BEFORE THE BELL -2: US HOT STOCKS TO WATCH

Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade in Thursday's session are First Solar Inc. (FSLR), Symantec Corp. (SYMC) and Lincoln National Corp. (LNC).

First Solar's third-quarter profit jumped 54% as the thin-film solar-power modules maker posted higher revenue, but margins slumped on pricing pressures. Shares dropped 15% to $128.40 in after-hours trading as revenue badly missed expectations.

Symantec's fiscal second-quarter profit rose 19% on rising margins and strong sales in its consumer segment as results beat its expectations. The security-software company also said it would buy back up to $1 billion in shares. Shares climbed 5.2% to $16.55 in late trading.

Lincoln National's third-quarter profit--its first in a year--rose 3.3% on a gain from an asset sale. Shares climbed 8.1% to $24.05 in after-hours trading as the life insurer and variable-annuity provider's earnings topped Wall Street's expectations.

XL Capital Ltd. (XL) returned to the black in the third quarter, after big losses a year ago from dealings with Syncora Holdings Ltd. (SYCRF), as the property-and-casualty insurer reported core profit well above analysts' expectations. Shares climbed 5.4% to $17.10 in late trading.

LSI Corp.'s (LSI) third-quarter profit surged as a $65 million tax benefit masked lower sales and margins. The storage-chip maker posted a rare profit and better-than-expected results, sending shares up 7% to $5.34 after hours.

Cerner Corp.'s (CERN) third-quarter earnings rose 7.5% as the health-care information technology company saw a healthy increase in bookings. But shares slid 1.9% to $75.40 in after-hours trading as Cerner projected fourth-quarter revenue below Wall Street estimates while putting its earnings view at the low end of consensus.

Akamai Technologies Inc.'s (AKAM) third-quarter profit slipped 1.8% on falling margins as the Internet content-delivery company beat its forecasts. Shares grew 9.8% to $22.14 in late trading.

Flowserve Corp.'s (FLS) third-quarter profit was flat as cost-cutting offset a decline in sales, and the company said it is expanding its realignment efforts. Shares fell 8.3% to $91.15 in after-hours trading as the valve and pump producer's revenue fell short of Wall Street's expectations although earnings topped analysts' estimates.

Owens-Illinois Inc.'s (OI) third-quarter profit jumped 61% on cost cutting and earnings at the container manufacturer beat expectations. But shares slumped 9% to $30.50 after hours as Chairman and Chief Executive Al Stroucken said seasonal volume trends and production cuts to reduce inventories will likely lead to lower earnings sequentially in the fourth quarter.

Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (ETH) swung to a fiscal first-quarter loss as the home-furnishings retailer posted slumping sales, but it is beginning to hire manufacturing and retail employees selectively. Shares rose 1.5% to $13.33 in late trading.

 
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Questar Corp.'s (STR) third-quarter profit tumbled 52%, as the oil-and-gas company's results were hurt by lower natural-gas prices. But results topped analysts' expectations and the company boosted its profit target for the year.

Torchmark Corp.'s (TMK) third-quarter earnings jumped 59% on year-earlier investment losses, but premiums fell. The life insurer cut its 2009 earnings target.

Whiting Petroleum Corp.'s (WLL) third-quarter earnings fell 72% on a bigger-than-expected drop in revenue, though the oil-and-gas explorer's total production in the period topped its forecast. The company also raised its 2009 production forecast.

-By Dow Jones Newswires, write to [e-mail]