Stocks to Watch, Dec. 28: Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Sento and VCA Antech
SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Thursday's session are Sento Corp., Threshold Pharmaceuticals Inc. and VCA Antech Inc.
Watch List
Alcoa Inc. (AA ) said UAW Local 1050 has ratified a new 4-year labor agreement that covers about 830 employees at the company's Cleveland Works facility. The aluminum company said the UAW represented employees will return to work Jan. 2 after an 8-week strike.
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BioForm Medical Inc. said the Food and Drug Administration has approved Radiesse, a cosmetic dermal filler for the long-lasting correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds. Shares of BioForm's competitor, Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. (MRX) , which makes wrinkle-treatment Restylane, closed down 0.67 percent.
Champion Industries Inc. (CHMP) reported fiscal fourth-quarter net earnings of $1.97 million, or 20 cents a share, up from $569,000, or 6 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue in the three months ended Oct. 31 rose 6.6 percent to $37 million from $34.7 million.
Directed Electronics Inc. (DEIX) said Ronald Dutt, executive vice president for finance, operations and legal, will be appointed chief financial officer and treasurer, effective Jan. 2. The Vista, Calif.-based designer and marketer of home theater loudspeakers, said Dutt will succeed John Morberg, who is leaving the company.
ON Semiconductor Corp. (ONNN) said it has agreed to repurchase $70 million of its shares from TPG Semiconductor Holdings LLC and TPG ON Holdings LLC, which together are the company's largest stockholder.
Sento (SNTO) said it swung to a second-quarter net loss attributable to stockholders of $2.58 million, or 65 cents, due to higher costs of sales after the termination of a client program. In the same period last year, the Salt Lake City-based provider of call center services posted net earnings of $310,000, or 8 cents a share.
Standard & Poor's said First Cash Financial Services Inc. (FCFS) will replace Republic Bancorp Inc. (RBNC) in the SmallCap 600 index after the close of trading on Friday. Citizens Banking Corp. (CBCF) is acquiring Republic in a deal expected to close on or about that date.
Tapestry Pharmaceuticals Inc. (TPPH) named Donald Picker as president, effective Jan. 2. Picker was most recently executive vice president of research and development at Callisto Pharmaceuticals.
Threshold (THLD) said it is pleased with the results from the Phase 2 clinical trial of glufosfamide in combination with gemcitabine for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer. The cancer treatments developer said 21 percent of patients in the clinical trial had a partial response.
VCA Antech (WOOF) said it sees 2007 revenue of $1.05 billion to $1.08 billion. The operator of veterinary hospitals said it sees annual income of $109 million to $113 million, and per-share income of $1.27 to $1.31.
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