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April 25 (Reuters) - Some U.S. stocks on the move onThursday:
STOCK INDEX FUTURES SIGNAL SLIGHTLY HIGHER OPEN
Index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street, withfutures for the S&P 500 up 0.04 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.16 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.15percent at.
** COLGATE-PALMOLIVE CO, Wednesday close $117.90
Colgate-Palmolive Co posted lower quarterly profit onThursday as sales grew but the recent devaluation of theVenezuelan bolivar led to a hefty charge.
** DOW CHEMICAL CO, Wednesday close $32.17, up 0.3pct premarket
The chemical maker reported a 33 percent jump in quarterlyprofit, helped by higher sales of its seeds and crop-protectionchemicals and lower raw material costs. Net income rose to $550million, or 46 cents per share, in the first quarter from $412million, or 35 cents per share, a year earlier.
** HARLEY-DAVIDSON INC, Wednesday close $53.20, up1.1 pct premarket
The Milwaukee-based motorbike maker reported a sharplyhigher profit, in line with expectations, and kept its full-yearshipment forecast unchanged.
** FUSION-IO INC, Wednesday close $16.63, up 13.6pct premarket
The memory drive maker reported higher-than-expected revenuefor the third quarter and forecast current-quarter revenue aheadof analysts' estimates on Wednesday.
** AKAMAI TECHNOLOGIES INC, Wednesday close $36.09,up 19.4 pct premarket
The company forecast second-quarter results above analysts'expectations as its media customers turned to the internetcontent delivery company to help them manage surging traffic.
** CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC, Wednesday close$18.22, up 5.7 pct premarket
The iron ore and metallurgical coal miner reported a drop infirst-quarter profit on Wednesday but earnings were much betterthan analysts had expected.
** ZYNGA INC, Wednesday close $3.34, down 10.7 pctpremarket
Zynga's management on Wednesday pleaded for more time forits turnaround effort after the online game maker forecast asteeper-than-expected loss for the current quarter.
** BIOGEN IDEC INC, Wednesday close $206.18, down 3pct premarket
Biogen reported stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings,helped by unusually low taxes and sales growth of its treatmentsfor multiple sclerosis.
** SOUTHWEST AIRLINES, Wednesday close $13.42
The airlines reported a lower quarterly profit as expensesrose. income came to $59 million, or 8 cents per share, for thefirst quarter, compared with $98 million, or 13 cents a share, ayear earlier.
** POTASH CORPORATION OF SASKATCHEWAN ,Wednesday close $39.63
The world's largest producer of the crop nutrient bycapacity, reported a 13 percent rise in first-quarter profit onstrong shipments, and said demand will remain robust for therest of the year.
** TIME WARNER CABLE INC, Wednesday close $92.73
The second largest U.S. cable operator posted higherquarterly revenue, helped by strong growth in its businessservices segment.
** HERSHEY CO, Wednesday close $89.34
The chocolate maker reported a 6 percent increase inquarterly revenue, helped by volume growth at its core brands.
** PRECISION DRILLING CORP , Wednesday close$7.82
Canada's largest oil and gas drilling contractor reported a16 percent decline in first-quarter earnings, hurt by lowerNorth American drilling activity due to depressed natural gasprices.
** DIAMOND OFFSHORE DRILLING INC, Wednesday close$68.68
The company, which is one of the world's top five offshorerig contractors, reported a 4 percent fall in first-quarterprofit.
** PULTEGROUP INC, Wednesday close $19.69
The No. 2 U.S. homebuilder reported a quarterly profitcompared with a loss a year earlier as it benefited from lowmortgage rates and a shortage of new homes available for sale.
** HONDA MOTOR , Wednesday close $40.04
The Japanese carmaker said it expects its U.S. car sales inApril to be up from a year ago, driven by strong demand fromindividual customers, reported the Wall Street Journal. (http://link.reuters.com/maj67t)
** SUPERNUS PHARMACEUTICALS INC, Wednesday close$5.19, down 13 pct after market
The specialty pharmaceutical company announced a privateoffering of $75 million convertible senior secured notes due2019.
** NEXSTAR BROADCASTING GROUP, Wednesday close$22.45, up 11.4 pct after market
Nexstar and Mission Broadcasting Inc said they would buyprivately held Communications Corporation of America and WhiteKnight Broadcasting for $270 million.
** F5 NETWORKS INC, Wednesday close $72.35, down 2pct after market
The network gear maker on Wednesday forecast third-quarteradjusted profit below estimates. Three brokerages cut theirtarget price on the stock.
