Stocks to Watch, Feb. 12: Yum Brands, Lions Gate Entertainment, Cephalon

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Monday's session are Yum Brands Inc., Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. and Cephalon Inc.

American Financial Group Inc. (AFG) is expected to report earnings per share of 81 cents for the fourth quarter, according to analysts polled by Thomson Financial.

Arch Chemicals Inc. (ARJ) is expected to report a fourth-quarter per-share loss of 9 cents.

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Brown & Brown Inc. (BRO) is expected to report income of 27 cents per share for the fourth quarter.

Cephalon (CEPH) is expected to post fourth-quarter earnings of 91 cents per share.

Charles River Laboratories International Inc. (CRL) is expected to post earnings per share of 58 cents for the fourth quarter.

Ecolab Inc. (ECL) is expected to post fourth-quarter per-share earnings of 34 cents.

LCA-Vision Inc. (LCAV) is expected to report fourth-quarter per-share income of 25 cents.

Loews Corp. (LTR) is expected to report earnings of 98 cents per share for the fourth quarter.

Max Re Capital Ltd. (MXRE) is expected to post earnings per share of 91 cents for the fourth quarter.

Yum (YUM) is expected to report fourth-quarter income of 79 cents per share.

After Friday's closing bell, Lions Gate (LGF) reported third-quarter net earnings of $20.5 million, or 17 cents a share, compared with $3.14 million, or 3 cents a share, in the same period last year, driven by revenue from the company's "Saw III" and "Employee of the Month" films.

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Asta Funding Inc. (ASFI) said it has agreed to acquire a portfolio with a face value of $6.9 billion for a purchase price of $300 million. Asta said the portfolio is made up of primarily credit card accounts.

Building Materials Holding Corp. (BLG) said its subsidiary, SelectBuild Construction, has terminated its letter of intent to acquire Willis Roof Consulting Inc.

China BAK Battery Inc. (CBAK) reported fiscal first-quarter net earnings of $3.58 million, or 7 cents a share, up from $3.19 million, or 7 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue in the three months ended Dec. 31 rose to $43.1 million from $26.1 million.

Collectors Universe Inc. (CLCT) said it swung to a net loss in the second-quarter of $100,000, or a penny a share, as the company further invested in its diamond grading business. During the same period in the prior year, net income was $735,000, or 8 cents a share.

Eddie Bauer Holdings Inc. (EBHI) said its President and Chief Executive Fabian Mansson has resigned. The apparel retailer said Howard Gross, a member of the board, has been named interim CEO.

ElkCorp (ELK) and Building Materials Corp. of America said they have entered into a definitive agreement under which a BMCA affiliate will buy all of ElkCorp's outstanding shares for $43.50 a share in cash.

IHOP Corp. (IHP) said registrations have lapsed for certain federal trademark and service mark registrations on file with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The restaurant operator said its Uniform Franchise Offering Circular must be revised due to the lapsing, and that only certain franchise agreements entered into during and after November 2000 were affected.

MAIR Holdings Inc.'s (MAIR) Mesaba Aviation Inc. unit said January traffic fell 67.8 percent to 38.7 million from 120.2 million revenue passenger miles during the same period in the prior year. The carrier said monthly capacity declined to 72.8 million from 191.2 million available seat miles. January's load factor, or the percentage of a plane filled with passengers, was 53.2 percent, compared with 62.9 percent in the prior year.

MTC Technologies Inc. (MTCT) said it now expects 2006 earnings of $1.19 to $1.20 a share on revenue of $414 million to $416 million. The Dayton, Ohio-based defense company had previously forecast per-share earnings of $1.23 to $1.30 on revenue of $405 million to $420 million for the year.

Municipal Mortgage & Equity LLC (MMA) said it knows of no reason why recent trading in the stock has resulted in a decrease in price. Since Monday, shares of the real estate debt and equity financing concern have dropped almost 15 percent. MuniMae management noted that it is not engaged in sub-prime or any other single family mortgage lending activities, and that its outlook for the multifamily rental sector is positive.

Ryder System Inc. (R) said its board has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 21 cents per share, up 17 percent from the prior dividend of 18 cents. The transportation services company said the dividend is payable March 16 to shareholders as of Feb. 20.

SimpleTech Inc. (STEC) said it plans to changed its corporate name following the divestiture of its consumer division to "STEC Inc." STEC completed the sale of its consumer division for $43 million, and the assumption of $13.6 million in liabilities.

Univision Communications Inc. (UVN) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $99.7 million, or 29 cents a share, compared with $27.4 million, or 8 cents a share, in the same period last year, boosted by strong television revenue.

Wood products company Weyerhaeuser Co. (WY) CEO Steven Rogel said the company is analyzing "alternative structures" for its timberlands business as it tries to makes sure that the value of its forested land is fully reflected in the company's stock price.

Zimmer Holdings Inc. (ZMH) said it has agreed to acquire Endius, a privately held developer of spine surgery products, implants and other techniques to treat spine disease. Financial terms of the cash transaction weren't disclosed.

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