MARKET PULSE-GE, McDonald's, Google, Microsoft, Schlumberger

Oct 19 (Reuters) - Some U.S. stocks to watch on Friday:

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WALL STREET SET TO OPEN LOWER AS EARNINGS DISAPPOINT

Stocks were poised to open lower in the wake of

disappointing results from Microsoft and Google a day earlier,

and after General Electric reported improved profit but fell

short of revenue estimates.

** GENERAL ELECTRIC CO, Thursday close $22.81, down

3.3 pct premarket

The largest U.S. conglomerate posted third-quarter revenue

of $36.3 billion, below analysts' estimates of $36.94 billion,

according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. The company said foreign

exchange negatively impacted its revenue by $1.1 billion. "The

overall environment remains challenging," the company said in a

statement.

** MCDONALD'S CORP, Thursday close $92.86, down 2.7

pct premarket

The world's biggest fast-food chain reported a lower

quarterly profit on Friday that missed analysts' expectations,

as the weak global economy and the strong U.S. dollar weighed on

results.

** GOOGLE INC, Thursday close $695.00, up 1.1 pct

premarket

At least seven brokerages cut their price targets on

Google's shares after the company missed Wall Street earnings

expectations, but analysts said growing mobile advertising

revenue points to better times ahead.

** HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC, Thursday close

$61.42, up 0.6 pct premarket

The diversified U.S. manufacturer reported a 10 percent rise

in quarterly earnings as declining natural gas prices helped

boost profits at its UOP chemical arm, offsetting weakness in

Europe.

** SCHLUMBERGER LTD, Thursday close $74.80, up 0.6

pct premarket

The world's largest oilfield services company, reported a

higher-than-expected quarterly profit, lifted by its strength

outside the volatile North American market and its exposure to

the offshore drilling boom.

** BAKER HUGHES INC, Thursday close $47.09, down 3.9

pct premarket

The world's third-largest oilfield services company,

reported weaker-than-expected quarterly results as a slowdown in

North American drilling activity hit prices.

** INGERSOLL RAND PLC, Thursday close $45.66, down

0.4 pct premarket

The maker of Trane air conditioners, Schlage locks and Club

Car golf carts reported sharply higher third-quarter earnings,

but said European and Asian markets had weakened, and its

fourth-quarter forecast was below Wall Street expectations.

** MANPOWER INC, Thursday close $35.98, up 8.4 pct

premarket

The largest U.S.-listed staffing company reported a

third-quarter profit above market expectations as higher gross

margins offset big falls in demand in Europe, and it forecast

better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings.

** MCMORAN EXPLORATION CO, Thursday close $12.76,

down 2.8 pct premarket

The oil and gas producer reported a bigger third-quarter

loss as production fell due to shutdowns caused by Hurricane

Isaac.

** KANSAS CITY SOUTHERN, Thursday close $77.38, down

0.5 pct premarket

The railroad company reported a lower-than-expected

quarterly profit hit by a higher Mexican tax

bill.

** MICROSOFT CORP, Thursday close $29.49, down 3.2

pct premarket

The company's quarterly profit fell a greater-than-expected

22 percent, as sales of computers running its Windows operating

system dipped and some revenue was deferred ahead of upcoming

releases of its core Windows and Office products.

** WAL-MART STORES INC, Thursday close $76.56, down

0.3 pct premarket

Indian regulators have begun an informal inquiry into

allegations that Wal-Mart violated rules restricting foreign

investment in the country's fast-growing retailing industry, the

New York Times reported. http://link.reuters.com/ruv43t

FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD, Thursday close

$6.12, down 3.6 pct premarket

The contract electronics manufacturer forecast third-quarter

results below analyst estimates on Thursday, prompting a host of

brokerages to cut their price targets on the stock.

** ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, Thursday close $2.62,

down 1.9 pct premarket

The PC chipmaker said on Thursday that it will cut its work

force of nearly 12,000 by 15 percent - its second round of

layoffs in less than a year as it struggles with a weak global

economy and a consumer shift toward tablets.

At least two brokerages cut their ratings on the stock

citing the company's fourth-quarter forecast of 5 percent to 13

percent dip in sales.

** VIVUS INC, $20.43, down 3 pct premarket

European regulators recommended that its obesity pill not be

approved, citing potential safety concerns related to the

long-term use of the drug.

** COOPER INDUSTRIES PLC, Thursday close $74.73

The electrical products maker that agreed to a takeover by

Eaton Corp, reported higher-than-expected quarterly

profit and sales, helped by lighting demand in North America and

growth in international energy projects.

** PARKER HANNIFIN CORP, Thursday close $85.07, down

7.8 pct premarket

The maker of control systems for manufacturing and transport

reported lower quarterly earnings on Friday and cut its forecast

for the fiscal year that ends in June, citing an uncertain

economic outlook.

** SANDISK CORP, Thursday close $42.86, up 7 pct

premarket

The company's quarterly results topped expectations as

rising demand for chips used in smartphones and tablets and a

limited supply drove up prices for flash memory, a trend that

the chipmaker expects will continue.

** SHAW GROUP INC, Thursday close $44.36, down 0.1

pct premarket

The U.S. engineering company, which agreed in July to a $3

billion takeover by Chicago Bridge & Iron Co CBI.N, reported a

fourth-quarter profit on higher sales in its power business.

