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

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.