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

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Thursday's session are Family Dollar Stores Inc. (>> Family Dollar Stores, Inc.), AOL Inc. (>> AOL, Inc.) and Synergetics USA Inc. (>> Synergetics USA Inc.).

Family Dollar's fiscal third-quarter earnings jumped 12% amid increased traffic at the dollar-store chain. Shares slumped 7.5% to $63.90 premarket, however, after the company said it now sees same-store sales growth for the year at the low end of its previous forecast and reported a 17% jump in inventory.

AOL on Thursday set a temporary floor for its stock, saying it has launched a $400 million modified Dutch auction offer to buy back its shares between $27 to $30 a piece. Shareholders will be able to say how much stock they'd be willing to sell, and at what price within that range. The stock jumped 3.4% premarket to $28.25, which if it holds would mark a fresh two-year high for AOL shares.

Medical-device company Synergetics said it has received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration for its VersaVIT vitrectomy system for the retinal-surgery market. Shares climbed 21% to $4.70 premarket.

Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc. (>> Anthera Pharmaceuticals Inc) said its study of a drug in development for the treatment of lupus patients failed to meet a primary goal and that it is revising its plans for a follow-up trial. Shares plummeted 61% to $1.07 premarket.

Analysts at J.P. Morgan said the FDA's approval of Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (>> Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) Belviq weight loss drug is positive for all diet drug makers, noting that Orexigen Therapeutics Inc. (>> Orexigen Therapeutics, Inc.) "stands to be the biggest beneficiary." The firm noted approval for Orexigen's drug Contrave is still far off, leaving a valuation gap with rivals whose drugs are closer to possible approval. Shares jumped 8.1% to $5.32 in premarket trade.

Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (>> Energy Transfer Partners LP) is offering 13.5 million common units as the pipeline operator looks to pay down debt, fund capital expenditures related to pipeline-construction projects and raise funds for general partnership purposes. Shares fell 4.4% to $43.95 premarket.

Pacific Ethanol Inc. (>> Pacific Ethanol Inc) plans to offer an unspecified number of units consisting of common stock and warrants. The renewable fuels producer will use the proceeds to increase its ownership stake in New PE Holdco LLC, which owns ethanol-production facilities that are managed by Pacific Ethanol, and for general corporate purposes. Shares sank 31% to 36 cents premarket.

Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp. (>> Synta Pharmaceuticals Corp.) said an interim analysis of the company's experimental treatment for nonsmall cell lung cancer found improvements in progression-free survival in its co-primary patient groups, but the company didn't present statistical analysis on the results because the data wasn't yet mature. Shares were down 27% to $5.31 premarket.

Watchlist:

American Greetings Corp. (>> American Greetings Corporation) reported its fiscal first-quarter earnings tumbled 78% as the greeting-card company incurred multiple charges related to its Clinton Cards acquisition and posted lower revenue.

Bazaarvoice Inc. (BV) said it plans to sell up to 1.7 million shares while stockholders will offer an additional 6.8 million shares. The proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital.

Casella Waste Systems Inc. (>> Casella Waste Systems Inc.) swung to a fiscal fourth-quarter loss as the garbage-and-recyclables hauler posted a substantial write-down connected to its planned sale of a facility in Maine.

Engineering products company Curtiss-Wright Corp. (CW) lowered its full-year guidance, citing the the restructuring of it its metal treatment business and construction of a reactor pump.

Fitch Ratings downgraded its issuer-default rating on First Horizon National Corp. (>> First Horizon National Corporation) and put it on negative watch after the bank said it would log heavy charges for mortgage repurchases in the second quarter.

Flow International Corp.'s (>> Flow International Corporation) fiscal fourth-quarter profit surged as the maker of industrial water-jet machines saw sales from its core business continue to grow.

Gas Natural Inc. (>> Gas Natural Inc) said an offering of 700,000 shares priced at $10.10 each, representing a premium of 1.8% to Wednesday's close.

Harman International Industries Inc. (>> Harman International Industries Inc./DE/) has doubled its annual dividend as the maker of high-end stereo, audio and recording equipment and digital products looks to increase shareholder return.

Herman Miller Inc.'s (>> Herman Miller, Inc.) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings fell 30% amid $5.4 million in restructuring and write-down expenses as the office-furniture company also reported a drop in sales and a higher-than-expected effective tax rate.

Jones Soda Co.'s (JSDA) Chief Executive William Meissner and board chairman Richard Eiswirth are stepping down, and the company's chief financial officer position will be eliminated in order to reduce costs, according to a regulatory filing Wednesday.

MSC Industrial Direct Co.'s (>> MSC Industrial Direct Co Inc) fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 13% as the industrial and maintenance products distributor says its vending and e-commerce platforms continued to increase productivity.

News Corp. (NWS, NWSA) confirmed its intention to split the media conglomerate in two pieces, separating its lucrative entertainment operations from its publishing business, the company said in a statement Thursday.

Omnova Solutions Inc.'s (>> OMNOVA Solutions Inc.) fiscal second-quarter profit jumped 13% as the building-materials manufacturer eked out wider margins, masking a decline in revenue.

Paychex Inc. (>> Paychex, Inc.) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 3.7% as revenue from both its payroll services and human resources segments strengthened.

Progress Software Corp. (>> Progress Software Corporation) swung to a loss in its fiscal second quarter amid charges for its restructuring efforts and weaker revenue.

RadioShack Corp.'s (>> RadioShack Corporation) Chief Merchandise Officer Scott E. Young has resigned from the company, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday.

Data-analysis software company Splunk Inc. (>> Splunk Inc) said certain stockholders are offering an unspecified number of shares of common stock.

Tellabs Inc. (>> Tellabs, Inc.) named Daniel P. Kelly as acting president and chief executive, serving in the position while Chief Executive Rob Pullen undergoes cancer treatment.

-Write to Mia Lamar at nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com

Partner Area