U.S. Hot Stocks: Hot Stocks to Watch

Among the companies with shares expected to trade actively in Friday's session are U.S. Bancorp (USB), Herbalife Ltd. (HLF) and Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC).

U.S. Bancorp said its profit increased in the second quarter as both loans and deposits rose. Shares rose 1.21% to $41.75 in premarket trading.

Herbalife Ltd. is to pay $200 million in a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission that will enable the company to avoid being classified as a pyramid scheme, a victory in its long-running battle with activist investor William Ackman. Shares rose 10.68% to $65.70 premarket.

Wells Fargo & Co. said its second-quarter profit fell as the nation's third-largest bank by assets continued to deal with low interest rates that sap lenders' profitability. Shares fell 0.9% to $48.50 premarket.

Citigroup Inc. (C) on Friday reported better-than-expected results, despite a 14% year-over-year drop in the bank's profit. Shares rose 1.12% to $44.95 premarket.

PNC Financial Services Group Inc. (PNC) said its profit fell in the second quarter amid a decline in revenue, while a key metric of lending profitability also slipped. Shares rose 1.01% to $83.70 premarket.

Alere Inc. (ALR), which previously disclosed revenue-recognition issues affecting primarily transactions in Africa and China, said Thursday it would revise financial results starting in 2013 and expects to determine that it had material weakness in its internal controls.

Carmike Cinemas Inc. (CKEC) on Thursday said it was again pushing back a special meeting of shareholders to take up the proposed merger with AMC Entertainment Holding Co. (AMC), saying discussions between the two theater companies continue. Major Carmike shareholders have criticized AMC's offer as too low and pointed at AMC's bid for Odeon & UCI Cinemas Group. The meeting is now slated for July 25.

ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG) said David Marberger, Prestige Brands Holdings Inc.'s (PBH) chief financial officer, will take over as its CFO on Aug. 29 when John Gehring retires.

Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical Inc. (RARE) on Thursday said its investigational therapy for a rare genetic metabolic disorder met primary goals in a phase 3 study.

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

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 15, 2016 09:38 ET (13:38 GMT)

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