Stocks to Watch, May 25: Big Lots and Chico's FAS

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Thursday's session are Big Lots Inc., Chico's FAS Inc. and Credence Systems Corp.

Big Lots (BLI) is expected to post first-quarter per-share income of 5 cents, according to analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call.

Brown Shoe Co. (BWS) is seen reporting per-share income for the first quarter of 32 cents.

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Chico's FAS (CHS) could report earnings per share for the first quarter of 29 cents.

Credence Systems Corp. (CMOS) is expected to report second-quarter revenue of $126 million.

Flowers Foods (FLO) is seen posting first-quarter per share income of 33 cents.

Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL) may report earnings per share for the second quarter of 45 cents.

Joy Global Inc. (JOYG) is seen posting second-quarter per-share income of 53 cents.

Patterson Dental (PDCO) is seen reporting per-share income of 41 cents for the fourth quarter.

Sanderson Farms Inc. (SAFM) could post a per-share loss of 47 cents for the second quarter.

Toro Co. (TTC) is expected to report second-quarter per-share income of $1.50.

United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) may post third-quarter earnings per share of 28 cents.

After Wednesday's closing bell, Network Appliance (NTAP) said its fiscal fourth-quarter profit fell slightly from a year ago as the storage-technology company recorded a one-time tax expense due to the repatriating of profits earned outside the United States. See After Hours column.

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Blue Coat Systems Inc. (BCSI) said a charge, among other items, related to the acquisition of Permeo Technologies Inc. caused the company to swing to a fourth-quarter net loss of $2.61 million, or 19 cents a share. For the same period in the prior year, the company reported net income of $2.82 million, or 21 cents a share.

Coldwater Creek Inc. (CWTR) reported first-quarter net earnings of $11.6 million, or 12 cents a share, up 36% from $8.49 million, or 9 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 38% to $215.3 million from $155.6 million.

Finlay Enterprises Inc. (FNLY) said its licensing agreement with Federated Department Stores Inc.'s (FD) Bloomingdale's has been extended by three years, through January 2010.

H.J. Heinz Co. (HNZ) directors criticized a reorganization plan presented earlier this week by Nelson Peltz and rejected the activist investor's request for representation on the ketchup and bean company's board.

JLG Industries Inc. (JLG) said third-quarter net income was $46.2 million, or 43 cents a share, compared with $22.7 million, or 24 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year, boosted by an 8-cent-per-share gain from the sale of its excavator business.

Limited Brands Inc. (LTD) named Ken Stevens chief financial officer. Stevens was most recently chief executive of the Columbus, Ohio-based company's Express division.

Michaels Stores Inc. (MIK) reported first-quarter net earnings of $50.6 million, or 38 cents a share. In the same period last year, the Irving, Texas-based arts and crafts retailer reported a net loss of $35.9 million, or 26 cents a share. Revenue rose 1.4% to $832.5 million from $821 million.

Opsware Inc. (OPSW) said non-cash charges relating to acquisitions widened the first-quarter net loss to $5.8 million, or 6 cents a share, from a net loss of $5.13 million, or 5 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. The software company reported quarterly revenue of $22 million, up from $12.6 million.

Petco Animal Supplies Inc. (PETC) said first-quarter net income, lowered $3.1 million by after-tax equity-based compensation expenses, was $11 million, or 19 cents a share, compared with $17.2 million, or 29 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. First-quarter revenue reached $521 million, up from $479.6 million.

Ryland Group Inc. (RYL) said second-quarter home sales are currently running 35% lower than last year, and cut its 2006 earnings forecast to a range of $8.50 to $9 a share. Ryland also forecast second-quarter earnings of $1.95 to $2 a share.

Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. (SIRI) said it still expects to have more than 6.2 million subscribers by the end of 2006, an 87% increase over its subscriber base at the end of 2005.

TiVo Inc. (TIVO) Chief Executive Tom Rogers told analysts on a conference call that the company is confident that it will prevail in a patent infringement lawsuit against satellite provider EchoStar Communications Corp. (DISH) . Also, TiVo said its first-quarter loss widened from that of a year ago on costs associated with its lawsuit against EchoStar, reduced prices and the expensing of stock options. The company said it lost $10.7 million, or 13 cents a share, compared with a loss of $857,000, or 1 cent a share, in the prior year.

Supervalu Inc. (SVU) said its board has approved raising the annual dividend, which will increase the quarterly dividend 1.5% to 16.5 cents a share from 16.25 cents a share.

The9 Ltd. (NCTY) reported first-quarter net earnings of 58.8 million yuan ($7.3 millon), or 2.42 yuan (30 cents) per American Depositary Share. In the same period last year, the company reported a net loss of 10.5 million yuan, or 0.43 yuan per ADS.

URS Corp. (URS) said it has been awarded one of 20 indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contracts to provide engineering and construction services at Air Force bases worldwide. The current ceiling for the total contract is $6 billion, with the potential to increase to up to $15 billion.

UTStarcom Inc. (UTSI) said a restatement will reduce its previously reported earnings for fiscal 2003, 2004 and the first three quarters of 2005 by $11.8 million and reduce revenue by $49.6 million. The Alameda, Calif.-based company said the restatement is necessary following an internal investigation into the premature recognition of revenue.

WMS Industries Inc. (WMS) said it has agreed to acquire privately held Orion Financement Co. for 24 million euros ($30.5 million) in cash and stock.