U.S. HOT STOCK FUTURES: HOT STOCKS TO WATCH

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Thursday's session are Netflix Inc. (NFLX), Apple Inc. (AAPL) and Mellanox Technologies Ltd. (MLNX, MLNX.TV).

Netflix capped a turbulent year by posting a surprise fourth-quarter profit and adding more Internet subscribers than expected, news that sent its stock rocketing about 39% to $143.80 in premarket trading.

Apple reported mostly flat year-over-year earnings for the December quarter, the first of its fiscal year, despite record iPhone and iPad sales. Shares of the Cupertino, Calif., company fell 9.5% in premarket trading to $465.38 as the increased product sales failed to satisfy Wall Street's expectations. The results built on growing concerns that Apple may be losing its edge with consumers and have a tough time topping its past success.

Mellanox's fourth-quarter earnings surged as the data-storage company recorded a double-digit increase in revenue, though it offered revenue guidance sharply below analyst expectations for the current quarter. Shares tumbled 21% to $41.10 premarket.

Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer SA (ERJ, EMBR3.BR) said Republic Airways has signed a contract for as many as 94 ERJ175 planes to fly regional routes for American Airlines. Republic agreed to buy 47 of the planes and the option to buy another 47, Embraer said in a regulatory filing. Should Republic exercise that option, the total value of the sale would reach $4 billion, Embraer said. Shares rose 9% to $31.14 premarket.

ITT Educational Services Inc. (ESI) swung to a surprise fourth-quarter loss as the for-profit educational company saw a double-digit drop in new student enrollments and a sharp rise in operating costs. Shares fell 8.5% to $13.10 in premarket trading.

Buckeye Partners L.P. (BPL) has launched an offering of six million units representing limited partner interests. The pipeline-owning company expects to use the proceeds to pay down its debt, and said it will have around 96.4 million units outstanding after the offering. Shares were off 4.3% in premarket trading at $52.16.

F5 Networks Inc. (FFIV) reported a 4.5% jump in fiscal first-quarter profit and issued an encouraging earnings outlook for the current quarter as stronger services revenue helped to offset slowing growth from new product sales. Shares rose 4.7% to $103.40 premarket.

Swift Transportation Co.'s (SWFT) fourth-quarter profit rose 27% as the trucking company reported revenue gains across its segments. Shares climbed 17% to $11.94 premarket as adjusted earnings topped analyst expectations.

Curis Inc. (CRIS), a drug development company, said it has earned a $350,000 milestone payment from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society after starting a Phase I clinical trial study of a refractory lymphoma and multiple myeloma treatment. Shares rose 6.7% to $3.33 premarket.

Biodel Inc. (BIOD) reported positive top-line results from a Phase 1 clinical trial of two ultra-rapid-acting insulin analog candidates. Shares of the biopharmaceutical company rose 12% to $2.62 in light premarket trading.

 
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AFC Enterprises Inc. (AFCE) raised its 2012 earnings projection, as the restaurant operator continues to see strong same-store sales.

Altera Corp.'s (ALTR) fourth-quarter earnings fell 17% as the chip manufacturer said sales of its older products were soft.

Amgen Inc. (AMGN) reported an 11% increase in fourth-quarter revenue as stronger sales of its best-selling arthritis drug offset declining sales of its antianemia drugs.

Ariad Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ARIA) is offering an undisclosed number of shares. The company intends to use the proceeds for making and marketing its leukemia treatment Iclusig, and for developing its other drug candidates.

Crown Castle International Corp. (CCI) swung to a fourth-quarter loss as the cell-tower company recorded heavy debt-retirement charges, masking an increase in revenue.

Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s (CBST) fourth-quarter earnings more than quintupled as the biopharmaceutical company posted much stronger sales, while the year-earlier results were weighed down by income-tax provisions.

Energen Corp.'s (EGN) fourth-quarter earnings surged as the energy company saw a double-digit revenue increase from its oil and gas operations and as mark-to-market gains on certain financial commodity contracts boosted bottom-line results.

Managed-care provider Health Net Inc. (HNT) said it has reached a new agreement with Tenet Healthcare Corp. (THC), reinstating a relationship with the Tenet's network of hospitals in California that expired in December.

Hill-Rom Holdings Inc.'s (HRC) fiscal first-quarter earnings fell 27% as the hospital-bed supplier recorded significantly higher costs, partially offsetting stronger capital sales.

Lam Research Corp.'s (LRCX) fiscal second-quarter profit slumped 81% on acquisition costs as the semiconductor-equipment company said Chief Financial Officer Ernie Maddock will be leaving the company in mid-April.

LSI Corp. (LSI) swung to a fourth-quarter profit as the storage-chip manufacturer recorded strong revenue growth and wider margins.

Natural Resource Partners LP (NRP) has paid $292.5 million for an interest in OCI Wyoming LP, as well as some shares of the soda-ash producer from units of Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC).

Noble Corp.'s (NE) fourth-quarter earnings were roughly flat from a year earlier as the offshore-oil driller's higher revenue from contract-drilling services was offset by repair costs and other operating expenses.

Polycom Inc.'s (PLCM) fourth-quarter earnings fell 96% as the video-conferencing company's revenue declined across its geographic regions from a year earlier.

Raymond James Financial Inc.'s (RJF) fiscal first-quarter earnings jumped 28% as the regional broker reported stronger results for its private-client group and capital-markets business.

RLI Corp.'s (RLI) fourth-quarter earnings fell 16% as the specialty property and casualty insurer was hurt by impacts from superstorm Sandy.

SanDisk Corp.'s (SNDK) fourth-quarter profit fell 24% as the flash memory maker's profit margin and revenue continued to erode amid a shift in the company's focus. The company gave investors a downbeat first-quarter and full-year revenue outlook in a conference call.

Sealy Corp.'s (ZZ) fourth-quarter loss narrowed as the mattress maker's sales in both the U.S. and abroad strengthened and margins improved.

Stryker Corp.'s (SYK) fourth-quarter earnings fell 33% as the medical-device maker recorded hefty charges related to a product recall, while sales continued to strengthen.

Teradyne Inc. (TER) swung to a fourth-quarter loss as the company reported lower sales of its chip-testing equipment. The company also gave a downbeat view of the first quarter.

United Rentals Inc.'s (URI) fourth-quarter earnings rose 41% as the equipment-rental company benefited from a continuing recovery in demand, higher rental rates and a boost from its RSC Holdings Inc. acquisition in April. Revenue missed expectations and the company gave a cautious revenue outlook for 2013.

Varian Medical Systems Inc.'s (VAR) fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 5.7% as the medical equipment and software company posted higher sales for its oncology systems and x-ray products segments. However, Varian, which makes medical equipment and software to treat cancer, offered downbeat revenue guidance for the current quarter.

Western Digital Corp.'s (WDC) fiscal second-quarter profit more than doubled as hard-drive shipments jumped, benefiting from a comparison to a year-ago quarter impacted by a natural disaster.

Write to Anna Prior at [e-mail]

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