U.S. Hot Stocks: Hot Stocks to Watch

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Thursday's session are Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR), Family Dollar Stores Inc. (FDO), Zillow Inc. (Z) and Trulia Inc. (TRLA).

Dollar Tree said it will acquire Family Dollar Stores in a cash-and-stock deal that values the discount retailer at about $8.5 billion. The enterprise value of the deal, including debt and other factors, is about $9.2 billion. Dollar Tree jumped 10.8% to $60.05 in premarket trading, while Family Dollar surged 25% to $75.85.

Zillow reached a deal to buy rival Trulia in a stock-for-stock deal valued at about $2.6 billion. The transaction will bring together two of the biggest names in the fast-growing market for online real-estate information. Zillow's shares dropped 3.1% to $154 premarket, while Trulia rose 16.6% to $65.70.

Tyson Foods Inc. (TSN) said its fiscal third-quarter profit and sales rose on higher prices and volumes, while the food giant prepared to close its deal to buy Hillshire Brands Co. (HSH) and reached a deal to sell chicken operations in Mexico and Brazil. The profit missed analysts' expectations, but the top line easily exceeded them. Shares edged up slightly to $39.60 premarket.

Horizon Pharma Inc. (HZNP) plunged 28% to $10.01 premarket after the company said two pharmacy-benefit managers, CVS Caremark Corp. (CVS) and Express Scripts Holding Co. (ESRX), will place the company's Duexis and Vimovo on their exclusion lists effective Jan. 1.

Cummins Inc. (CMI) said its second-quarter earnings increased 7.7%, driven by strong sales in North America and of heavy-duty truck engines. The company also raised its revenue forecast for the year. Shares dipped 0.8% to $148.92 premarket.

Cal-Maine Foods Inc. (CALM) swung to a fiscal fourth-quarter profit amid improving sales and as the year-earlier period was weighed down by an antitrust litigation settlement. Sales gained 5.3% to $83.50 premarket.

Hospira Inc. (HSP) has emerged as a bidder for Danone SA's (DANOY, BN.FR) medical-nutrition unit in a deal that could be worth about $5 billion and mark the latest in a flurry of so-called inversion deals designed to sidestep U.S. taxes, according to a person familiar with the matter. Hospira's shares increased 1.2% to $52.35 premarket.

21st Century Fox Inc. (FOXA) is prepared to offer shareholders of Time Warner Inc. (TWX) board representation as part of its bid to acquire the media company, according to a person familiar with the matter. 21st Century Fox shares fell 0.6% to $32.60 premarket, while Time Warner edged up 0.4% to $85.31.

 
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Investors dumped shares of Theravance Inc. (THRX) last week, after GlaxoSmithKline Plc (GSK, GSK.LN), which distributes Theravance's flagship pulmonary-disorder treatments, reported sales of the products fell dramatically below expectations in the latest quarter. More disappointment could lie ahead amid heated competition in the pulmonary-care market, leading to worries that Theravance's dividend eventually could be at risk, according to a recent report in Barron's. Theravance's shares were inactive premarket.

Write to Tom Rojas at [e-mail]

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