SAN FRANCISCO – Among the company whose shares are expected to see active trade in Friday's session are Oracle Corp., Washington Post Co., KeySpan Corp. and Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.
Charlotte Russe Holdings Inc. (CHIC) is expected to post fourth-quarter earnings of 27 cents a share.
Checkpoint Systems Inc.'s (CKP) third quarter is seen showing a per-share profit of 36 cents.
KeySpan Corp. (KSE) is seen reporting third-quarter earnings of 9 cents a share.
NiSource Inc. (NI) is expected to report a third-quarter per-share profit of 6 cents.
Noble Energy Inc. (NBL) is seen showing earnings of $1.18 in its third quarter.
Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL) is expected to report earnings of 90 cents a share in its second quarter.
Pope & Talbot Inc.'s (POP) third quarter is expected to show a per-share loss of 63 cents.
Teco Energy (TE) is expected to post third-quarter earnings of 35 cents a share.
Washington Post Co. (WPO) is seen posting a third-quarter profit of $8.01 a share.
Wild Oats Markets Inc.'s (OATS) third quarter is expected to show earning of 2 cents a share/
After Thursday's closing bell, Oracle Corp. (ORCL) said that Chief Financial Officer Greg Maffei would leave his post after just four months on the job,.
Watch list
Audible Inc. (ADBL) said it swung to a loss for the third quarter. Audible's net loss after taxes for the quarter came in at $189,000 million, or 1 penny a share, compared to a profit of $484,000, or 2 cents a share, for last year. Revenue for the period was $16.8 million compared to $9.3 million last year. Analysts expected the Wayne, N.J.-based company to post a loss of 1 penny a share on revenue of $16.8 million, according to consensus estimates from Thomson First Call.
Alkermes Inc. (ALKS) reported second-quarter net earnings of $11.8 million, or 12 cents a share. In the same period last year, the Cambridge, Mass.-based pharmaceutical company reported a net loss of $14.9 million, or 16 cents a share. Revenue soared to $46.7 million from $18 million a year ago.
Aeroflex Inc. (ARXX) reported fiscal first-quarter net earnings of $4.53 million, or 6 cents a share, vs. $5.62 million, or 7 cents a share, during the same period a year ago. Pro forma earnings were 11 cents a share for the quarter, and pro forma earnings from continuing operations were 12 cents a share for the period. The Plainview, N.Y.-based defense and broadband microelectronics maker posted revenue of $125.6 million vs. $109.2 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call had forecast fiscal first-quarter earnings of 9 cents a share on revenue of $122 million.
Aon Corp. (AOC) reported third-quarter results that narrowly missed Wall Street forecasts as the world's second-largest insurance broker announced plans to cut 1,400 jobs.
Atari Inc. (ATAR) reported a second fiscal quarter loss that widened from last year. Losses for the quarter came in at $25.2 million, or 20 cents a share, compared to a loss of $16.9 million, or 14 cents a share, for last year. Revenue for the period was $38.4 million compared to $68 million last year. Excluding restructuring charges and losses from discontinued operations, the loss for the quarter would have been $22.3 million, or 18 cents a share. Analysts were expecting the New York-based video game publisher to report a loss of 18 cents a share on revenue of $30.5 million, according to consensus estimates from Thomson First Call.
Boyd Gaming (BYD) rode strength in Las Vegas and Atlantic City to higher revenue and a big bump in adjusted third-quarter profits.
Computer Sciences Corp. (CSC) said its quarterly profit fell 24% as it booked a $33.1 million charge to write down a contract with Nortel Networks Corp. Revenue rose 5.3%.
Expedia Inc. (EXPE) reported third-quarter net earnings of $82 million, or 23 cents a share, vs. $58.1 million, or 17 cents a share, during the same period a year ago. The Bellevue, Wash.-based online travel agent posted revenue of $584.7 million vs. $503.8 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call had forecast third-quarter revenue of $571 million.
Fluor Corp. (FLR) posted higher third-quarter earnings and sales as the company's oil and gas and industrial and infrastructure divisions posted significantly higher results. The Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based company's net earnings totaled $131.2 million, or $1.51 a share, up from $47.3 million, or 57 cents a share, last year. Quarterly revenue reached $3.42 billion, up from $2.36 billion last year. Analysts expected a consensus profit of 80 cents a share, according to Thomson First Call, with revenue expected at $3.05 billion.
Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. (GMST) reported third-quarter net income of $51 million, or 12 cents a share, reversing last year's loss of $98.3 million, or 23 cents a share. Revenue for the media firm was $171.6 million vs. last year's $174 million. The company reported an operating loss of $4 million, or less than a penny a share. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call, though, expected Gemstar to report a loss of 5 cents a share for the quarter.
Hartford Financial Services (HIG) reported better than expected third-quarter earnings after the insurer avoided big hurricane losses.
Open Text Corp. (OTEX) reported a fiscal first-quarter net loss of $12.9 million, or 27 cents a share, compared with a loss of $986,000, or 2 cents a share, a year ago. Adjusted earnings were $6.3 million, or 13 cents a share. Revenue rose to $92.6 million from $85.6 million last year. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call were expecting a per-share profit of 9 cents on revenue of $90 million.
Powerwave Technologies Inc. (PWAV) reported third-quarter net earnings of $13.1 million, or 11 cents a share, vs. $2.8 million, or 3 cents a share, last year. Pro forma earnings came in at 15 cents a share. Revenue at the Santa Ana, Calif.-based wireless communications company rose to $217.8 million from $138.3 million. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had estimated revenue at $202.9 million.
Sanmina-SCI Corp. (SANM) said its fourth-quarter profit nearly tripled from a year ago, even as the electronics manufacturer's revenue fell about 14%.
Sina Corp. (SINA) said its third-quarter earnings fell 37%, as its advertising expenses rose in an effort to acquire new customers for its subscription-based mobile messaging products.
Starbucks Corp. (SBUX) said its October sales at locations open at least one year rose 7%. Total net sales climbed 21% to $550 million in October, year over year.
UTStarcom Inc. (UTSI) posted a large third-quarter loss as the company wrote down the value of assets and struggled with declining revenue.
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) said it expects to see an 8-cent per share impact from a modified option expensing plan for fiscal 2005 it outlined in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.