Feb 27 (Reuters) - Some U.S. stocks to watch on Wednesday:
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US STOCKS-FUTURES LITTLE CHANGED AHEAD OF BERNANKE, DATA
U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Wednesday as investors awaited a second round of testimony in Congress by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke for signs of whether the Fed will continue its economic stimulus program. S&P 500 futures
rose 2.5 points, Dow Jones industrial average futures
fell 1 points while Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.25 point.
** BOYD GAMING , Tuesday close $6.50, up 7 pct premarket
** CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORP , Tuesday close $12.13, up 4 pct premarket
** INTERNATIONAL GAME TECH , Tuesday close $15.89, up 0.37 pct
** ZYNGA INC , Tuesday close $3.36, up 3 pct premarket
** GLU MOBILE INC , Tuesday close $2.33, up 1 pct premarket
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on Tuesday approved online gambling within the state's border, a move that he hopes can help boost state revenues and revive Atlantic City casinos.
The measure, announced the same day that Christie unveiled his new budget plan for fiscal 2014, will legalize Internet gaming to New Jersey's 9 million residents and also create opportunities for European companies with expertise in running online gaming operations.
** OPTIMER PHARMACEUTICALS INC , Tuesday close $10.72, up 11 pct premarket
Optimer Pharmaceuticals said it was exploring a possible sale of the company among a full range of alternatives and that Chairman Henry McKinnell would act as chief executive for the duration of the review process.
** ACCRETIVE HEALTH INC , Tuesday close $12.11, down 30 pct premarket
Shares of Accretive Health fell more than 30 percent before the bell, as the medical billing services provider withdrew its forecast and indefinitely delayed the filing of its fourth-quarter results, saying it was evaluating the timing of revenue recognition.
** TARGET CORP , Tuesday close $64.05, down 2 pct premarket
Target posted lower quarterly profit on Wednesday, as sales of food and value-priced items only partially mitigated some weakness it saw when holiday shoppers held back from discretionary spending in an uncertain economy.
** DOLLAR TREE INC , Tuesday close $41.08, up 5 pct premarket
Dollar Tree on Wednesday posted a higher quarterly profit in line with its forecast as shoppers spent more when they came into its stores and the chain controlled costs.
** VIRNETX HOLDING CORP , Tuesday close $33.96, up 4.5 pct premarket
** APPLE INC , Tuesday close $448.97
VirnetX Holding, an internet security software company, said a district court has upheld a previous patent infringement ruling against Apple and denied the iPhone maker's motion to reduce the $368 million in damages.
** COACH INC , Tuesday close $46.50, up 5 pct premarket ** NIKE INC , Tuesday close $54.27
Coach said on Wednesday it has hired a former Nike executive to oversee the transformation of its stores as it moves further into segments where the leather goods maker is a relatively small player, such as shoes and clothing.
** QUESTCOR PHARMACEUTICALS INC , Tuesday close $32.66, down 4 pct premarket
The drugmaker which reported fourth-quarter results on Tuesday, said its main product Acthar had 8 percent lower sales in its multiple sclerosis indication.
Acthar is approved in the United States to treat multiple sclerosis, infantile spasms and 17 other indications.
Questcor reported a quarterly profit of $1.03 on revenue of $160.5 million.
** ZOGENIX INC , Tuesday close $1.21, up 10 pct premarket
The drugmaker said the U.S. health regulator has delayed the decision on approval of its painkiller, Zohydro for several weeks. The regulatory decision was initially expected on March 1.
William Blair analyst Tim Lugo viewed the delay as a positive signal as delay of several months tend to signal a more significant issue between the agency and the applicant.
Zohydro contains hydrocodone, an addictive opioid which is subject to increased scrutiny due to high rates of prescription drug abuse in the United States.
** CLEARWIRE CORP , Tuesday close $3.20, down 4 pct premarket
** SPRINT NEXTEL , Tuesday close $5.78, up 1 pct aftermarket
** DISH NETWORK , Tuesday close $35.14
Clearwire said it will take $80 million in financing from Sprint Nextel in the form of exchangeable notes. Wall Street Journal had reported that Clearwire plans to tap financing from Sprint, in a move that further complicates Dish Network's effort to buy Clearwire, citing people familiar with the situation.
