U.S. Hot Stocks: Hot Stocks to Watch

Among the companies with shares expected to trade actively in Friday's session are Gran Tierra Energy (GTE), Thor Industries Inc. (THO) and Parkway Properties (PKY).

Oil and natural gas producer Gran Tierra Energy Inc. said Friday it agreed to buy PetroLatina Energy Ltd. in a $525 million cash deal, widening its reach in Colombia by adding what it called a "prolific" production site to its portfolio. Shares fell 0.3% to $3.37 in premarket trading.

Recreational vehicle maker Thor Industries Inc. said Friday that it agreed to acquire smaller peer Jayco Corp. for roughly $576 million in cash, expanding its offerings in towable RVs. Shares rose 3.88% to $67.25 premarket.

Parkway Properties and Cousins Properties will each hold shareholder meetings Aug. 23 to vote on a merger deal where Parkway would merge with and into a unit of Cousins Properties. Parkway Properties shares rose 19.55% to $20.00 premarket.

Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ARNA) will eliminate 100 positions, about three-quarters of its workforce.

Array BioPharma Inc. (ARRY) has filed a New Drug Application with the Food and Drug Administration for its cancer drug binimetinib to treat patients with advanced NRAS-mutant melanoma, a particularly deadly form of skin cancer.

C&J Energy Services Ltd. (CJES) has reached an agreement in principle with lenders on a debt-to-equity swap of about $1.4 billion. The oil-field services company also expects to raise new equity through a rights offering.

CIT Group Inc. (CIT) on Thursday detailed in a regulatory filing a potential spinoff of its aircraft-leasing business. CIT, which is narrowing its focus to domestic banking, said it is considering a spinoff or sale of the business by year's end.

DeVry Education Group Inc. (DV), under pressure from shareholders and regulators, has added International Value Advisers' managing partner Michael W. Malafronte to its board under a standstill agreement that expands DeVry's board to 10 members. The agreement caps IVA's control at 19.9%, just above the 19.5% stake it disclosed last week.

Hertz Global Holdings Inc.(HTZ), now Hertz Global, on Thursday raised $2 billion from the spinoff of its equipment-rental business and said it would use $395 million to buy back stock. The rest of the money will largely go to pay down debt, which as of March 31 stood at about $16 billion.

Nike Inc.'s (NKE) co-founder Phil Knight has retired as the athletic-gear giant's chairman, turning over the position to Chief Executive Mark Parker. Mr. Knight was appointed as chairman emeritus and will be able to attend Nike board meetings as an observer. Meanwhile, Apple Inc. Chief Executive Tim Cook, who has been on Nike's board since 2005, was appointed lead independent director.

NuVasive Inc. (NUVA) agreed to pay $45 million to Medtronic PLC (MDT) in a preliminary settlement of a long-running patent dispute between the medical device makers.

Steel Dynamics Inc. (STLD) has agreed to buy Vulcan Threaded Products Inc. for $126 million as part of a strategy intended to reduce volatility.

Fast-food restaurant chain Wingstop Inc. (WING) has taken on more debt to pay a special dividend of $2.90 a share next month, its first dividend payout as a public company.

Write to Chris Wack at [e-mail] or Maria Armental at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 01, 2016 09:30 ET (13:30 GMT)

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