Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM) is down 5.5% this morning at $36.60 on over 100,000 shares.  The media and content accelerator beat earnings estimates even though earnings were down 15%.  Despite a revenue gain, the company announced that its CEO would step down from the company by the end of 2013.

Cirrus Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRUS) rose 11% ahead of the close to $23.09 today, but shares are up another 8% or so on over 500,000 shares since the market closed after reporting revenues and earnings ahead of estimates.  This will mark a 52-week high.

Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXS) beat earnings and raised guidance; the stock was up 6.5% last night and shares are now up 8.3% at $23.09 on almost 50,000 shares.

Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) had a 32% earnings gain is being trumped with an outlook that is not as robust as investors were hoping.  Shares were down over 8% last night but the stock is down only about 4.5% at $21.04 this morning.

Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) is trading up almost 8% at $16.20 and we have seen almost 500,000 shares trade hands.  There is a rumor of a buyout or of some sort of deal involving the company but details are not that clear as of yet.

Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX) won on an earnings gain yet again and shares were up 7.6% last night; now shares are up 8.5% at $162.21 and that is a new 52-week high above $161.56 if it holds.

Heartware International, Inc. (NASDAQ: HTWR) is up over 15% at $80.10 on more than 100,000 shares; the company received a favorable FDA Advisory Committee vote for its Ventricular Assist System to bridge  transplant for patients with end-stage heart failure.

H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) claimed a record year in total tax clients the company is shedding some 350 jobs and is shutting some 250 stores in order to save money.  Shares were down over 10% last night and are now down 13.9% at $14.41 pre-market.

Logitech International SA (NASDAQ: LOGI) reported earnings, but this is up because of a change made in its executive management in what investors will hope is a solid turnaround.  Shares are up over 13% at $8.85 in thin pre-market trading.

Nuance Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NUAN) issued guidance that appears to be above expectations and shares are continuing their surge.  This is up almost 13% on almost 200,000 shares pre-market.

Skechers U.S.A., Inc. (NYSE: SKX) is up 16% at $17.34 in thin pre-market trading despite a huge drop in sales and despite a loss as the cleaning out of inventory and restructuring is taking hold with pairs sold on the rise.

Stamps.com Inc. (NASDAQ: STMP) is up 11.3% at $31.50 in thin volume pre-market after it grew handily:  27% in its core PC postage revenues and up 41% in non-GAAP earnings per share.

TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TQNT) rose over 7% yesterday as an Apple-winner, but shares are down huge as guidance fell short of estimates.  Maybe Apple drove too hard of a bargain.  The drop was over 13% last night and the drop this morning is 14.6% at $4.71 on over 350,000 shares.

Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX) showed a net income drop but its outlook for the current quarter is signaling improvements are on the way.  Shares were up over 7% last night and that is the same today with a gain of 7.36% to $36.85 on more than 50,000 shares in the pre-market.

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JON C. OGG

Akamai Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: AKAM) is seeing what might be an unusual move to some.  The company beat earnings estimates even though earnings were down 15%.  Despite a revenue gain, the company announced that its CEO would step down from the company by the end of 2013.  Shares closed up 2.7% today and the stock is up another 2.7% at $38.75 in the after-hours session.

Ancestry.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: ACOM) rose 4.4% ahead of the closing bell to $24.44 but the company announced earnings and that it is acquiring a service called Archives.com as well.  This is for more growth and solidification of its business and the stock is up another 6% at $26.00 in the after-hours session on over 50,000 shares.

Cirrus Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ: CRUS) rose 11% ahead of the close to $23.09 today, but shares are up another 8% or so on over 500,000 shares since the market closed after reporting revenues and earnings ahead of estimates.  This will mark a 52-week high.

Citrix Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: CTXS) was up 3.5% to $77.17 today but then after beating earnings and raising guidance the stock is up yet another 6.5% to $77.35 in the after-hours session on about 400,000 shares since the close.

Crocs, Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) has to admit that its shoes are ugly even if they are comfortable.  Its stock was up 2.5% at $22.04 ahead of the close, but a 32% earnings gain is being trumped with an outlook that is not as robust as investors were hoping.  Shares are down over 8% at $20.22 on more than 250,000 shares since the close.

Equinix, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQIX) is back in the saddle and shares are now again within striking distance of new highs.  Shares closed up 1.2% at $149.47 on the day but investors are cheering its earnings gains with a 7.6% gain to $160.85 on over 300,000 shares traded since the closing bell.

