Ann Taylor, Continental Air, McDonald's: U.S. Equity Preview

By Katherine Greene

Aug. 12 (Bloomberg) -- The following companies may have unusual price changes in U.S. markets. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names, and prices are as of 7:46 a.m. in New York, unless stated otherwise.

Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN US) fell 5.8 percent to $24.50. Citigroup cut its rating of the clothing retailer that targets women ages 25 to 55 and said the company could report lower-than- expected second-quarter profit.

Continental Airlines Inc. (CAL US) gained 4.8 percent to $18.60. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its rating on the fourth- largest U.S. carrier to ``overweight'' from ``underweight.'' Analysts said the drop in fuel prices would help airline companies realize profits in 2009.

Delta Airlines Inc. (DAL US), which is merging with Northwest Airlines to create the world's largest carrier, rose 5.4 percent to $9.84. JPMorgan raised the shares to ``overweight'' from ``neutral.''

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD US): Viread, the oldest of its AIDS medicines, gained U.S. approval as a treatment for chronic hepatitis B. The Food and Drug Administration cleared the use of Viread by adults as a once-a-day tablet for liver disease. The shares gained 1 percent to $57 in extended trading yesterday.

LDK Solar Co. (LDK US) jumped 22 percent to $40.99. The Chinese maker of silicon wafers said net income climbed to $149.5 million, or $1.29 a share, from $28.7 million, or 29 cents, a year earlier. Analysts had an average estimate for earnings of 43 cents, according to Bloomberg data.

McDonald's Corp. (MCD US) slid 1.2 percent to $65.15. UBS AG cut its rating of the world's largest restaurant company, citing slowing fast food trends in the U.S. and a forecast for increased U.S. job losses.

Ventas Inc. (VTR US): The real-estate investment trust that owns senior housing and medical buildings agreed to sell 4.4 million common shares though underwriter Merrill Lynch & Co. Ventas will use proceeds to repay debt. The company also said it had funds from operations of 71 cents a share before certain costs in the second quarter, matching the median estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. The shares fell 2.6 percent to $46.75 in extended trading yesterday.

Zoltek Cos. (ZOLT US): The maker of carbon fibers for products such as windmill blades said third-quarter earnings declined 54 percent to $2.3 million, or 7 cents a share. Before certain costs, Zoltek earned 12 cents a share, below the 31-cent median estimate in a survey of five analysts by Bloomberg. The shares dropped 8.4 percent to $16.75 in extended trading yesterday.

To contact the reporter on this story: Katherine Greene in New York at kgreene8@bloomberg.net.