U.S. Hot Stocks: Hot Stocks to Watch

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Thursday's session are Conn's Inc. (CONN), Facebook Inc. (FB) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT).

Antares Pharma Inc. (ATRS) on Thursday said its Vibex QuickShot treatment for low testosterone showed positive results in a Phase 2 trial. Shares of the company, which produces injector technologies for the drug industry, rose 3% to $4.83 in premarket trading.

AVG Technologies NV (AVG) said its fourth-quarter earnings surged as the online security company posted stronger revenue and lower operating expenses. Shares rose 6.3% to $18.40 premarket.

Avis Budget Group Inc.'s (CAR) fourth-quarter loss narrowed as the car-rental company reported higher sales in North America and markets abroad. Results for the quarter, which also benefited from the company's acquisition of car-sharing firm Zipcar last year, exceeded Wall Street's expectations. Shares dropped 3% to $38.81 premarket on its somewhat cautious forecast for 2014.

Conn's cut its profit outlook for both fiscal 2014 and 2015, warning that it faces higher-than-anticipated delinquency rates and lower expected sales growth, particularly in electronics. Shares tumbled 38% to $34.44 premarket, following a roughly 30% decline since the start of the year.

Denbury Resources Inc. (DNR) said its fourth-quarter earnings dropped 22% as lower oil prices and weather issues continue to plague the oil-and-natural-gas explorer's bottom line. Results missed expectations, pushing shares down 1.8% to $15.90 premarket.

DirecTV (DTV) unveiled a $3.5 billion stock buyback program, with Chief Executive Mike White saying the satellite-television provider's current stock price is "far below our intrinsic value." The company also reported fourth-quarter results that topped estimates. Shares edged up 1.1% to $73.73 premarket.

Facebook said it will pay $19 billion in cash and stock to acquire smartphone-messaging app WhatsApp Inc., a deal that further emphasizes the social network's mobile push. Facebook shares edged 1.5% lower premarket to $67.06.

Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL) said its fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 18% as the packaged-foods company benefited from its recent purchase of Skippy as well as strong demand for its bacon products. But results missed expectations, sending shares down 1.8% to $44.50 premarket.

Jack in the Box Inc. (JACK) said its fiscal first-quarter profit rose 56% as the restaurant operator posted lower costs and a smaller effect from discontinued operations, which offset a slight drop in revenue. Shares rose 3.5% to $55.33 premarket.

Millennial Media Inc. (MM) shares slid 11% to $6.40 premarket after the mobile-ad company issued a revenue projection for the first quarter that missed Wall Street's expectations.

Onconova Therapeutics Inc. (ONTX) shares sank 40% premarket to $8.35 after the cancer-focused biopharmaceutical company said a late-stage clinical trial of its drug rigosertib failed to meet the primary endpoint.

Raptor Pharmaceutical Corp. (RPTP) said its potential Huntington's Disease treatment met primary endpoints in an ongoing Phase 2/3 clinical trial. Shares climbed 11% to $16.50 in premarket trading.

Safeway Inc. (SWY) disclosed it is weighing a possible sale, a move that comes after the supermarket operator faced pressure last year from an activist investor to explore options. Safeway also reported choppy results for the fourth quarter, a muted profit outlook for the current year, and detailed some alternatives for two investments. Shares rose 4% to $36 premarket.

Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) projected a 55% increase in production this year while reporting a narrower fourth-quarter loss on higher-than-projected deliveries of its $70,000 and up luxury electric cars. Shares climbed 12% to $216.50 premarket.

Wal-Mart offered a weaker-than-expected forecast for its recently started fiscal year and current quarter, further evidence of its struggles following the holiday-shopping season. The world's biggest retailer warned a variety of economic factors will continue to weigh on its outlook, including reductions in government benefits, higher taxes, tighter credit and increased group health-care costs in the U.S. Shares dropped 1.7% to $73.60 premarket.

Williams Cos. (WMB) swung to a fourth-quarter loss as its Williams Partners LP affiliate said its earnings fell 27% during the period--mostly on lost production at its Geismar olefins plant and lower natural-gas liquids margins. Shares dropped 1% to $40.10 premarket.

 
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Actavis PLC (ACT) swung to a fourth-quarter loss on restructuring-related expenses and other items that masked strong double-digit revenue growth. Adjusted results beats expectations.

Allstate Corp. (ALL) boosted its quarterly dividend payout by 12% and approved a $2.5 billion share repurchase program the insurer expects to complete over the next 18 months.

Energy Transfer Partners L.P. (ETP) swung to a fourth-quarter loss amid an impairment charge related to the transfer of Trunkline LNG Company, LLC to affiliate Energy Transfer Equity L.P. (ETE), which said it also swung to a loss.

Gap Inc. (GPS) said it would raise the minimum hourly rate for U.S. employees to $9 in 2014 and $10 in 2015. The raise will be enacted across all six of the retailer's brands and will affect about 65,000 store employees, the company said.

HealthSouth Corp. (HLS) said its fourth-quarter revenue grew though stronger volume was partly offset by impacts from reduced government spending and reserves for previously announced audits.

Marriott International Inc. (MAR) said its fourth-quarter profit fell 17% as the company reported lower revenue, in part due to a shorter quarter than in the prior year.

Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PEG) said its fourth-quarter earnings fell 11% on mark-to-market, storm-related impacts and other items, though adjusted profit improved. Its forecast for the year came in below recent consensus estimates.

Write to Lauren Pollock at [e-mail] and John Kell at [e-mail]

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