H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) was up 0.9% in normal trading today but despite a record year in total tax clients the company is shedding some 350 jobs and is shutting some 250 stores in order to save money.  Shares are down 10.4% at $14.35 in the after-hours session against a 52-week range of $12.54 to $17.83.

LSI Corporation (NYSE: LSI) has been riding high this week on news after Apple beat earnings and after Barron’s touted it over the weekend.  After a gain of 5% to $8.43 today, the company’s reaction to beating earnings and increasing guidance is sending shares up 2% to $8.60 in the after-hours.

Skechers U.S.A., Inc. (NYSE: SKX) was up despite a huge drop in sales and despite a loss as the cleaning out of inventory and restructuring is taking hold with pairs sold on the rise.  The change was less than 1% today but the stock is up 16% at $17.34 in the after-hours with almost 100,000 having traded since the closing bell alone.

Stamps.com Inc. (NASDAQ: STMP) is one of the after-hours leaders as well with a gain of 11% at $31.45 on over 25,000 shares since the market closed. The online stamp outfit did not just grow, it grew handily:  27% in its core PC postage revenues and up 41% in non-GAAP earnings per share.

TriQuint Semiconductor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TQNT) rose over 7% today as an Apple-winner, but shares are down huge as guidance fell short of estimates.  Maybe Apple drove too hard of a bargain.  The drop is a sharp 13.4% to $4.76 in the after-hours session on over 500,000 shares since the close.

Xilinx, Inc. (NASDAQ: XLNX) showed a net income drop but its outlook for the current quarter is signaling improvements are on the way.  Shares rose over 2% today but the stock is up over 7% at $36.85 on almost 200,000 shares since the close.

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JON C. OGG

Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P) reports after the close on Tuesday and investors are still trying to get a better grasp on its business model as far as how it will make money.  The company surprised before.  Estimates are -$0.02 EPS on just over $83 million in sales and the market value is $2.2 billion.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO) has estimates of $0.35 EPS and $1.05 billion in sales. With where its stock is around $14.50, this looks fairly valued so it will likely take good news or bad news to move the stock.

Children’s Place Retail Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCE) has estimates of $0.91 EPS on just over $478.1 million in sales.

H&R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is expected to report $0.05 EPS and $700 million sales, but next quarter is the tax-season money quarter.  Next quarter targets are $2.24 EPS on $2.11 billion in sales.  To emphasize how much the tax season matters, the entire fiscal year-end of April 2012 is expected to be $3.01 billion.

Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: HOV) is expected to report -$0.47 EPS and $287.66 million in sales.

THURSDAY, MARCH 8

A123 Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: AONE) failed to rally on Tuesday’s construction news.  Estimates are -$0.51 EPS on almost $48.5 million in revenues.  Shares are well under $2.00 now.

Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) is a ‘business update’ rather than a formal earnings release.  Estimates are $0.37 EPS and $426.8 million in sales.

Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (NYSE: BUD) has estimates of $0.91 EPS and $9.9 billion in sales.  We would remind investors that this is now translated from Euros now that this is not a U.S.-based company.

Renren Inc. (NYSE: RENN) is still down and out from its 2011 IPO but it is still very actively traded as a Facebook knock-off in China.  Renren is expected to report earnings of $0.02 EPS and almost $32.3 million in sales. Next quarter estimates are -$0.04 EPS on almost $30.9 million in sales.

Smithfield Foods Inc. (NYSE: SFD) is expected to report earnings of $0.66 EPS and $3.5 billion in sales.

Williams Sonoma Inc. (NYSE: WSM) is expected to report earnings of $1.13 EPS and $1.25 billion in sales.  Shares are down almost 15% from the 52-week high and the shares are still close to the consensus price target of $39.57.

Keep in mind on any of these companies that dates and estimates can change without notice.

JON C. OGG

We have broken these out by day and included Thomson Reuters consensus data on each.  Color has been added on some of the names as well.

MONDAY, MARCH 5

Focus Media Holding Ltd. (NASDAQ: FMCN) has already recovered handily from when alleged accounting woes were surrounding this company.  This is the outdoor advertiser in China.  Estimates are $0.61 EPS and $225.1 million in sales.

Teavana Holdings Inc. (NYSE: TEA) remains a premium company with great products and growth, but at a price for a small tea retail empire trading at close to 40-times next year’s expected earnings.  Estimates are $0.32 EPS on $67.8 million in sales.