** COPANO ENERGY LLC, Thursday close $33.36, down 4

pct premarket

The company which provides services to natural gas producers

said it made a public offering of 6 million common shares on

Thursday.

** AIR PRODUCTS & CHEMICALS INC, Thursday close

$85.83, down 2.4 pct premarket

The company posted a sharp drop in quarterly profit on

Friday, partly due to weak demand for a solar product, and the

industrial gas producer said its chief financial officer will

retire.

** CALGON CARBON CORP, Thursday close $13.98, down 7

pct post-market

The provider of water purification products and services

said on Thursday it expects to report a third-quarter loss

affected by lower utilization of activated carbon.

** MARVELL TECHNOLOGY GROUP LTD, Thursday close

$8.83, down 14.4 pct premarket

The chipmaker cut its revenue estimate for the current

quarter and announced the departure of its chief financial

officer. [ID: nL1E8LIEWJ]

** CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORP, Thursday close

$57.30, up 4.7 pct premarket

The company's quarterly profit rose 44 percent after two big

acquisitions, but the lender said increasing competition for

automobile and commercial loans may curb future growth.

** RIVERBED TECHNOLOGY INC, Thursday close $20.69,

up 10.2 pct premarket

** F5 NETWORKS INC, Thursday close $97.05, up 2 pct

premarket

Network gear maker Riverbed reported a better-than-expected

third-quarter profit and forecast strong results for the current

quarter as demand grew for its products that boost data speeds

over wide-area networks.

Peer F5 Networks's shares also rose on the news.

** ISIS PHARMACEUTICAL INC, Thursday close $9.62,

up 6.6 pct premarket

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration panel of outside experts

recommended the Sanofi SA and Isis Pharmaceutical

drug, Kynamro, for treatment of a rare genetic disorder that

causes unusually high cholesterol and life-threatening

cardiovascular disease.

** CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL INC, Thursday close

$285.93 down 11.7 pct premarket

The Denver-based burrito chain said on Thursday that

restaurant sales growth would cool in 2013 and some analysts

said that might signal the end of the hyper growth investors had

come to enjoy.

Wedbush Securities Inc downgraded the company's stock to

"neutral" from "outperform" as it does not expect same-store

sales to grow due to the company's low marketing spend and lack

of price increases.

** PIXELWORKS INC, Thursday close $3.05, down 23

pct premarket

The digital display chipmaker reported lower-than-expected

quarterly sales driven by lower licensing revenue recognized in

the quarter. Third-quarter revenue fell about 8 percent to $16.3

million, below analysts' estimates of $17 million, according to

Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

** CAPITAL ONE FINANCIAL CORP, Thursday close

$57.30, up 4.5 pct premarket

The bank's quarterly profit rose 44 percent after two big

acquisitions, but the lender said increasing competition for

automobile and commercial loans may curb future growth. RBC and

Nomira raised their price target on the bank.

** ACACIA RESEARCH CORP, Thursday close $25.03,

down 7.7 pct premarket

The company, which buys and licenses patents, reported a

surprise third-quarter loss of 17 cents while analysts'

estimated a profit of 23 cents, according to Thomson Reuters

I/B/E/S.

Barclays Capital and J.P. Morgan cut their price target on

Acacia. J.P. Morgan analyst Paul Coster said the company had a

problem in closing a strong pipeline of large licensing deals

due to prolonged negotiations.

** VOC ENERGY TRUST, Thursday close $19.22, down 9.3

pct premarket

The company said its trust distribution of net profits for

the third quarter would be payable on Nov. 14 and said its

unitholders will receive a distribution of $7.82 million, or 46

cents per share.

** RAMBUS INC, Thursday close $4.94, up 2.4 pct

post-market

The technology licensing company reported third-quarter

revenue of $57.5 million on Thursday that was above analysts'

average estimates of $56 million, according to Thomson Reuters

I/B/E/S.

** HEALTHWAYS INC Thursday close $11.10, down 10.4

pct post-market

The healthcare service provider narrowly beat third-quarter

earnings estimates, but lowered its full-year profit outlook to

a range of 24 to 30 cents per share, down from previous view of

38 to 50 cents.

The company also missed third-quarter revenue estimates,

hurt by the loss of a contract with Cigna Corp, and

narrowed its full-year revenue outlook to $670 million to $685

million, from its prior view of $665 million to $670

million.

** CITY NATIONAL CORP, Thursday close $48.82, down

1.3 pct post-market

The Los Angeles-based regional bank reported its

third-quarter earnings, beating analyst estimates as the bank

kept aside less money to cover bad loans.

** ARCHER DANIELS MIDLAND CO, Thursday close $29.07

The company bought a 10 percent stake in GrainCorp Ltd

, valuing the Australian grains handler at $2.8 billion,

and is seeking talks on a takeover that would give the U.S.

agribusiness a stronger platform to supply Asia.

** GENESIS ENERGY LP, Thursday close $33.67

Barclays Capital started coverage on the stock with

"overweight" rating.

** HOME LOAN SERVICING SOLUTIONS LTD, Thursday

close $18.60

Barclays Capital raised the company's stock to "overweight"

rating.

(Compiled by Aditi Shrivastava in Bangalore)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/market-pulse-ge-mcdonalds-google-microsoft-schlumberger-132338344--sector.html

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