Company/EPS Estimate
- (KFI)/.33
- (MOV)/.66
- (TOL)/-.70
- (TTC)/.14
- (NSM)/.31
- (ESL)/.78
- (PAY)/.39
Alcon Inc. (ACL): The world's biggest eye-care company said its board authorized a share buyback program for as much as $1.1 billion over the next year. The stock rose $1.65 to $141.85 yesterday.
ConAgra Foods Inc. (CAG): The maker of Peter Pan peanut butter and Slim Jims meat snacks said second-quarter profit from continuing operations was ``higher than planned.'' ConAgra shares added 2 cents to $24.39 yesterday.
GameStop Corp. (GME) gained $2.70, or 4.7 percent, to $60.60 in trading before the open of U.S. exchanges. The world's largest video-game retailer will replace Dow Jones & Co. (DJ:US) in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, S&P said.
General Dynamics Corp. (GD): The second-largest builder of warships for the U.S. Navy said it may buy back as many as 10 million shares. The stock gained $2.57 to $92.43 yesterday.
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) lost $4.46, or 2 percent, to $213.80 in trading before the open of U.S. exchanges. The world's largest securities firm and Morgan Stanley (MS) were cut to ``neutral'' from ``buy'' by Merrill Lynch & Co. Analyst Guy Moszkowski reduced his 2008 earnings estimates for both investment banks. Morgan Stanley shares dropped 1.8 percent to $49.20.
NovaStar Financial Inc. (NFI): The Missouri mortgage company trying to survive a cash shortage said Wachovia Corp. would continue to waive loan agreements requiring NovaStar to maintain an undisclosed net worth through Dec. 7. NovaStar shares increased 40 cents, or 19 percent, to $2.48 yesterday.
Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc American depositary receipts (RBS) gained 66 cents, or 6.8 percent, to $10.31. The U.K.'s second-biggest bank said earnings will exceed analysts' estimates this year as it also reported 1.5 billion pounds ($3 billion) of writedowns caused by slumping credit markets.
-MM