** QUALCOMM INC, Wednesday close $66, down 4.6 pctpremarket
The leading chipmaker for mobile devices forecast earningsbelow expectations on Wednesday as competition in smartphonesintensifies and shifts toward Asia.
** VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS, Wednesday close $51.80
** VODAFONE , Wednesday close $29.59, up 3.5pct premarket
Verizon has hired advisers to prepare a possible $100billion cash and stock bid to take full control of VerizonWireless from its partner Vodafone, two people familiar with thematter said.
** BAIDU INC, Wednesday close $88.09
China's largest search engine is in the process of acquiringChinese online video firm, PPS Net TV, for between $350-$400million, China Business News reported on Thursday, quotingsources.
** METHANEX CORP , Wednesday close $39.04
The company's first-quarter adjusted profit more thandoubled to $88 million, or 92 cents per share, from $39 million,or 41 cents per share, a year earlier, on higher methanolprices. Its board approved an 8 percent increase to itsquarterly dividend from 18.5 cents to 20 cents per share.
** BALLY TECHNOLOGIES INC, Wednesday close $49.08,up 6 pct after market
The slot machine maker reported quarterly results that beatmarket estimates and announced a new $300 million sharerepurchase program.
** CITRIX SYSTEMS INC, Wednesday close $67.66, down5.9 pct after market
The cloud computing software maker forecast alower-than-expected profit for the current quarter on Wednesdayas its customers reduce IT spending and delay orders.
** EQUINIX INC, Wednesday close $216.38, down 5.3pct after market
The data center operator posted a first-quarter profit wellbelow analysts' expectations, largely due to a weak Japaneseyen, and forecast lower-than-expected second-quarter revenue.
** STAMPS.COM, $25.66, up 5 percent after market
The internet-based postal services provider raised itsfull-year forecast after posting much higher-than-expectedquarterly results due to a 12 percent jump in total paidcustomers.
** TRACTOR SUPPLY CO, Wednesday close $112.05, down5 pct after market
The farm and ranch products retailer on Wednesday forecastfull-year profit below analysts' estimates.
** WESTERN DIGITAL CORP, Wednesday close $52.90, up3.1 pct after market
The hard disk drive maker forecast current-quarter revenuelargely above analysts' expectations on Wednesday as higherdemand for internet storage more than offset the effects of afall in personal computer sales.
** Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc, Wednesday close$210.62, up 3 pct after market
S&P said it will replace MetroPCS Communications Inc with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals on the S&P 500 Index.
** THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INC, Wednesday close$37.74
The chain, known for its ample portions and wide array ofcheesecakes, rang up a better-than-expected first-quarter profitas more diners visited its restaurants and the company heldcosts in check.
** HERBALIFE LTD, Wednesday close $37.27
The nutritional products company, which is at the heart of apublic battle between hedge fund titans Bill Ackman and CarlIcahn, hosts its annual shareholders meeting, where Icahn's twoboard nominees will stand for election to the company's board.
** UNITED PARCEL SERVICE, Wednesday close $83.50
The world's largest package-delivery company is expected topost strong results, when market opens on Thursday, as it seesorders slowly rise. It is coming off a particularly difficultyear, when customers cut back on air courier services.
** 3M CO, Wednesday close $107.87
The diversified U.S. manufacturer is expected to report aslight jump in quarterly profit, when market opens on Thursday,due to higher sales in its security and traffic-safety units.
** SAFEWAY INC, Wednesday close $28.26
The second-largest U.S. grocery chain is scheduled to reportresults before markets open on Thursday. The company is still onthe hunt for a CEO and is exploring putting its Canadian realestate assets into a REIT.
** BRISTOL-MYERS SQUIBB CO, Wednesday close $41.45
The U.S. drugmaker, hurt by cheaper generic forms of itsPlavix blood clot preventer and Avapro blood pressure medicine,is expected to report sharply lower first-quarter sales andearnings when it report results before market opens.
** OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM CORP, Wednesday close $84.33
The fourth-largest U.S. oil company will report quarterlyresults after it sought to knock down speculation about a battlebetween its former CEO and chairman and the current boss,Stephen Chazen, as the company seeks his successor.
** IMPERIAL OIL LTD , Wednesday close$39.12
Imperial reports quarterly results at 1130 ET on Thursday.The market will be watching for updates on the delayed start-upof the 110,000 barrels-per-day Kearl oil sands mine. Originallyexpected to open by the start of 2013, the site has not yetbegun full operations. (Compiled by Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bangalore,)
Vodafone (VOD)