** JPMORGAN CHASE & CO , Tuesday close $47.60, down 0.42 pct aftermarket
JPMorgan Chase said on Tuesday that it plans to cut 17,000 jobs by the end of 2014, representing about 6.6 percent of the company's overall workforce, as the bank sheds staff that helped it deal with bad home loans.
** BOEING , Tuesday close $75.65
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it is not close to approving test flights of Boeing's 787 Dreamliner with a proposed fix for the plane's troubled batteries, denying news reports that such tests could start as early as next week.
** WALT DISNEY CO , Tuesday close $53.90
Proxy advisers ISS and Glass, Lewis & Co urged Disney shareholders to vote in favor of a proposal to split the chairman and chief executive roles now both held by Robert Iger.
** GOOGLE INC , Tuesday close $790.13
** FACEBOOK INC , Tuesday close $27.39, down 0.43 pct aftermarket
Google transformed the Internet by cataloging the Web's countless pages. Now it wants to keep better track of the Web's multitude of users. The Mountain View, California-based company said Tuesday it would begin encouraging websites and mobile apps to accept log-in credentials via Google+, its social network.
The integration with third-party sites and apps, which Google hopes will help it track users as they surf across the Internet, represents the search powerhouse's latest effort to establish a foothold in the all-important social Web arena - and beat back competition from Facebook, the sector leader.
** MICROSOFT CORP , Tuesday close $27.37 ** APPLE INC , Tuesday close $448.97
A top Microsoft executive side-stepped questions on Tuesday about any plans the software maker may have to bring its Office suite of applications to Apple's iPad.
** DINEEQUITY INC , Tuesday close $72.28
The owner of the Applebee's and IHOP restaurant brands, reported a 34 percent fall in quarterly profit following the sale and refranchise of Applebee's company-operated restaurants and due to higher income taxes.
** JOY GLOBAL INC , Tuesday close $59.96, down 2.4 pct premarket
Mining equipment maker Joy Global posted a first-quarter profit that came above analysts' expectations, but said aftermarket orders declined from the fourth quarter.
** BIG 5 SPORTING GOODS CORP , Tuesday close $15.15, up 6 pct after market
The sports goods retailer reported fourth-quarter results that beat analysts' estimates, helped by strong performance in its hardgoods business. The company said its hardgoods category benefited from the increase in demand for firearms and ammunition products in the United States.
Big 5 also forecast first quarter 2013 profit far above Wall Street estimates, based on the increased demand for firearms and on favorable winter weather conditions.
** DREAMWORKS ANIMATION SKG INC , Tuesday close $16.61, down 3 pct aftermarket
Movie studio DreamWorks reported its first quarterly loss in almost six years as it wrote down $165 million related to the weak box office performance of "Rise of the Guardians" and its decision to delay another film.
** GUIDEWIRE SOFTWARE INC , Tuesday close $31.53, up 14 pct aftermarket
The company, which provides software to property and casualty insurers, reported a quarterly profit that blew past analysts' estimates, helped partly by several customers who made payments earlier than their third-quarter due dates.
** PRICELINE.COM , Tuesday close $678.49, up 4 pct premarket
The online travel agency known for its name-your-own-price auction, on Tuesday topped analysts' estimates for quarterly profit, citing improved hotel and car-rental reservations.
At least six brokerages raised their price targets on Priceline.com's shares, some by more than $100 per share.
"We're encouraged by Priceline's performance in a more challenging operating environment and also note the company faces easier comparisons over the next couple of quarters," JP Morgan analyst Doug Anmuth wrote in a note to clients.
** ZAGG INC , Tuesday close $7.48, up 5.4 pct after market
The mobile accessories maker posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, helped by strong sales during the holiday season and forecast 2013 revenue well above analysts' estimates.
** OFFICE DEPOT INC , Tuesday close $3.99
Office Depot's largest shareholder, Starboard Value LP, urged the office supply chain's board to explore the sale of its Mexican joint venture interest soon.
** LOCKHEED MARTIN , Tuesday close $87.30, down 1.2 pct premarket
The Pentagon program chief for the F-35 warplane slammed its commercial partners Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney on Wednesday, accusing them of trying to "squeeze every nickel" out of the U.S. government and failing to see the long-term benefits of the project.
