By Elizabeth Campbell and Whitney Kisling
(Corrects diaper brand in Procter & Gamble mover.)
Oct. 29 (Bloomberg) -- The following companies may have unusual price changes in U.S. trading. Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are as of 8:50 a.m. in New York, unless otherwise specified.
Apollo Group Inc. (APOL US) rose 5.6 percent to $62.15 in late trading yesterday. The owner of the for-profit University of Phoenix said that fiscal fourth-quarter profit was 75 cents a share, excluding some items. That beat the average analyst estimate by 11 percent, according to Bloomberg data.
Centex Corp. (CTX US) fell 2.1 percent to $9.07. The fourth- largest U.S. homebuilder reported its sixth consecutive quarterly loss as rising foreclosures and stricter lending standards reduced demand for new homes.
Comcast Corp. (CMCSA US): The largest U.S. cable operator posted third-quarter profit excluding some items that beat the average analyst estimate by 11 percent after cutting spending and adding Internet and telephone customers. The shares rose 25 percent to $16.96 in regular trading yesterday.
Corning Inc. (GLW US) tumbled 13 percent to $9.91. The biggest maker of glass for flat-panel televisions forecast fourth-quarter sales and profit that missed analysts' estimates as TV demand slows.
Invitrogen Corp. (IVGN US): The maker of tools for biotechnology research was raised to ``buy'' from ``hold'' at Deutsche Bank AG. The shares rose 7.7 percent to $25.05 in regular trading yesterday.
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ US) declined 1.5 percent to $63.25. The world's largest maker of health-care products was cut to ``neutral'' from ``overweight'' at JPMorgan Chase & Co., which said 2009 will be a ``tough year'' as two of the company's three largest drugs face generic competition.
Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT US) increased 0.8 percent to $29.10. The world's second-largest food company reported third-quarter profit that rose more than some analysts estimated after price increases on cheese, chocolate and other items countered higher commodity costs.
Procter & Gamble Co. (PG US): The world's largest consumer- products company reported first-quarter profit that rose more than analysts' estimates as the maker of Tide laundry detergent and Pampers diapers raised prices and introduced new products. The shares rose 10 percent to $63.23 in regular trading yesterday.
Qwest Communications International Inc. (Q US) lost 6.2 percent to $2.44. The third-largest U.S. local phone company plans to cut 1,200 jobs, or more than 3 percent of the workforce, and said sales and earnings for the year that will be at the low end of its forecasts as customers end service.
RF Micro Devices Inc. (RFMD US) gained 16 percent to $2.20. The maker of chips for Nokia Oyj mobile phones said profit excluding some items was 7 cents a share. That topped the 5-cent average estimate of analysts in a Bloomberg survey.
Tessera Technologies Inc. (TSRA US) jumped 20 percent to $15.50. The designer of packaging for computer chips said it won an arbitration decision in a contract dispute over patent royalties with Amkor Technology Inc. (AMKR US).
United Rentals Inc. (URI US): The largest U.S. construction- equipment rental company said 2008 profit will be lower than it previously projected because of ``softness'' in its markets. The stock rose 9.6 percent to $8.21 in regular trading yesterday.
VistaPrint Ltd. (VPRT US) slid 17 percent to $20. The online provider of printing services said second-quarter profit, excluding some items, will be 36 cents to 41 cents a share. That's less than the average analyst estimate of 43 cents, according to Bloomberg data.
Williams-Sonoma Inc. (WSM US) fell 14 percent to $9. The biggest U.S. gourmet-cookware chain lowered its forecast for third-quarter and yearly profit after saying sales slowed in the past six weeks.
Wisconsin Energy Corp. (WEC US) gained 8.3 percent to $45. The state's largest utility owner will replace MGIC Investment Corp. (MTG US) in the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, S&P said in a statement. The addition of Wisconsin Energy may support its stock price as money managers tracking the S&P 500 buy shares.
To contact the reporters on this story: Elizabeth Campbell in New York at ecampbell11@bloomberg.net; Whitney Kisling in New York at wkisling@bloomberg.net
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