U.S. HOT STOCK FUTURES: HOT STOCKS TO WATCH

06/27/2012| 06:36am US/Eastern

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Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday's session are AeroVironment Inc. (>> AeroVironment, Inc.), O'Reilly Automotive Inc. (>> O'Reilly Automotive Inc) and Omeros Corp. (>> Omeros Corporation).

AeroVironment's fiscal fourth-quarter earnings edged up 0.9% as the company recorded an increase in unmanned aircraft revenue, though margins weakened. Shares jumped 9.1% to $27.75 after hours as earnings beat analyst expectations and the company issued an upbeat outlook for the new fiscal year.

O'Reilly said it expects its second-quarter earnings to be at the low end of its prior estimates, as the auto-parts retailer also lowered its same-store sales guidance. Shares slumped 8.8% to $88 after-hours Tuesday as the company said June same-store sales missed its expectations.

Omeros plans to offer an undisclosed number of shares for the biopharmaceutical company's development of two medical products being tested for use in eye and knee surgeries and other general purposes. Shares dropped 14% to $11.35 after hours.

Alexza Pharmaceuticals Inc. (>> Alexza Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), which develops treatments for conditions affecting the central nervous system, said it plans to offer as much as $40 million in mixed securities, which may include stock. Shares were off 2.1% to $4.20 after hours.

Campus Crest Communities Inc. (>> Campus Crest Communities Inc), which develops, builds and manages college student housing, said it will offer six million shares. Shares slipped 3.5% to $10.34 after hours.

 
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An Ohio court has granted Aetna Inc.'s (>> Aetna Inc.) request to temporarily stop the state from moving forward with its Medicaid contract process, as the insurer protests an Ohio agency's decision to cancel an earlier Medicaid contract it was awarded.

Atlantic Power Corp. (AT, ATP.T) said it will offer 5.5 million shares of its stock, intending to use the proceeds to fund a recently acquired wind-energy project under construction in Oklahoma.

Boeing Co. (>> The Boeing Company) abruptly changed the chief executive of its commercial unit on the eve of a major air show where the jet maker is expected to announce significant orders for a new version of its 737 Max aircraft. Ray Conner, the senior vice president of sales and customer support for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, was named on Tuesday to replace Jim Albaugh, 62, once considered a CEO candidate.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Co. (>> Bristol Myers Squibb Co.) has added $3 billion to its share repurchase program, as the pharmaceutical company looks to boost shareholder value.

Digital Realty Trust Inc.'s (>> Digital Realty Trust, Inc.) upsized offering of 10 million shares of stock priced at a 0.8% discount to its Tuesday closing price.

Natural-gas utility Gas Natural Inc. (>> Gas Natural Inc) said Chief Executive Richard M. Osborne will offer 700,000 shares of the company's stock.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services downgraded GeoEye Inc. (>> GeoEye Inc.) two notches, saying the satellite-imaging company faces heightened risk of lower U.S. government revenues.

H&R Block Inc.'s (>> H&R Block, Inc.) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings fell 11%, as higher filing volume was masked by weaker revenue and losses from discontinued operations.

Liberty Global Inc. (LBTYA, LBTYB), along with investment funds tied to Searchlight Capital Partners LP, Tuesday agreed to acquire OneLink Communications, in a roughly $585 million deal expected to form Puerto Rico's largest cable operator.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services placed its ratings for Ryder System Inc. (>> Ryder System, Inc.) on watch for a possible downgrade after the truck-leasing company lowered its full-year earnings guidance last week.

Sealy Corp. (ZZ) swung to a second-quarter profit as the company posted wider margins, reflecting higher pricing on luxury mattress sales.

Write to Nathalie Tadena at nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com

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