Stocks to Watch: CAG, VFC, KMX & More
Take a look at some of Thursday's morning movers:
ConAgra - The food producer earned $0.51 per share for its fourth quarter, excluding certain items, one cent above estimates, with revenues also beating consensus. The company says it was able to post a year-over-year profit increase despite what it calls a challenging business environment.
VF Corp. - The clothing maker's stock has been added to "Top Picks Live" at Citigroup. Citi says European market weakness is already priced into the stock and that VF is attractively positioned and valued.
Celgene - The drugmaker is withdrawing its application for new uses for its Revlimid drug, but plans to resubmit its application with more "mature data." The application involved the use of Revlimid to treat multiple myeloma patients.
CarMax - The auto retailer reported quarterly profit of $0.52 per share, one cent below estimates. Same-store sales were flat versus a year earlier, though the company does say it was able to increase profit margins.
TJX Cos. - The retailer's stock has been upgraded to "outperform" from "market perform" at Wells Fargo, which is also raising earnings estimates for the T.J. Maxx parent. The firm notes that TJX has been seeing comparable store sales rise to the high single-digit range, gaining share from the troubles at J.C. Penney .
Dick's Sporting Goods - Canaccord Genuity has raised earnings estimates for the sporting goods retailer, saying comparable store sales are running at the high end of the company's guidance.
Rite Aid - The drugstore chain reported a quarterly loss of $0.03 per share, smaller than the $0.04 loss analysts had been forecasting. It's also cut its loss estimate for the full year, pointing to strong growth in its prescription business as a key factor improving its fortunes.
Micron Technology - The chipmaker reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss. Micron lost $0.32 per share for its third quarter, compared to estimates of $0.20. An increase in memory chip prices was not enough to make up for weak profit margins from its flash memory products.
Onyx Pharmaceuticals - The drugmaker has gotten a positive U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel recommendation for an experimental blood cancer drug. The full FDA usually, but not always, follows the recommendations of its panels.
Bed Bath & Beyond - The retailer earned $0.89 for its first quarter, five cents above estimates, but its current quarter outlook of $0.97 to $1.03 per share is below Street estimates of $1.08.
Red Hat – The Linux software provider earned $0.30 per share, excluding certain items, for the first quarter, three cents above estimates. But its stock came under pressure in after-hours trading on weaker-than-expected billings. That measure — revenue that Red Hat doesn’t recognize until it actually provides the services — was up 16 percent, short of analysts’ estimates.
Murphy Oil - The oil producer has named board member Steve Cosse as its new president and chief executive officer. He’ll replace David Wood, who is retiring following a 17-year career at Murphy.
Johnson & Johnson - The company is reportedly close to settling a Justice Department probe into off-label marketing of its antipsychotic drug Risperdal. Dow Jones reports the settlement could be $1.5 billion or higher, which would be one of the highest payments ever in a drug marketing case.
Key Energy Services - The oil services company says current-quarter results will miss its prior forecasts, and it also cut its full-year guidance. It cites a decline in natural gas prices, as well as slower growth in liquid shale markets.
Philip Morris International - The tobacco producer has cut its full-year outlook for a second time, becoming the latest company to cite unfavorable currency rates for a lower forecast. Philip Morris has lowered its full year earnings per share forecast by 10 cents to $5.10 to $5.20 per share, on top of April's 5 cent cut in its outlook.
—By CNBC’s Peter Schacknow
Questions? Comments? Email us at