** FIRST SOLAR INC , Tuesday close $31.36, down 12 pct premarket
** SUNPOWER CORP , Tuesday close $11.69, down 7 pct premarket
First Solar on Tuesday reported a quarterly profit, reversing a year-ago loss, but the U.S. solar company's shares fell 8 percent after it failed to offer an earnings and sales outlook for 2013.
** MAKO SURGICAL CORP , Tuesday close $11, up 6 pct aftermarket
Mako reported a fourth-quarter loss of 13 cents per share on revenue of $30.2 million on Tuesday.
William Blair analyst Matthew O'Brien said the surgical device maker's fourth quarter loss was narrower than expected by the brokerage. O'Brien said Mako's reduced research and marketing expenses should help allay concerns about the company's cash burn rate and need for additional capital.
** EXXON MOBIL CORP , Tuesday close $88.51
Exxon Mobil has won the reversal by Maryland's highest court of a $1 billion punitive damages award stemming from an underground leak at a gas station, and also won the reversal of portions of nearly $650 million of compensatory damages awards.
** AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC , Tuesday close $37.69
** BANK OF AMERICA CORP , Tuesday close $11.13
A federal judge has put AIG's dispute with a financial crisis-era bailout vehicle on hold while another court addresses the insurer's separate $10 billion lawsuit against Bank of America over defective mortgages.
** CABLEVISION SYSTEMS CORP , Tuesday close $15.29 ** VIACOM INC , Tuesday close $57.28
Cablevision has accused Viacom in an antitrust lawsuit of forcing it to pay for more than a dozen low-rated cable networks in order to get access to Viacom's more popular channels such as Nickelodeon, MTV and Comedy Central.
** CHARLES SCHWAB CORP , Tuesday close $16.21
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) will appeal a ruling that allowed Charles Schwab to require customers to waive their right to participate in class-action suits, a spokeswoman said on Tuesday.
** PARTNER COMMUNICATIONS , Tuesday close $5.65
Partner Communications , Israel's second-largest mobile phone operator, reported weaker than expected quarterly profit and said it could have weak earnings throughout 2013 due to fierce competition that has slashed calling rates.
** EBAY INC , Tuesday close $53.82
Max Levchin, co-founder of online payment giant PayPal, launched a rival business on Tuesday called Affirm that will compete in the crowded but fast-growing mobile payments business. PayPal, owned by eBay, is the leader in online payments.
** BEST BUY CO INC , Tuesday close $16.46, down 2.4 pct aftermarket
Best Buy founder Richard Schulze's effort to take the company private is in trouble after attempts to secure financing faltered while an alternative strategy to line up minority investors may not pan out either, five sources familiar with the matter said.
** AMGEN INC , Tuesday close $89.47
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday it has stopped all pediatric clinical trials of Amgen's Sensipar after the death of a 14-year-old patient taking part in a study of the drug.
** ELAN CORP , Tuesday close $11.03
New York-based investment firm Royalty Pharma does not want to take "no" for an answer to its $6.6 billion offer for Irish drugmaker Elan Corp .
** CENTRAL EUROPEAN MEDIA ENTERPRISES , Tuesday close $5.28,
** TIME WARNER INC , Tuesday close $52.28
Central European Media Enterprises said it is looking to raise cash by selling assets, raising fees and holding talks with its largest shareholder, Time Warner, over increasing its stake in the broadcaster.
** PAPA JOHN'S INTERNATIONAL INC , Tuesday close $56.65, down 8 pct aftermarket
Papa John's said it would restate financial results dating back to 2009 after the company found accounting errors in a joint venture agreement.
** COMMONWEALTH REIT , Tuesday close $24.40
Office building operator CommonWealth REIT on Wednesday said it will go ahead with a common share offering and debt tender offer despite opposition from several large investors.
** TIVO INC , Tuesday close $12.41
Digital video recorder pioneer TiVo reported a higher quarterly revenue as its subscription base expanded.
** DIGITALGLOBE INC , Tuesday close $27.00
DigitalGlobe posted better-than-expected quarterly results largely due to increased sales of its satellite images to businesses and U.S. intelligence agencies.
(Compiled by Chandni Doulatramani in Bangalore)
((chandni.doulatramani@thomsonreuters.com)(within U.S. +1 646 223 8780)(outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800)(Reuters Messaging: Reuters messaging: chandni.doulatramani.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))
Keywords: MARKETS USA STOCKS/PULSE
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