Stocks to Watch: Sprint Nextel, Time Warner and Vonage Holdings

SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trading in Wednesday's trading are Sprint Nextel Corp., Time Warner Inc., and Vonage Holdings Corp.

Allergan Inc. (AGN) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 90 cents a share, according to a survey of analysts by Thomson Financial.

Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB) is expected to post earnings of 61 cents a share for the first quarter.

Cigna Corp. (CI) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of $2.52 a share.

Clorox Co. (CLX) is expected to post earnings of 78 cents a share for the third quarter.

Jones Apparel Group Inc. (JNY) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 60 cents a share.

MasterCard Inc. (MA) is expected to post earnings of $1.15 a share for the first quarter.

Sprint Nextel. (S) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 22 cents a share.

Symantec Corp. (SYMC) is expected to post earnings of 20 cents a share for the fourth quarter.

Time Warner (TWX) is expected to report first-quarter earnings of 20 cents a share.

VeriSign Inc. (VRSN) is expected to post earnings of 24 cents a share for the third quarter.

After Tuesday's closing bell, Vonage (VG) , the struggling Internet phone-service provider, is looking toward a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling to aid its patent fight against Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ).

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Affiliated Computer Services Inc. (ACS) late Tuesday said fiscal third-quarter net income rose 6.5 percent to $82.1 million, or 82 cents a share, from $77 million, or 61 cents a share, a year ago. The Dallas provider of outsourcing and information-technology services said both quarters included items. Revenue for the quarter ended March 31 rose 10 percent to $1.44 billion from $1.31 billion. On average, analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of 80 cents a share on revenue of $1.44 billion.

Allied Waste Industries Inc. (AW) reported that first-quarter net income of $39.9 million, or 8 cents a share, down from $41.2 million, or 8 cents a share, a year ago. The results include a one-time cost of 7 cents a share to refinance $750 million of debt. Income from continuing operations rose 13.9 percent to $235 million from $206 million. Revenue for the three months ended March 31 rose 2.4 percent to $1.46 billion from $1.42 billion.

Ameristar Casinos Inc.'s (ASCA) first-quarter earnings jumped, boosted by its acquisition of the Black Hawk property and better margins. The first quarter of 2006 also included a charge on the early retirement of debt that cut earnings by $17.1 million, or 30 cents a share. The Las Vegas gaming and entertainment company had first-quarter earnings of $24 million, or 41 cents a share, compared with $2.62 million, or 5 cents a share, a year earlier. Ameristar said net revenue for the quarter rose 1.2 percent to $259.1 million from $256.1 million a year ago.

Atari Inc. (ATAR) said that it planned to reduce its workforce by 20 percent in a cost-cutting move. The video game developer reported 232 employees in its last 10-K filing, which was for the fiscal year ended in March of 2006. The company says the reductions will be completed by July 31, for which it will record a charge between $800,000 and $1.1 million for its 2008 fiscal year.

Atmel Corp. (ATML) reported first-quarter revenue fell 10 percent to $391.3 million, from a year ago. This year's results exclude $36 million in revenue from a foreign business unit Atmel sold in July 2006. Taking that into account, Atmel's sales fell 2 percent from a year ago. The company didn't say whether it posted a profit or loss for the quarter due to its pending investigation into its stock-option accounting. Atmel hasn't reported such data for nearly a year. It also said it sold an Irving, Tex.-based factory for $38 million in cash as part of its broader restructuring under a new management team.

BRE Properties Inc. (BRE) reported first-quarter net earnings of $16.4 million, up from $11.9 million in the year-ago period. Net income available to common shareholders for the first quarter totaled $11.9 million, or 23 cents a share, as compared with $7.4 million, or 14 cents a share, for the same quarter in 2006. Revenue at the San Francisco-based real estate investment trust rose to $86 million from $78.8 million last year.

Capital Trust Inc. (CT) reported first-quarter net earnings of $14.8 million, or 84 cents a share, up 36 percent from $10.9 million, or 71 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The New York-based finance and investment management company said net income from loans and other investments rose to $21.3 million from $14.4 million a year ago.

Cephalon Inc. (CEPH) reported first-quarter net earnings of $75.2 million, or 99 cents per diluted share, up from $3.57 million, or 5 cents per diluted share, during the year-ago period. Excluding amortization expense and certain other items, basic adjusted per-share earnings were $1.45, compared with 78 cents a year ago. Total revenue at the Frazer, Pa.-based biopharmaceutical company rose to $437 million from $356.9 million last year. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had forecast first-quarter earnings of $1.01 a share on revenue of $423 million.

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.'s (CMG) (CMGB) first-quarter earnings rose 56 percent to $12.4 million, or 38 cents a share, from $7.99 million, or 26 cents a share, a year earlier. The Denver-based restaurant chain said first-quarter revenue rose 26 percent to $236.1 million from $187 million in the year-ago period, helped by new restaurants and comparable-store sales growth due to an increase in customer visits.

Chiquita Brands International Inc. (CQB) swung to a first-quarter loss of $3.4 million, or 8 cents a share, from a profit of $19.5 million, or 46 cents a share, a year earlier, as expenses rose 5.4 percent. The Cincinnati produce company's revenue rose 3.4 percent to $1.19 billion from $1.15 billion in the year-ago period. Expenses grew to $1.17 billion from $1.11 billion.

Divx Inc. (DIVX) reported first-quarter net income of $3.66 million, or 10 cents a share, up from $3.28 million, or 11 cents a share, in the first quarter of 2006. The San Diego-based software company said revenue in the three months ended March 31 rose to $20.2 million from $14.1 million a year ago.

DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc.'s (DWA) first-quarter earnings rose 25 percent to $15.4 million, or 15 cents a share, from $12.3 million, or 12 cents a share, a year earlier, boosted by continued strength in its home-video business. The Glendale, Calif., animation company said Tuesday that operating revenue climbed 56% to $93.7 million from $60.1 million.

FoxHollow Technologies Inc. (FOXH) said its first-quarter loss narrowed to $713,000, or 2 cents a share, from $14.6 million, or 60 cents a share, a year earlier. FoxHollow said stock-based compensation expense fell to $3.6 million from $14.8 million a year earlier. The Redwood City, Calif., makers of minimally invasive devices said revenue rose to $49.2 million from $46.6 million from the year-ago period.

Getty Images Inc.'s (GYI) first-quarter net income was $38 million, or 63 cents a share. The company said excluding professional fees, net income was $40.5 million, or 68 cents a share. The Seattle company said revenue grew 6 percent to $213 million, from $201 million a year ago, as royalty-free imagery revenue rose 13 percent and editorial imagery revenue rose 16 percent.

Harris Corp.'s (HRS) fiscal third-quarter net income nearly tripled to $214.9 million, or $1.52 a share, from $72.5 million, or 52 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding gains related to the Harris Stratex Networks transaction and other items, earnings were $100.5 million, or 72 cents a share, in the latest quarter. The Melbourne, Fla., information-technology company said revenue for the quarter ended March 30 increased 22 percent to $1.07 billion from $881.1 million a year ago.

Invitrogen Corp. (IVGN) reported first-quarter net earnings of $30.3 million, up from $19.2 million last year. The company reported earnings from continuing operations of 62 cents a share, up from 34 cents a share in the year-ago period. Excluding certain items, the company posted a per-share profit of $1.14 compared with 86 cents last year. Revenue at the Carlsbad, Calif.-based provider of products and services used in genetic research and drug production rose to $308.7 million from $280 million last year.

Lincoln National Corp.'s (LNC) first-quarter net income jumped 79 percent to $396.5 million, or $1.42 cents a share, from a year-earlier profit of $221.2 million, or $1.24 a share. The Philadelphia annuity and life insurance company's income from operations increased to $379.1 million, or $1.36 a share, from $221.4 million, or $1.25 a share. Revenue climbed 88 percent to $2.67 billion from $1.42 billion.

ManTech International Corp. (MANT) said first-quarter earnings rose 9.2 percent to $13.2 million, or 39 cents a share, from $12.1 million, or 36 cents a share, a year earlier. The Fairfax, Va., provider of defense technologies said revenue rose to $294.3 million from $275.3 million in the year-ago period. For the second quarter, ManTech expects earnings of 43 cents to 45 cents a share and revenue of $310 million to $320 million.

Medarex Inc. (MEDX) said it swung to a first-quarter net profit of $110.3 million, or 80 cents a share, from a year-ago loss of $36.6 million, or 33 cents a share. The first quarter of 2007 included a gain of $152.1 million, or $1.22 a share, from the February sale of roughly 2.5 million shares of Genmab A/S stock. Revenue fell to $11.5 million from $13.1 million in the comparable period last year.

MetLife Inc. (MET) said that first-quarter net income came in at $1.02 billion, up 36 percent from a year earlier when the life insurer made $747 million. Net income available to common shareholders was $1.28 a share, vs. 93 cents a share a year earlier. Operating earnings available to common shareholders was $1.08 billion, or $1.41 a share, the company added.

Navteq Corp.'s (NVT) first-quarter profit rose 87 percent to $30.2 million, or 31 cents a share, from $16.2 million, or 17 cents a share, a year earlier as revenue increased 31 percent. The Chicago provider of digital map information for automotive navigation systems said Tuesday that net revenue climbed to $160 million from $122.3 million a year earlier.

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RNR) said that first-quarter net income came in at $201.9 million, up 8 percent from a year earlier when the reinsurer made $187.6 million. Net income available to common shareholders was $2.63 a share vs. $2.49 a share a year ago. Operating income available to common shareholders, which excludes net realized investment gains and losses, was $186.7 million, or $2.57 a share, the company added.

Ruth's Chris Steak House Inc. (RUTH) reported first-quarter net earnings of $6.78 million, or 29 cents a share, up 15 percent from $5.92 million, or 25 cents a share, during the year-ago period. Revenue at the Heathrow, Fla.-based restaurant chain rose to $81.5 million from $64.7 million last year.

Sohu.com Inc. (SOHU) reported first-quarter net earnings of $4.47 million, or 12 cents a share, down from $6.04 million, or 16 cents a share, during the year-ago period. Excluding share-based compensation expenses, earnings were $7 million or 18 cents a share. Revenue at the Beijing-based Internet portal rose to $33.1 million from $30.4 million last year.

Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. (WPI) reported first-quarter net earnings of $31.6 million, or 29 cents a share, up 26 percent from $25.2 million, or 23 cents a share, during the year-ago period. Excluding special items, adjusted earnings were $37.3 million, or 34 cents a share. Revenue at the Corona, Calif.-based pharmaceutical company rose to $671.6 million from $407.2 million last year.

Yum Brands Inc. (YUM) reported first-quarter net earnings of $194 million, or 70 cents a share, up 14 percent from $170 million, or 59 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue at the Louisville, Ky.-based restaurant operator rose 7 percent to $2.22 billion from $2.09 billion last year. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had forecast first-quarter earnings of 64 cents a share on revenue of $2.15 billion. U.S. system same-store sales, which include franchisees, declined 3 percent in the quarter.