Thursday, March 28, 2024
Homemarket insiderEarly movers: TWC, CMCSA, PEP, WFM, Z, AVP & more

Early movers: TWC, CMCSA, PEP, WFM, Z, AVP & more

Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:

Time Warner Cable–NBCUniversal parent Comcast will buy Time Warner Cable in a $45 billion stock deal worth $158.82 per share. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts and TWC CEO Rob Marcus told CNBC they are both confident the deal will be approved by regulators.

PepsiCo – The beverage giant earned $1.05 per share for the fourth quarter, beating estimates by four cents, though revenue was slightly shy of estimates. Pepsi also increased its annual dividend by 15 percent to $2.62 per share.

Starwood Hotels–The hotel operator beat estimates by three cents with quarterly profit of 73 cents per share, with revenue also beating estimates. However, the company gave a weaker than expected outlook, citing an uncertain business climate.

Avon Products–Avon beat estimates by four cents with earnings of 34 cents per share, but revenue was short of expectations because of declining business in emerging markets. Separately, the company is reportedly in talks to settle a bribery probe, with the proposed cost in the tens of millions of dollars, according to Dow Jones.

Discovery Communications–The media company reported fourth quarter profit of 92 cents per share, three cents above estimates, though revenue was slightly short of estimates. Discovery's 2014 revenue outlook is above Street consensus, however, and the company also increased its stock buyback plan by $1.5 billion.

Generac–The generator maker earned $1.11 per share, excluding certain items, for the fourth quarter, 21 cents above estimates, with revenue scoring a beat as well. Generac continues to benefit from increasing focus on power outages from bad weather, and reported a third consecutive year of record revenue in 2013.

J.C. Penney – The retailer named former Kohl's and Stage Stores executive Ed Record as its new chief financial officer, effective March 24. He'll replace current CFO Ken Hannah, who will remain through that date to assure a smooth transition.

Cisco Systems –The network equipment maker earned 47 cents per share, excluding certain items, for its second quarter, one cent above estimates. Cisco also raised its quarterly dividend by two cents to 19 cents per share, but saw a slower than expected decline in revenue.

Foster Wheeler –Switzerland-based Foster Wheeler will be acquired by British engineering company AMEC in a cash and stock acquisition valued at about $3.3 billion.

CBS–The media company posted fourth quarter profit of 78 cents per share, excluding certain items, two cents above estimates, and announced a $1.5 billion stock buyback program. CBS saw a significant jump in revenue from content licensing and distribution.

American Airlines Group–The airline has gained 24 takeoff and landing rights at New York's JFK Airport by swapping 16 slots at Washington's Reagan National Airport with JetBlue.

Merck–The drug maker may get more than $10 billion for its consumer business, according to Dow Jones. Merck is reportedly making progress in selling the unit, which makes consumer brands like Claritin and Coppertone.

Whole Foods–The grocer fell two cents short of estimates with fiscal first quarter profit of 42 cents per share, and also cut its 2014 sales and profit forecast. The natural foods grocer is facing increasing competition from traditional grocers who are offering more organic foods. Whole Foods Co-CEO Walter Robb will appear on CNBC's Squawk on the Street this morning at 9:15 a.m. ET to discuss the quarter and the outlook.

Mondelez International–Mondelez missed estimates by two cents with fourth quarter profit of 42 cents per share, excluding certain items. Revenue was shy of expectations as well. The food producer has been investing heavily in emerging markets, as well as implementing cost-saving restructuring measures, and does see full year earnings above Street estimates.

Cheesecake Factory–The restaurant chain reported fourth quarter profit of $0.57 per share, excluding certain items, falling short of estimates by two cents. Revenue was also short of consensus, as the restaurant chain posted a 0.9 percent rise in same-store sales, impacted by severe winter storms.

Angie's List –The company earned five cents per share for the fourth quarter, shy of the 13 cent consensus Street estimate, and the online review site also projected a current quarter revenue outlook that's short of analyst forecasts.

Nvidia–Nvidia beat estimates by seven cents with fourth quarter profit of 25 cents per share, and the graphics chip maker also sees current quarter revenue above analyst estimates. Nvidia is benefitting from gains in its PC gaming business.

LeapFrog–The educational toy maker posted a breakeven fourth quarter, shy of estimates of a 14 cent per share profit. Its fourth quarter revenue and its current quarter sales projection were also short of consensus. LeapFrog cites a challenging retail environment that is likely to continue this year.

Zillow–The company reported fourth quarter profit of 19 cents per share, 12 cents above estimates, with revenue above estimates as well. The real estate website was helped by the housing market recovery which boosted its subscription roles.

Skechers–The shoe retailer earned 28 cents per share for the fourth quarter, 12 cents above estimates. Revenue also beat consensus, with the company crediting a more "diversified product approach"

By CNBC's Peter Schacknow

Questions? Comments? Email us at marketinsider@cnbc.com

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