Urban Outfitters Inc (NASDAQ: URBN) has recovered off of its lows but the company remains an early turnaround story.  The real question is what the growth opportunities are for the next decade compared to the growth of the last decade.  Earnings estimates are $0.20 EPS on $742.9 million in sales.

VeriFone Systems Inc. (NYSE: PAY) has estimates of $0.52 EPS on about $417.5 million in sales.

TUESDAY, MARCH 6

Pandora Media Inc. (NYSE: P) remains in limbo and investors are still trying to get a better grasp on its business model as far as how it will make money.  The company surprised before.  Estimates are -$0.02 EPS on almost $83 million in sales and the market value is $2.2 billion.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE: AEO) has estimates of $0.35 EPS and $1.05 billion in sales.

Children’s Place Retail Stores Inc. (NASDAQ: PLCE) has estimates of $0.89 EPS on just over $478 million in sales.

H and R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) is expected to report $0.05 EPS and $700 million sales, but next quarter is the tax-season money quarter and the estimates are currently $2.24 EPS on $2.11 billion in sales.  To emphasize how much the tax season matters, the entire fiscal year-end of April 2012 is expected to be $3.01 billion.

Hovnanian Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: HOV) is expected to report -$0.47 EPS and $287.6 million in sales.  While this is a homebuilder and while it has been widely followed before, this is probably not going to be a sector-mover for homebuilders.

THURSDAY, MARCH 8

A123 Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: AONE) is challenged with shares now down under $2.00 and a weak performance late in the week.  Estimates are -$0.41 EPS on almost $53.7 million in revenues.  It seems sad that lithium-ion batteries are not doing well and around $1.80 it has a 52-week range of $1.51 to $8.70.

Altera Corporation (NASDAQ: ALTR) is a ‘business update’ rather than a formal earnings release but investors will be watching its guidance.  Estimates are $0.37 EPS and $426.8 million in sales.

Anheuser Busch Inbev SA (NYSE: BUD) has estimates of $0.91 EPS and $9.9 billion in sales, but keep in mind that this is now translated from Euros now that this is not a U.S.-based company.

Renren Inc. (NYSE: RENN) is down massively from its 2011 IPO but it is still very actively traded as a Facebook knock-off in China.  Renren is expected to report earnings of $0.02 EPS and $32.3 million in sales.

Smithfield Foods Inc. (NYSE: SFD) is expected to report earnings of $0.67 EPS and $3.5 billion in sales.

Williams Sonoma Inc. (NYSE: WSM) is expected to report earnings of $1.13 EPS and $1.25 billion in sales.  Shares are down almost 15% from the 52-week high and the shares are still close to the consensus price target of $39.43.

Keep in mind on any of these companies that dates and estimates can change without notice.

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JON C. OGG

The unofficial closing bells put the DJIA down more than -389 points to 11,780.94 (-3.2%), the NASDAQ fell nearly -106 points (-3.88%) to 2,621.65, and the S&P 500 fell -3.67% or nearly -47 points to 1,229.10.

There were several analyst upgrades and downgrades today, including DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE: DWA) cut to ‘sell’ at Janney; H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) raised to ‘outperform’ at Oppenheimer; Priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) cut to ‘hold’ at S&P Capital IQ; Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) raised to ‘outperform’ at Credit Suisse; Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) cut to ‘neutral’ at Credit Suisse; and Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) cut to ‘neutral’ at BofA/ML.

Here are today’s big post-earnings news reactions with prices during the last half-hour of trading: General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) is up down about -10%, at $22.48; A123 Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: AONE) is down less than -1%, at $3.09; IntraLinks Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: IL) is down more than -37%, at $5.50, after posting a new 52-week low of $5.44 earlier today; Blue Nile Inc. (NASDAQ: NILE) is down nearly -16%, at $33.24; Harvest Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: HNR) is down more than -19%, at $8.80; and Neenah Paper, Inc. (NYSE: NP) is up more than 12%, at $18.84.

Several other standouts from today are as follows…

Energy Conversion Devices, Inc. (NASDAQ: ENER) is down more than -32%, to $0.41. The company has said that it will suspend manufacturing and cut 500 jobs. Excess inventory of solar panels gets the blame.

U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRTS)  is down  more than -22%, at $3.94, after posting a new 52-week low of $3.66 earlier in the day. The company received a waiver from one of its lenders for failing to meet coverage ratio requirements.

O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. (NASDAQ: ORLY) is down about -1.1%, at $76.44, after posting a new 52-week high of $77.95 earlier today. We noted the company’s performance earlier today in an article on auto sector implied gains.

