447.2 million vs. last year's $440.1 million. The creation of a settlement reserve of $56 million for pending litigation, plus new accounting rules cut into income. Without them the company would have reported earnings of 93 cents a share.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.'s (CMG) (CMGB) second-quarter net income jumped 85 percent to $20 million, or 60 cents a share, from $10.8 million, or 33 cents a share, a year earlier, due to more new stores and higher menu prices. The Denver restaurant chain said revenue increased 34 percent to $274.3 million from $204.9 million as comparable restaurant sales grew 11.6 percent.

Crown Castle International Corp.'s (CCI) second-quarter net loss widened to $32.7 million, or 13 cents a share, from a year-earlier loss of $13.3 million, or 9 cents a share, on fewer shares outstanding. The Houston-based wireless and broadcast transmission service company's revenue grew nearly 77 percent to $342.9 million, from $193.8 million a year earlier, partly because of the January merger of Global Signal Inc. with Crown Castle.

Dow Jones & Co.'s (DJ) sale to Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. (NWS) appeared all but certain, as more than half the total voting stock in the hands of Dow Jones' controlling Bancroft family now supports the deal, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Box-office revenue from "Shrek The Third" helped quadruple second-quarter net income for DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (DWA) to $61.8 million, or 60 cents a share, compared with $13.7 million, or 13 cents a share, for the same period a year ago, the company said after the close Tuesday. Sales for the Glendale, Calif.-based animation studio were $222.5 million vs. last year's $74.9 million.

Dresser-Rand Group Inc.'s (DRC) second-quarter earnings more than doubled to $26.2 million, or 31 cents a share, from $10.7 million, or 13 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue grew 4 percent to $441.2 million from $424 million a year ago. The Olean, N.Y., maker of rotating equipment for the gas and oil industries said net income included a $4.2 million provision for litigation and related interest and a $2.3 million charge related to a change in an accounting estimate for workers' compensation.

Endurance Specialty Holdings Ltd. (ENH) said that second-quarter net income came in at $135 million, more than double a year ago when the reinsurer made $64 million. Net income available to common shareholders was $131.5 million, or $1.85 a share. Operating income, which excludes after-tax realized investment gains and losses and foreign exchange gains and losses, was $141.2 million, or $1.94 per common share, Endurance also reported.

Energen Corp. (EGN) said its oil and gas exploration and production subsidiary, Energen Resources Corp., has increased its 2008 hedge position to 62 percent of its total estimated production of 98 billion cubic feet equivalent. The company also said that Energen Resources has begun hedging its 2009 natural gas and oil production.

General Growth Properties Inc. (GGP) said it swung to a second-quarter net profit of $8.39 million, or 3 cents a share, from a net loss of $25.8 million, or 11 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Funds from operations came in at $210.3 million, or 71 cents a share, compared with $182 million, or 62 cents a share, last year. The Chicago-based real estate investment trust said revenue in three months ended June 30 rose to $740.1 million from $709.8 million in the comparable period a year ago.

Healthspring Inc.'s (HS) second-quarter earnings fell 23 percent to $16.2 million, or 28 cents a share, from $21.1 million, or 37 cents a share, a year earlier. The latest quarter includes a charge of 5 cents a share for the impairment of intangible assets. The Nashville managed-care company said total revenue increased 14 percent to $368.2 million from $322.8 million.

Hutchinson Technology Inc. (HTCH) swung to a third-quarter loss of $13.5 million, or 52 cents a share, from a year-earlier net income of $6.2 million, or 23 cents a share, as revenue fell 7.8 percent. The loss includes $8.73 million in pretax severance charges. The Hutchinson, Minn., disk drive suspension assembly maker's revenue dropped to $156.7 million from $170 million in the year-ago period.

Lincoln National Corp. (LNC) said that second-quarter net income came in at $376 million, or $1.37 a share, up 8 percent from a year earlier when the annuity specialist made $349 million, or $1.23 a share. Income from operations for the second quarter was $386.7 million, or $1.41 a share.

