Stocks to Watch, Feb. 1: CA, Google and Dell

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Thursday's session are CA Inc., Google Inc. and Dell Inc.

Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) is expected to report earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 21 cents, according to analysts polled by Thomson Financial.

Anheuser-Busch Cos. (BUD) is expected to post fourth-quarter per-share income of 25 cents.

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Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX) is expected to report income of 11 cents per share for the fourth quarter.

CA (CA) is expected to post third-quarter income of 21 cents per share.

Clorox Co. (CLX) is expected to report second-quarter earnings per share of 50 cents.

Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS) is expected to post third-quarter per-share income of 57 cents.

Goodrich Corp. (GR) is expected to report earnings per share of 67 cents for the fourth quarter.

Monster Worldwide Inc. (MNST) is expected to post fourth-quarter income of 33 cents per share.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (HOT) is expected to post fourth-quarter per-share income of 73 cents.

After Wednesday's closing bell, Google (GOOG) reported fourth-quarter profit nearly tripled, while sales rose 67 percent, as the No. 1 Internet search engine captured a greater share of online ad spending.

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Alliance Data Systems Corp. (ADS) said fourth-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $39.6 million, or 48 cents a share, from $31.3 million, or 38 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.

Applebee's International Inc. (APPB) said its January system-wide domestic sales at restaurants open at least one year fell 5.8percent. Comparable sales for domestic franchise restaurants decreased 5.5percent for the four-week period ended Jan. 28.

Armor Holdings Inc. (AH) said fourth-quarter net income rose to $37.8 million, or $1.02 a share, from $37.6 million, of $1.04 a share, during the same period in the prior year.

Concur Technologies Inc. (CNQR) reported first-quarter net earnings of $993,000, or 2 cents a share, up 53percent from $648,000, or 2 cents a share, during the year-ago period. There were 40.2 million shares outstanding during the quarter compared with 36.5 million a year ago.

Dell (DELL) said it has named company founder Michael Dell chief executive effective immediately, to replace Kevin Rollins. The Round Rock, Texas, computer company said Dell will retain his duties as chairman.

Duke Realty Corp. (DRE) said fourth-quarter net income for shareholders rose to $55 million, or 37 cents a share, from $33.1 million, or 22 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year, as revenues from continuing operations gained.

Equifax Inc. (EFX) said fourth-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $63.1 million, or 50 cents a share, from $62.8 million, or 48 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. The Atlanta company sees 2007 revenue growth of 6percent to 10 percent, with per-share income of $2.15 to $2.23.

Fiserv Inc. (FISV) posted fourth-quarter net income of $105.9 million, or 61 cents a share, compared with $150.5 million, or 81 cents a share, during the same period one year ago.

Furniture Brands International Inc. (FBN) said its fourth-quarter net earnings dropped to $2.06 million, or 4 cents a share, from $17.1 million, or 34 cents a share, in the same period last year, as sales decreased and costs of sales and expenses rose.

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD) swung to a fourth-quarter loss of $1.67 billion, or $3.62 a share. In the same period the year before, the company posted net earnings of $281.6 million, or 59 cents a share.

Group 1 Automotive Inc. (GPI) said it has acquired the Baron Automotive Group in Kansas City, Kan. The acquisition consists of two dealerships, Baron BMW/Mini and Baron Volkswagen, and is expected to generate about $123 million in estimated annual revenue.

Hercules Inc. (HPC) said net income for the fourth quarter swung to a profit of $242.1 million, or $2.14 a share. In the same period last year, the company posted a net loss of $79.2 million, or 73 cents a share.

Murphy Oil Corp. (MUR) said fourth-quarter net income plummeted 43 percent from the year-ago, hurt by lower margins, weaker exploration and production figures and rising costs.

NuCO2 Inc. (NUCO) said its second-quarter net earnings dropped to $1.38 million, or 9 cents a share, from $2.64 million, or 17 cents a share, in the same period last year, due to higher expenses.

Oshkosh Truck Corp. (OSK) said its JLG Industries Inc. subsidiary was awarded a $102.2 million contract by the Army for the purchase of military telescopic material handlers.

Pulte Homes Inc. (PHM) reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $8.41 million, or 3 cents a share. During the same period a year ago, the company posted net earnings of $574.5 million, or $2.19 a share. The loss from continuing operations was $8.3 million, or 3 cents a share.

Silgan Holdings Inc. (SLGN) said fourth-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $20.8 million, or 55 cents a share, from $14 million, or 37 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.

Sirf Technology Holdings Ltd. (SIRF) found itself in the tech-sector spotlight as its shares surged as much as 25 percent in afternoon trading after the company said it anticipates growing consumer demand for more wireless devices that offer global positions system capabilities.

Sonic Corp. (SONC) said its board has increased the amount available under the company's stock repurchase plan to $100 million from $10.7 million.

Spherion Corp. (SFN) said fourth-quarter net income rose, as the company gained $30 million from discontinued operations, to $39.8 million, or 70 cents a share, from $6.34 million, or 10 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.

SRA International Inc. (SRX) reported second-quarter net earnings of $16.7 million, or 29 cents a share, compared with $15.9 million, or 28 cents a share, in the same period the prior year, on the back of higher revenue.

Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) said fiscal first-quarter net income rose to $205 million, or 26 cents a share, from $174.2 million, or 22 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Same-store sales rose 6 percent in the quarter ended Dec. 31.

Tighter refining margins and weak heating-oil demand knocked the air out of Sunoco Inc.'s (SUN) fourth-quarter results, leaving the independent East Coast refiner with less than half the profit it racked up a year ago.

SunOpta Inc. (STKL) said it has agreed to sell 4.5 million shares at $10.40 each in an underwritten offering to a group of underwriters led by Canaccord Adams.

Tractor Supply Co. (TSCO) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $29.5 million, or 72 cents a share, compared with $30.9 million, or 75 cents a share, in the same period last year, as expenses rose.

U.S. Bancorp (USB) said that it priced a private placement of $3 billion in floating rate convertible senior debentures due 2037. The company will use part of the offering's net proceeds to fund repurchases of up to 14 million shares, and the remainder for general corporate purposes.

VeriSign Inc. (VRSN) posted fourth-quarter total revenue of $412.6 million, compared with $389.1 million during the year-ago period. The company did not report full results due to the previously announced review of its historical stock option grants, which it said is now substantially completed.

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