US HOT STOCK FUTURES: HOT STOCKS TO WATCH

05/30/2012| 06:37am US/Eastern

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Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Wednesday's session are Research In Motion Ltd. (RIMM, RIM.T), Pep Boys-Manny Moe & Jack (>> The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack) and Perfect World Co. (>> Perfect World Co., Ltd. (ADR)).

RIM said it had hired investment bankers J.P. Morgan Securities and RBC Capital Markets to assist the company in reviewing business and financial performance, and it warned of a first-quarter operating loss. Shares slumped 7.1% to $10.43 after hours.

Pep Boys-Manny Moe & Jack said it has terminated its agreement to be taken private by Gores Group and will receive a $50 million termination fee, a move that comes after the private-equity firm hinted earlier this month it could be souring on the deal to buy the auto-shop chain. Shares slipped 13% to $9.70 after hours.

Perfect World's first-quarter earnings fell 21% as the Chinese online-game developer reported flat revenue and higher expenses. Shares sank 13% to $10 after hours as the company issued a downbeat revenue view for the current quarter.

DryShips Inc. (>> DryShips Inc.) swung to a worse-than-expected first-quarter loss as higher drill-rig and vessel expenses masked improved revenue. Shares were off 3.9% to $2.20 after hours.

FormFactor Inc. (>> FormFactor, Inc.) raised its second-quarter revenue expectations Tuesday, pointing to customer demand across its dynamic random access memory and flash memory segments. Shares jumped 11% to $6.40 after hours.

Stem-cell company Osiris Therapeutics Inc. (>> Osiris Therapeutics, Inc.) said its Grafix treatments received transitional pass-through status from the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services and pass-through status under Medicare's outpatient prospective payment system. Shares jumped 12% to $7.28 after hours, as the new codes will facilitating reimbursement of its Grafix products--cellular matrixes used on chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers and burns--when they are used to treat Medicare patients in hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers.

SLM Corp. (>> SLM Corporation) has added $400 million to its share repurchase program, the student lender's latest move to boost shareholder return. Shares were up 2.2% to $14.10 after hours.

Synergetics USA Inc. (>> Synergetics USA Inc.) unveiled preliminary third-quarter results that missed analyst expectations, as the medical device company said economic difficulties in Europe and the delay of orders to its two marketing partners hurt its results. Shares fell 8.8% to $5 after hours.

UDR Inc. (UDR) said it plans to sell 19 million of its shares, looking to use the proceeds to redeem preferred stock and repay debt. Shares slipped 2.3% to $26.01 after hours.

 
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Atmos Energy Corp. (>> Atmos Energy Corporation) said Bret J. Eckert will become its new chief financial officer, replacing Fred E. Meisenheimer, who is retiring.

Biofuel Energy Corp. (>> BioFuel Energy Corp.) unveiled plans for a one-for-20 reverse stock split as the ethanol production company looks to boost its stock price and to regain compliance for continued listing on the Nasdaq.

Bob Evans Farms Inc. (>> Bob Evans Farms Inc) said it plans to close two food-production plants in the second quarter of fiscal 2014, allowing the restaurant-chain operator to save about $7 million to $8 million annually before taxes.

Copart Inc.'s (>> Copart, Inc.) fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 11% as the car auctioneer recorded improved service revenue and margins.

Eastman Chemical Co. (>> Eastman Chemical Company) is offering $2.4 billion in various notes as the chemical and materials maker looks to raise funds to help pay for its pending acquisition of Solutia Inc. (SOA).

Standard & Poor's lowered its ratings on Ferrellgas Partners LP (>> Ferrellgas Partners, L.P.) one notch further into speculative territory, noting the company faces weak retail propane demand due to mild winter weather as well as rising propane prices.

Moody's Investors Service raised its outlook on Magellan Midstream Partners L.P. (>> Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P.) to positive from stable, citing the petroleum pipeline and storage company's strong earnings and conservative management and financial policies.

Motricity Inc. (>> Motricity, Inc) named Nathan Fong as its new chief financial officer, effective June 12, a move that comes as the mobile Internet services company looks to transform its business.

Orbitz Worldwide Inc. (>> Orbitz Worldwide, Inc.) Chief Financial Officer Russell Hammer resigned last week to take up that position at Brown Shoe Co. (>> Brown Shoe Company, Inc.), returning the executive to the footwear industry.

Sturm Ruger & Co. (>> Sturm, Ruger & Company) said it has resumed accepting orders on a normal basis from independent wholesale distributors.

THQ Inc. (>> THQ Inc.) named industry veteran Jason Rubin as its new president, a move that came as the maker of videogames and accessories continues its restructuring efforts.

 
   -Edited By Nathalie Tadena, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-3287; 
nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com 
 

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