Stocks to Watch: Jabil Circuit, Accenture, and Cognos

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are likely to see active trade in Friday's session are Jabil Circuit Inc., Accenture Ltd. and Cognos Inc.

Accenture Ltd.'s (ACN) fiscal fourth-quarter net income fell to 8.6 percent to $316.8 million, or 50 cents a share, from $346.4 million, or 56 cents a share, a year earlier. The number of outstanding shares fell to 846.9 million from 881 million. The management consulting and outsourcing company said revenue climbed 27 percent to $5.57 billion from $4.39 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of 48 cents a share on revenue of $4.89 billion. Gross margin was 31.2 percent, down from 34.1 percent a year earlier. Accenture expects fiscal first-quarter revenue of $5.4 billion to $5.6 billion.

American International Group Inc. (AIG) said its integration of 21st Century Insurance Group with one of its subsidiaries will result in the elimination of positions and office closures, affecting 11 percent of the combined operation's workforce. The insurance giant said that a substantial portion of the two-year process for the new Aigdirect.com operations will take place in 2008.

Christopher & Banks Corp.'s (CBK) fiscal second-quarter net income fell 57 percent to $3.39 million, or 9 cents a share. Results included 4 cents a share in charges related to the departure of the company's chief executive. Sales at the women's apparel retailer rose to $141.1 million from $131.6 million. Same-store sales increased 3 percent. Analysts expected per-share earnings of 8 cents and revenue of $142 million, including charges related to the CEO's departure. Christopher & Banks expects fiscal third-quarter earnings of 22 cents to 24 cents a share, and fourth-quarter earnings of 6 cents to 8 cents a share.

Cintas Corp. (CTAS) reported fiscal first-quarter net earnings of $81.1 million, or 51 cents a share, compared with $85 million, or 53 cents a share, a year ago. Revenue at the uniform supplier rose 6 percent to $969.1 million. Wall Street was looking for earnings of 53 cents a share on sales of $973 million. Cintas reiterated its full-year revenue outlook of $3.9 billion to $4.1 billion, and its earnings view of $2.15 to $2.25 a share. Cintas also said it has acquired Certo Information Management, a privately held document shredding and storage company in the Netherlands. Terms weren't disclosed.

Cognos Inc.'s (COGN) earnings rose nearly 12 percent in its fiscal second quarter, slightly beating Wall Street's expectations. The business software maker reported earnings of $26.5 million, or 31 cents a share. Earnings on a pro forma basis was $34.7 million, or 40 cents a share. Revenue rose 10 percent to $252.4 million. Analysts were expecting earnings of 38 cents a share on revenue of $250.8 million. The company also said it plans to buy back up to $200 million worth of stock by October of 2008.

Finish Line Inc. (FINL) swung to a fiscal second-quarter loss of $1.8 million, or 4 cents a share. The latest quarter's results include a charge of 17 cents a share for asset impairment, write-down of inventory and lease costs from the closure of 15 Paiva stores. The Indianapolis retailer said sales increased 1.3 percent to $343 million. while same-store sales declined 4.7 percent. Analysts expected earnings of 13 cents a share on revenue of $345 million.

Focus Media Holding Ltd. (FMCN) reported second-quarter net earnings attributable to shareholders of $37.7 million, or 32 cents per American Depositary Share, compared with $16.7 million, or 16 cents per ADS, in the year-ago period. Earnings excluding certain items were $45.3 million, or 38 cents per ADS. Revenue at the China-based digital media company more than doubled to $113.3 million, from $50.1 million last year. Focus Media forecast third-quarter revenue of $132 million to $135 million, and adjusted earnings of 41 cents to 43 cents a share. Analysts currently expect earnings of 43 cents a share on revenue of $117 million.

It also raised its 2007 total revenue forecast to a range of $440 million to $450 million because of stronger-than-expected growth in its Internet advertising business.

Global Payments Inc.'s (GPN) fiscal first-quarter net income rose 5 percent to $43.6 million, or 53 cents a share, on growth in its merchant services segment. Excluding restructuring charges, earnings were 54 cents. Revenue jumped 20 percent to $311 million. Analysts had forecast earnings of 50 cents a share and revenue of $294.6 million. Global Payments expects 2008 earnings of $1.87 to $1.96 a share, excluding restructuring charges, and revenue of $1.2 billion to $1.25 billion.

Jabil Circuit Inc. (JBL) swung to a fiscal fourth-quarter profit of $11.7 million, or 6 cents a share. The electronics contract manufacturer said revenue rose slightly to $3.1 billion from $3 billion a year ago. Excluding one-time items, Jabil said earnings were $59.9 million, or 29 cents a share. By that measure, Jabil beat Wall Street's estimates for earnings of 28 cents a share on $3.01 billion in sales.

RealNetworks Inc. (RNWK) said it has agreed to acquire Game Trust Inc. Financial terms weren't disclosed. The acquisition of the New York-based casual games company is expected to close early in the fourth quarter

Saba Software Inc. (SABA) expects to post a fiscal first-quarter net loss of between 6 cents a share and 9 cents a share and a pro forma loss of 3 cents to breakeven on per-share basis. It forecast revenue of $25 million to $26 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected a loss of 1 cent a share on revenue of $26 million. Saba expects 2008 revenue of $110 million to $115 million, and earnings to range from loss of 7 cents a share to a profit of 3 cents a share. On a pro forma basis, Saba expects earnings of 15 cents a share to 25 cents a share. Saba will report actual results for the quarter on Oct. 4.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (TEVA) received approval to market generic versions of GlaxoSmithKline PLC's (GSK) Avandia, Avandamet and Avandaryl oral tablets late in the first quarter of 2012, after the companies settled a district court case. Financial terms of the settlement weren't disclosed.

Tibco Software Inc. (TEVA) said its fiscal third-quarter profit fell sharply from the same period a year earlier, due mainly to "an increase in expense" related to its acquisition of Spotfire Holdings Inc. Net income fell to $4.6 million, or 2 cents a share, compared with $11.3 million, or 5 cents a share, in the period a year earlier. Meanwhile, revenue rose to $135.1 million from $120.4 million. Excluding certain items, Tibco's earnings were 6 cents a share. Analysts had been anticipating earnings of 5 cents a share on $133 million in revenue.