U.S. Hot Stocks: Hot Stocks to Watch

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Thursday's session are Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY), Family Dollar Stores Inc. (FDO) and Intercept Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ICPT).

Bed Bath & Beyond fiscal third-quarter earnings edged up 1.9% as the home-furnishings retailer recorded an increase in sales. However, the company lowered its earnings outlook for the fiscal year and current quarter and shares declined 9.1% to $72.47 premarket.

Cato Corp. (CATO), a specialty retailer of value-priced fashion apparel and accessories, trimmed its earnings expectations for the year, after posting softer December sales. Shares edged down 3.9% to $30 in light premarket trading.

Family Dollar Stores lowered its full-year earnings expectations, as the discount retailer posted weaker first-quarter same-store sales and warned of continued revenue challenges in the new year. Shares dropped 7.3% to $61.50 premarket.

Ford Motor Co. (F) increased its quarterly dividend by 25%, following a sharp selloff of the auto maker's shares since it warned of weaker profits in 2014. The company raised the payout to 12.5 cents a share, up from 10 cents. The increase should cost Ford an additional $97 million a quarter. Shares edged up 1.2% to $15.72 premarket.

Fred's Inc. (FRED) said it hired advisers to explore strategic options for the discount merchandise retailer as it reported its holiday sales were somewhat disappointing and it outlined a revamp of its merchandising and marketing teams. Shares rose 4.8% to $18.61 premarket.

Global Payments Inc.'s (GPN) fiscal second-quarter profit jumped 5.3% as the credit-card processor reported higher revenue, though operating margin narrowed. Results for the period exceeded Wall Street's expectations, pushing shares up 2.5% to $66 premarket.

Intercept Pharmaceuticals said a trial for its lead product candidate was stopped early after the study already met its primary endpoint. The trial was being conducted for obeticholic acid, a potential treatment for the chronic liver disease nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Shares more than doubled premarket to $197.94.

L Brands Inc. (LB) lowered its earnings guidance for the fiscal fourth quarter as incremental promotional activity led to lower-than-expected merchandise margins. Shares dropped 4.5% to $57.50 premarket.

Macy's Inc. (M) is laying off about 2,500 employees as part of a plan to cut costs and generate $100 million in annual savings, a move that helped the company issue an upbeat profit outlook for the new fiscal year. Shares climbed 6.5% to $55.22 premarket.

Material Sciences Corp. (MASC) agreed to be acquired by Zink Acquisition Holdings Inc. in a deal valued at $133 million. The maker of acoustical materials also reported that its fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 51% amid lower margins. Shares surged 14% to $12.75 premarket, matching the per-share offer price.

Mistras Group Inc.'s (MG) fiscal second-quarter earnings edged up 1% as the company reported an increase in revenue, driven in part by acquisitions. Adjusted earnings topped Wall Street's estimates and the company boosted its revenue guidance. Shares rose 6.5% to $23.90 in light premarket trading.

Pier 1 Imports Inc. (PIR) cut its full-year earnings guidance, after the home-furnishings retailer reported much lower than anticipated December sales. "We're extremely disappointed that December sales results came in well below our expectations, especially considering our holiday selling season kicked off with a record post-Thanksgiving weekend," said Chief Executive Alex W. Smith. Shares dropped 10% to $20.96 premarket.

Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) said it posted record sales during the holiday season, with sharply higher same-store sales at Anthropologie and Free People locations. Shares edged up 1.9% to $38.57 premarket.

 
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American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (AEO) joined the list of retailers tempering their outlooks post-holidays as the teen apparel retailer cited lower traffic and sales through the Christmas week.

Calix Inc. (CALX), a supplier of telecommunications equipment, tempered fourth-quarter expectations due to lower so-called "budget flush" spending than what the company normally experiences.

Community Health Systems Inc. (CYH) unveiled several executive promotions and a restructuring of the hospital company's divisions ahead of a pending acquisition of peer Health Management Associates Inc. (HMA).

Masco Corp. (MAS) has named insider Keith Allman to the building-products manufacturer's president and chief executive roles, succeeding Timothy Wadhams, who is retiring after a 37-year career at the company.

Medtronic Inc.'s (MDT) Symplicity technology, used for renal denervation procedures to treat difficult cases of hypertension, missed primary goals for efficacy in a U.S. clinical trial. The medical-device maker said Symplicity met primary endpoints for safety and as a result no specific action is currently indicated for patients who have had the renal denervation procedure with the Symplicity system.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Wednesday his office has filed a lawsuit against a U.S. unit of Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG (NVS, NOVN.VX) regarding an alleged kickback scheme related to its iron-reduction drug, Exjade.

Ruby Tuesday Inc.'s (RT) fiscal second-quarter loss widened sharply on weaker same-store sales and customer traffic. The casual-dining chain also unveiled more details of its restructuring plans, including the planned closures of 30 restaurants that will mostly take place in the current quarter.

Supervalu Inc.'s (SVU) fiscal third-quarter earnings nearly doubled on lower expenses and growth at its Save-A-Lot business. But revenue declined and missed expectations.

T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) said it added more than 1.6 million total customers in the fourth quarter, the third quarter in a row that the carrier has generated more than 1 million customer additions.

Texas Industries Inc.'s (TXI) fiscal second-quarter loss widened as the construction-materials company reported higher product costs and a jump in interest expenses, masking broad sales growth that boosted the top line.

WD-40 Co.'s (WDFC) fiscal first-quarter profit rose 4.9% as the company recorded an uptick in sales of its multi-purpose products, including its flagship lubricant spray.

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

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