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

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Thursday's session are Guess Inc. (GES), Fresh Market Inc. (TFM) and Corinthian Colleges Inc. (COCO).

Guess' fiscal second-quarter earnings fell 7.1%, as the clothing retailer's margins were weakened by higher costs. However, shares jumped 16% to $31.60 in premarket trading, as the company easily beat its quarterly guidance.

Fresh Market's fiscal second-quarter earnings rose 17%, as the specialty grocer recorded a double-digit increase in sales. Still, shares fell 4.9% to $51.60 premarket, as the company lowered its full-year per-share earnings guidance, though it lifted the low end of its same-stores sales outlook.

Corinthian Colleges gave weak guidance, as chief executive Jack Massimino expects the for-profit educator to face "another challenging year," though it does expect new-enrollment growth this quarter at its physical locations. Online hasn't been without its hiccups either for the company, as fiscal fourth-quarter enrollments there were weaker than expected. Shares fell 6.1% to $2.45 premarket.

Signet Jewelers Ltd.'s (SIG, SIG.LN) fiscal second-quarter earnings slipped 4.7%, as the retailer continued to see weak sales in the U.K., while higher costs pressured margins. Revenue growth was weaker than consensus, and the company gave a downbeat profit view for the current quarter. Shares fell 4.9% to $66.40 premarket.

Shanda Games Ltd.'s (GAME) second-quarter earnings rose 21%, as the game developer's results were boosted by an income-tax benefit and improved margins. The company's American depositary shares were up 3.3% at $5.34 premarket, as earnings were better than analysts had expected.

 
   Watchlist: 
 

Altera Corp.'s (ALTR) board increased the number of shares the chip maker can repurchase, expanding a buyback program that now has the authority to repurchase about 13% of the company's shares outstanding. Shares rose 1% to $35.13 after hours.

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services upgraded its ratings on three U.S. wireless-tower operators--American Tower Corp. (AMT), Crown Castle International Corp. (CCI) and SBA Communications Corp. (SBAC)--noting their business-risk profiles have improved based on key fundamentals that have prevailed over the past several years.

Casella Waste Systems Inc.'s (CWST) fiscal first-quarter loss narrowed, as an increase in volume boosted the waste-management company's revenue. Results topped analyst expectations, and the company lifted its full-year guidance.

Urban Outfitters Inc.'s (URBN) board authorized a 10-million share-buyback program, the fourth time the clothing retailer has announced such a move since 2006.

Write to Anna Prior at [e-mail]

Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires