U.S. Hot Stocks: Hot Stocks to Watch

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Thursday's session are Conagra Foods Inc. (CAG), Rite Aid Corp. (RAD) and Air Products & Chemicals Inc. (APD).

Conagra said its fiscal first-quarter earnings more than tripled, as lower costs and expenses helped offset nearly flat revenue. Shares rose 2.2% to $32.70 in premarket trading.

Rite Aid said second-quarter earnings more than tripled as pharmacy sales helped drive revenue higher. But the company reduced its full-year earnings guidance based on expectations for lower pharmacy margins in the second half. Shares fell 14.3% to $5.69 premarket.

Air Products said Thursday that it would reorganize into seven reporting segments, the dramatic overhaul coming months after Seifi Ghasemi was appointed the company's chief executive. Shares were inactive in premarket trading.

General Motors Co. (GM) recalled 3,200 compressed natural gas vehicles for fire and explosion risks. Shares ticked down slightly to $33.80 premarket.

NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. (NRF) agreed to acquire a $1.1 billion hotel portfolio from Inland American Real Estate Trust Inc. (AIRE). NorthStar is acquiring the portfolio in a joint venture with Chatham Lodging Trust (CLDT). NorthStar's shares rose 1% to $17.50 premarket, while Chatham shares gained 2% to $23.12. Inland's shares were inactive premarket.

Pier 1 Imports Inc. (PIR) said Wednesday its second-quarter earnings fell 48%, as margin declines and soft store traffic hurt results. The home-products retailer also lowered its full-year earnings guidance. Shares sank 11.8% to $13.71 premarket.

Steel Dynamics Inc. (STLD) said Wednesday it expects per-share earnings to rise as much as 52% in its current quarter from a year ago, as demand for its steel products improves. The company is benefiting from improving conditions in automotive, manufacturing energy and construction markets. Shares gained 2.5% to $25.46 premarket.

Vivus Inc. (VVUS) and Auxilium Pharmaceuticals Inc. (AUXL) said the Food and Drug Administration approved a supplemental new drug application for erectile-dysfunction drug Stendra. Vivus's shares advanced 15% to $4.46 premarket, while Auxilium's shares edged up 0.9% to $31.45.

Red Hat Inc. (RHT) agreed to acquire privately-held FeedHenry for $81.8 million), the latest in a series of deals that expands the open-source software provider's capabilities in cloud-based applications for big businesses.

Hudson City Bancorp Inc. (HCBK) said Thursday its new chief executive, Denis J. Salamone, will also replace recently deceased CEO Ronald E. Hermance Jr. as chairman.

Visa Inc. (V) said it is considering its options for its 5.5% stake in U.K. mobile payments technology group Monitise PLC (MONI.LN).

 
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Tesla Motors Inc. (TSLA) Chief Executive Elon Musk said the technology to make a fully autonomous car will be ready in five or six years, and the result will be a vehicle far less likely to harm occupants and others on the road.

Herman Miller Inc. (MLHR) said its fiscal first-quarter profit increased 12%, despite absorbing $5 million in costs related to its July acquisition of Design Within Reach Inc., the largest seller of Herman Miller products.

Flexion Therapeutics Inc. (FLXN) said Wednesday a clinical hold has been placed on a drug trial of its lead product candidate FX006, which provides pain relief.

Covidien PLC (COV) said its board raised the medical technology and supplies company's quarterly dividend by 13%.

United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) said its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 4% as the specialty-foods distributor posted on stronger than-expected sales that received a boost from recent acquisitions.

WhiteWave Foods Co. (WWAV), whose brands include Silk, is expanding its presence in the dairy alternatives market with an agreement to buy So Delicious Dairy Free for about $195 million.

Agilent Technologies Inc. (A) said Chief Executive Bill Sullivan will step down in March but will remain an adviser before retiring in October 2015. The company also released details about the upcoming spinoff of electronic-measurement business Keysight Technologies Inc.

Write to Tom Rojas at [e-mail] and Josh Beckerman at [e-mail]

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