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Stocks to Watch, Feb. 8: Aetna, Walt Disney

By MarketWatch
Published | Updated

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Thursday's session are Aetna Inc., Walt Disney Co. and EMC Corp.

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Aetna (AET) is expected to report earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 76 cents, according to analysts polled by Thomson Financial.

BMC Software Inc. (BMC) is expected to post third-quarter per-share income of 39 cents.

Broadcom Corp. (BRCM) is expected to report earnings of 31 cents a share for the fourth quarter.

Embarq Corp. (EQ) is expected to post income per share of $1.04 for the fourth quarter.

Express Scripts Inc. (ESRX) is expected to report per-share earnings of 97 cents for the fourth quarter.

Marriott International Inc. (MAR) is expected to report earnings per share of 49 cents for the fourth quarter.

PepsiCo (PEP) is expected to post per-share income of 72 cents for the fourth quarter.

Tribune Co. (TRB) is expected to report earnings per share of 61 cents for the fourth quarter.

Waste Management Inc. (WMI) is expected to post fourth-quarter per-share income of 46 cents.

After Wednesday's closing bell, Disney (DIS) said it more than doubled its first-quarter earnings, as the entertainment giant also reported that sales climbed more than 10 percent.

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Activision Inc. (ATVI) reported a strong jump in earnings for the December quarter thanks to strong sales of its video game titles that include the popular "Guitar Hero" and "Call of Duty" franchises.

Akamai Technologies Inc. (AKAM) said fourth-quarter net income fell, as costs and expenses rose, to $20.6 million or 12 cents a share, from $25.8 million, or 16 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. Before items, quarterly per-share income rose to 27 cents from 16 cents in the prior year.

Alcon Inc. (ACL) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $354.7 million, or $1.16 a share, compared with $60.7 million, or 19 cents a share, during the same quarter a year ago. Results from the year-ago period included $207.7 million in after-tax charges, or 66 cents a share.

Alkermes Inc. (ALKS) reported that net income for its fiscal third-quarter rose to $2.9 million, or 3 cents a share, from $1.4 million, or 1 cent a share, for the same quarter last year. Excluding certain items, Alkermes would have reported adjusted earnings of 11 cents a share.

American Eagle Outfitters (AEOS) turned in better-than-expected January results driven by strong sales of trendy assortments of the AE brands and raised its earnings forecast. The teen-wear retailer said same-store sales surged 17 percent on top of last January's robust 9 percent gain. At Thomson Financial, analysts had pegged a same-store sales estimate of 10.9 percent.

Central Garden & Pet Co. (CENT) reported first-quarter net earnings of $2.97 billion, or 12 cents a share. During the same quarter a year ago, the company posted net earnings of $2.56 million, or 12 cents a share. On a post-dividend basis, the per-share loss was 4 cents, compared with a per-share profit of 4 cents a year ago.

Citi Trends Inc. (CTRN) said comparable store sales for the five weeks ended Feb. 3 rose 3.2 percent. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had expected growth of 0.2 percent. The apparel retailer said total January sales increased to $36.2 million from $20.9 million during the same period in the prior year.

Electronic Data Systems Corp. (EDS) said fourth-quarter profit nearly doubled, while revenue grew 11 percent. Computer services giant EDS said its net income for the quarter ended Dec. 31 rose to $217 million, or 40 cents a share, from $112 million, or 21 cents, a year earlier.

EMC (EMC) said it would sell off a 10 percent stake in VMware, its virtualization technology software business, in a public offering that will leave the storage-technology giant retaining ownership over the rest of the subsidiary.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) named a new general counsel to take the place of Ann Baskins, who resigned from the technology giant last fall during the company's corporate spying scandal.

Hot Topic Inc. (HOTT) said its January sales at stores open at least a year fell 6.6 percent vs. a 0.7 percent fall in the same month last year. Analysts, on average, had expected the teen retailer to post a same-store-sales drop of 6.1 percent, according to Thomson Financial.

Jack Henry & Associates Inc. (JKHY) reported second-quarter net earnings of $27.8 million, or 30 cents a share, up 28 percent from $21.6 million, or 23 cents a share, during the year-ago period.

Johnson & Johnson's (JNJ) Centocor Inc. unit said data published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis receiving subcutaneous injections of the company's CNTO 1275 experienced "significant clearance" of skin disease.

LodgeNet Entertainment Corp. (LNET) said its fourth-quarter net loss narrowed to $122,000, or 1 cent a share, compared with $2.29 million, or 13 cents a share, in the same period last year, boosted by higher revenue.

Nautilus Inc. (NLS) said fourth-quarter net income rose, as sales gained, to $12.9 million, or 41 cents a share, from $1.97 million, or 6 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year.

Pacer International Inc. (PACR) reported fourth-quarter net income of $21.5 million, or 57 cents a share, up from $20.4 million, or 54 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue for the three months ended Dec. 29 fell to $502 million from $503.8 million a year ago.

Pinnacle Airlines Inc. (PNCL) said traffic in January decreased 1.5 percent to 315 million revenue passenger miles. Load factor, or the percentage of a plane filled with passengers, fell 4 percentage points to 65 percent, while net capacity rose 4.5 percent to 484.5 million available seat miles.

Prudential Financial Inc. (PRU) reported fourth-quarter net earnings for its financial services businesses of $893 million, or $1.88 a share, compared with $377 million, or 78 cents a share, in the same period last year, as revenue rose.

Rambus Inc. (RMBS) shares rose 2.5 percent in after-hours trading. The chip interfaces designer said the Nasdaq will continue to list Rambus's shares pending a review by Nasdaq's Listing Council.

Select Comfort Corp. (SCSS) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $10.8 million, or 20 cents a share, compared with $15.8 million, or 28 cents a share, during the year-ago period.

Sina Corp. (SINA) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $11.7 million, or 20 cents a share, compared with $13.8 million, or 24 cents a share, in the same period last year, as non-advertising revenue fell and expenses rose.

Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc. (SHO) reported fourth-quarter net earnings available to shareholders of $6.6 million, or 11 cents a share, down 23 percent from $8.6 million, or 16 cents a share, during the year-ago period.

Willis Group Holdings Ltd. (WSH) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $148 million, or 94 cents a share, compared with $55 million, or 35 cents a share, in the same period last year, boosted by a $71 million tax credit.

Zumiez Inc. (ZUMZ) said its January sales at stores open at least one year rose 13 percent. Analysts, on average, had expected the retailer to post a same-store sales gain of 8.4 percent, according to Thomson Financial.

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