American Superconductor Corp. (NASDAQ: AMSC)) is up nearly 10%, to $4.49. The company reported earnings today, and its growing order backlog indicates a possible turnaround following the loss of its biggest customer earlier this year.

Noranda Aluminum Holding Corp. (NYSE: NOR) is down more than -16%, at $8.51. The company will pay a special dividend of $1/share to shareholders of record as of yesterday’s close. That pushed the shares down a buck this morning, and the rest is due to the overall market decline today.

Citigroup (NYSE: C) is down more than -8%, at $28.78. The bank claimed the largest decline among the big US banks today.

Beazer Homes USA Inc. (NYSE: BZH) is down nearly -8%, at $2.17. There was no special news from Beazer today, but the threatened burst of new foreclosures soon to hit the housing market have had a nasty effect on this lower-priced builder.

Stay tuned for Thursday. Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank president Dennis Lockhart is giving a speech in the morning and Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke will hold a town hall meeting with soldiers and their families at Fort Bliss, Texas, at 11:45 a.m. We have noted the following events (all times Eastern):

• 8:30 a.m. – International trade balance report
• 8:30 a.m. – Initial unemployment benefits claims
• 8:30 a.m. – Monthly import/export price report
• 9:45 a.m. – Bloomberg consumer comfort index
• 10:30 a.m. – EIA natural gas inventory report
• 2:00 p.m. – Monthly US Treasury budget report
• 4:30 p.m. – Federal Reserve balance sheet and money supply report

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Paul Ausick

Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc. (NASDAQ: ALSK) Cut to Underperform at BofA/ML.
Autodesk Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) Cut to Neutral at BofA/ML.
Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) cut to Underperform as Bear of the Day at Zacks.
Blue Nile Inc. (NASDAQ: NILE) Cut to Sell at Deutsche Bank.
China Automotive Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: CAAS) Cut to Neutral at Piper Jaffray.
DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. (NYSE: DWA) Cut to Sell at Janney.
Equity Residential (NYSE: EQR) Raised to Buy at Argus.
H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) Raised to Outperform at Oppenheimer.
Priceline.com Inc. (NASDAQ: PCLN) Cut to Hold at S&P Capital IQ (late-Tuesday).
Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) Raised to Outperform at Credit Suisse.
Rovi Corporation (NASDAQ: ROVI) has seen at least three downgrades: Collins Stewart, CLSA, Brean Murray.
Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPPI) named Momentum stock of the day at Zacks.
Textainer Group Holdings Limited (NYSE: TGH) named Value stock of the day at Zacks.
Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) Cut to Neutral at Credit Suisse.
The Washington Post Co. (NYSE: WPO) named Bull of the Day at Zacks.

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JON C. OGG

MetroPCS did not fare as well. The company reported EPS of $0.19 on revenue of $1.2 billion. Consensus estimates called for EPS of $0.23 and revenue of $1.22 billion. The company added 69,000 new customers in the quarter, a big drop from the 199,000 it added in the second quarter.

The challenge from Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) and T-Mobile in the pre-paid market hurt MetroPCS’s revenues and earnings. This does not help the AT&T/T-Mobile plan to sell off some assets to other carriers as the two companies try to get their proposed merger through the regulatory process. MetroPCS was viewed as a possible buyer of those assets, but lower customer additions and lower profits are not usually conducive to expansion plans.

Sprint has no interest in buying any assets that AT&T/T-Mobile want to shed. The number three US carrier has fought the proposed merger every step of the way. Verizon Wireless, the joint venture between Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone plc (NASDAQ: VOD), has had essentially no comment on the proposed merger, but certainly has little to gain from a tie-up between AT&T and T-Mobile.

The US Justice Department’s suit to stop the merger got a boost yesterday when a federal court prevented H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) from buying low-cost tax preparer TaxAct, citing anti-trust violations. The deal was worth less than $300 million but the Justice Department argued that the merger would leave just two tax-prep firms, Block and Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU). Similarly, the AT&T deal would leave just one behemoth, AT&T, while Verizon Wireless would fall to a distant second place and be virtually forced to acquire Sprint in order to stay competitive.

The inability or unwillingness of another company to pick up AT&T/T-Mobile assets, coupled with the Block ruling, could be the beginning of the end for the proposed merger.

MetroPCS shares are down more than -7% this morning at $7.89, after posting a new 52-week low of $7.58. Leap Wireless is faring better, up more than 16%, at $8.09, in a 52-week range of $5.50-$17.66.

