Stocks to Watch, Feb. 22: Whole Foods, H&R Block, Intuit

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trading in Thursday's session are Whole Foods Markets Inc., H&R Block Inc., and Intuit Inc.

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Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK) is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of 77 cents a share, according to a survey of analysts by Thomson Financial.

Ensco International Inc. (ESV) is expected to post earnings of $1.29 for the fourth quarter.

H&R Block (HRB) is expected to report third-quarter earnings of 12 cents a share.

Intuit (INTU) is expected to post earnings of 42 cents a share for the second quarter.

JCPenney Inc. (JCP) is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of $1.97 a share.

KeySpan Corp. (KSE) is expected to post earnings of 72 cents a share for the fourth quarter.

PG&E Corp. (PCG) is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of 44 cents a share.

Safeway Inc. (SWY) is expected to post earnings of 60 cents for the fourth quarter.

Sempra Energy (SRE) is expected to report fourth-quarter earnings of $1.20 a share.

Williams Cos. (WMB) is expected to post earnings of 26 cents a share for the fourth quarter.

After Wednesday's closing bell, Whole Foods (WFMI) said it has agreed to acquire smaller rival Wild Oats Markets Inc. (OATS) for about $565 million, as it grapples with competition from larger conventional supermarkets.

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Teen-wear retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) said its fourth-quarter profit surged 20 percent but warned that results in the first half of the fiscal year would be pressured. New Albany, Ohio-based Abercrombie & Fitch said it made $198.2 million, or $2.14 a share, compared with last year's income of $164.6 million, or $1.80 a share. Total sales climbed 18 percent to $1.14 billion while same-store sales dropped 3 percent.

Agnico-Eagle Mines Ltd. (AEM) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $41.9 million, or 35 cents a share, up from $11.7 million, or 13 cents a share, in the fourth quarter of 2005. The Toronto-based gold producer said revenue in the three months ended Dec. 31 rose to $138.4 million from $71.4 million.

Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) said its quarterly profit rose 26 percent from a year ago as it sold more microchips used in industrial equipment and consumer electronics. Analog Devices said fiscal first quarter net income was $153 million, or 44 cents, compared with net income of $121 million, or 32 cents a share, in last year's period. Sales rose 6 percent to $692 million for the three months ended Feb. 3 — topping Wall Street's forecast of $652 million, according to Thomson Financial.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CLF) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $83.7 million, up from $66.1 million last year. Income available to common shareholders came in at $82.3 million, or $1.59 per share, compared with $64.7 million, or $1.18 a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue at the Cleveland, Ohio-based iron ore pellet producer rose to $622.6 million from $468.9 million.

Compass Bancshares Inc. (CBSS) said it is raising its quarterly cash dividend 10 percent to 43 cents a share. The dividend is payable April 2 to shareholders of record as of March 15, the Birmingham, Ala.-based financial holding company said.

Dow Jones & Co. (DJ) plans to name M. Peter McPherson chairman during its annual shareholder meeting on April 18, replacing Peter R. Kann, who is retiring.

G-III Apparel Group Ltd. (GIII) said it expects fiscal 2007 earnings of 90 cents to 95 cents a share on revenue of $425 million to $428 million.

General Maritime Corp.'s (GMR) fourth-quarter net income fell 79 percent to $22.4 million, or 71 cents a share, from $104.6 million, or $2.78 a share, a year earlier, hurt by lower spot charter rates and a smaller fleet. The New York marine crude-oil transportation services company's net voyage revenue fell 56 percent to $52.6 million from $120.8 million a year earlier.

HealthSpring Inc.'s (HS) fourth-quarter net income rose to $20.1 million from $7.99 million a year earlier. Per-share earnings rose to 35 cents from 10 cents a year ago, which included a $4.85 million preferred dividend. The Nashville, Tenn., provider of prescription-drug plans said revenue rose to $335.7 million from $246.1 million. The company still expects 2007 earnings between $1.55 and $1.65 a share on revenue between $1.5 billion and $1.6 billion.

Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co. (HRH) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $21.4 million, or 59 cents a share, up from $19.5 million, or 54 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue at the Richmond, Va.-based insurance and risk management intermediary climbed to $175.5 million from $164 million

Standard & Poor's will add Monarch Casino & Resort Inc. (MCRI) to the S&P SmallCap 600 index on a date to be announced, replacing Advo Inc. (AD) .

Moscow CableCom Corp. (MOCC) and Renova Media Enterprises Ltd. said late Wednesday they have entered into a merger agreement whereby Renova would acquire the equity interest in Moscow CableCom that it does not already own for $12.90 a share, and an equivalent as-converted price for Moscow CableCom's Series A convertible preferred stock.

PDL BioPharma Inc. (PDLI) reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $89.7 million, or 78 cents a share, widening from $34.1 million, or 31 cents a share, in the same quarter last year. The results included a $72.1 million asset impairment charge related to Retavase. Excluding one-time items, the Fremont, Calif.-based biopharmaceutical company posted a per-share profit of 5 cents a share. Revenue climbed to $107.8 million from $83.7 million. For 2007, PDL forecast earnings of 38 cents to 54 cents a share on revenue of $450 million to $500 million. Wall Street is currently forecasting per-share earnings of 64 cents on revenue of $495.7 million.

Quicksilver Resources Inc. (KWK) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $19.7 million, or 24 cents a share, down from $34.7 million, or 43 cents a share, during the year-ago period. The Fort Worth, Texas-based oil and gas company posted total revenue of $102 million vs. $102.9 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had forecast fourth-quarter earnings of 27 cents a share on revenue of $104 million.
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