MetLife Inc. (MET) said that second-quarter net income came in at $1.16 billion, up 79 percent from a year earlier when the life insurance and annuity giant made $650 million. Net income available to common shareholders was $1.13 billion, or $1.48 a share. Operating earnings, which exclude net realized investment gains and losses, were $1.31 billion, or $1.72 per common share, the company also reported.

Millipore Corp.'s (MIL) second-quarter net income fell slightly to $28.4 million, or 52 cents a share, from $29.1 million, or 54 cents a share, a year earlier. Net income for the most recent period included stock-based compensation expense of $4.3 million. Revenue for the Billerica, Mass., bioprocess and biosciences products company jumped 40 percent to $383.2 million from $273.8 million in the year-ago period, boosted by strong results in its bioprocess unit.

Navteq Corp.'s (NVT) second-quarter net income rose 72 percent to $40.9 million, or 41 cents a share, from $23.8 million, or 25 cents a share, a year earlier. The Chicago provider of digital map information for automotive navigation systems said revenue rose 49 percent to $202.3 million from $135.9 million.

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RNR) said that second-quarter net income came in at $193.7 million, up 39 percent from a year earlier when the catastrophe reinsurance specialist made $139.1 million. Operating earnings, which exclude net realized investment gains and losses, were $194.7 million, or $2.69 per common share, the company also reported.

Ruth's Chris Steak House Inc.'s (RUTH) second-quarter net income rose 12 percent to $5.44 million, or 23 cents a share, from $4.9 million, or 21 cents a share, a year earlier on growth from newly opened restaurants. The Heathrow, Fla., restaurant chain opened new locations in Anaheim, Calif., and Biloxi, Miss. Revenue increased 30 percent to $78.4 million from $60.5 million a year ago, while same-restaurant sales increased 1 percent on a calendar basis, the company said.

SiRF Technology Holdings Inc. (SIRF) reported a fiscal second-quarter profit of $2.1 million, or 4 cents a share, on revenue of $70.6 million. During the same period a year ago, the maker of GPS chip technology earned $1.7 million, or 3 cents a share, on $57.2 million in sales.

Sun-Times Media Group Inc. (SVN) settled securities class action lawsuits against it and a number of its former directors and officers and settled litigation over its directors and officers insurance coverage. Sun-Times, a New York-based newspaper publisher, said the agreements are subject to court approval in the U.S. and Canada. The securities lawsuits alleged that from 1999 to 2003, Sun-Times, its auditor KPMG LLP and others breached U.S. and/or Canadian law by making misleading disclosures and omissions regarding non-competition payments and the payment of allegedly excessive management fees.

Southwestern Energy Co.'s (SWN) second-quarter net income grew 29 percent to $47.6 million, or 28 cents a share, from $37 million, or 22 cents a share, a year earlier, as revenue rose 75 percent. The Houston natural gas company's revenue climbed to $270.1 million from $154 million in the year-ago period.

Tupperware Brands (TUP) said that second-quarter net income for the consumer-goods company was $35.5 million, or 56 cents a share, compared with $25.2 million, or 41 cents a share, for the same period a year ago. Sales for the Orlando, Fla.-based company were $492.9 million vs. last year's $438.6 million. The company said adjusted net income, also excluding a one-time gain, was 54 cents a share.

WebMD Health Corp. (WBMD) said it swung to a second-quarter net profit of $5.39 million, or 9 cents a share, from a net loss of $853,000, or 2 cents a share, during the year-ago period. The New York-based provider of health-information services said revenue for the three months ended June 30 rose to $78.5 million from $56.6 million last year.

Wright Medical Group Inc. (WMGI) swung to a second-quarter loss of $2.09 million, or 6 cents a share, from a profit of $2.75 million, or 8 cents a share, a year earlier. Net income from the second quarter of 2006 included the after-tax effect of about $3.1 million in non-cash stock-based compensation expenses. The Arlington, Tenn.-based joint implant maker's net sales rose 12 percent to $98 million from $87.5 million in the year-ago period.