Paul Ausick

The pact is only a month out as the plan calls for these services at Kiosks starting in December.  What will seem ironic is that H&R Block noted some 11,000 offices in its press release, so this will not even add 3% to the total locations. 

Some expansion moves make sense.  This might be a good way for H&R Block to get its name out there in more locations and to recruit new clients, but a professional and financial services firm is taking a risk by going inside Wal-Mart.  If Wal-Mart’s current labor criticisms grow then the companies doing business with Wal-Mart will start to come under fire as well.

Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU) currently sells its TurboTax, Quicken, and QuickBooks software packages at Wal-Mart.  It would be unlikely for that to end.

Hopefully Wal-Mart won’t open up kiosks for divorce and personal injury lawyers as well.

JON C. OGG

Be advised that many earnings estimates have not been updated in days and some of these estimates may have already changed.

Tuesday, August 30

Barnes and Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) has very few estimates but the company is now under a shadow since it lost Liberty as a bidder even if it got an investment from it. Shares are trading around $ 11.40; the 52-week trading range is $8.45 to $21.06.

China Finance Online Co Ltd. (NASDAQ: JRJC) has too few estimates to count but we are going to watch because the financial information provider is under the China cloud.  Shares are trading around $2.84; the 52-week trading range is $2.35 to $8.59.

Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) has estimates of $0.47 EPS and $3.54 billion in revenues.  Shares are trading around $33.50 and the 52-week trading range is $26.64 to $35.09.  We love this one long-term, but always keep in mind that private equity sellers are an overhang any time the price rises too much.

DryShips Inc. (NASDAQ: DRYS) has estimates of $0.22 EPS; shares are around $3.08 and the year’s range is $2.19 to $6.44.  Shares were up double-digits on Monday as it announced the exchange offer of shares by Ocean Rig UDW.

Wednesday, August 31

Fresh Market Inc. (NASDAQ: TFM) has estimates of $0.20 EPS and $273.9 million in revenues.  Shares are trading around $34.95, the 52-week trading range is $30.86 to $46.85.

Zale Corp. (NYSE: ZLC) has to be looked at after Tiffany beat so well last week.  It has estimates of -$1.53 EPS and $336.65 million in revenues.  Shares are trading around $4.75, the 52-week trading range is $1.50 to $6.90.

Thursday, September 1

Ciena Corporation (NASDAQ: CIEN) has been a poor performer in the tech selling and it should be assumed that its outlook will be weak if its peers are any indication.  The communications equipment maker has estimates of -$0.21 EPS and $443.3 million in revenues.  Shares are trading around $12.10 and the 52-week trading range is $10.33 to $29.24.

Finisar Corporation (NASDAQ: FNSR) has also been battered with tech stocks.  It has estimates of $0.21 EPS and $228.3 million. Shares are trading around $18.08, and the 52-week trading range is $12.26 to $46.09.

H & R Block Inc. (NYSE: HRB) has estimates of -$0.39 EPS and $275.1 million in revenues.  Shares are trading around $14.95 and the 52-week trading range is $10.13 to $18.00.

Jos A Bank Clothiers Inc. (NASDAQ: JOSB) is very thinly covered but it almost always has a large short interest.  The clothier has estimates of $0.67 EPS and $209.7 million in revenues.  Shares are trading around $45.99 and the 52-week trading range is $36.41 to $57.14.

Friday, September 2

Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB) has estimates of $0.37 EPS EPS and $1.57 billion in revenues. Shares are trading around $31.70, the 52-week trading range is $29.69 to $37.59.

Teavana Holdings Inc. (NYSE: TEA) is one that we do not have the research quiet period wrapped up yet but the company will give its first earnings report.  At $23.90, the recent post-IPO range is $20.28 to $29.35.

JON C. OGG

We have given a detailed preview on each, shown effective price data, and added in color if applicable.  It is amazing to see this many companies with earnings due.

Renren Inc, (NYSE: RENN) has been a pig of an IPO and we will get to see if this is just another China bash or if there is anything real under the hood on Monday.  Thomson Reuters has no estimates yet. Shares are trading around $6.92 and the 52-week trading range is $6.55 to $24.00.  Renren was touted as “The Facebook of China” but its stock and the scandal from right before the earnings turned it into “The Face$%^& of China.”

Adobe Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: ADBE) reports Tuesday and Thomson Reuters has estimates of $0.51 EPS and $994.79 million in revenues; next quarter estimates are $0.54 EPS and $1.02 million in revenues.  Shares are trading around $30.67 and the 52-week trading range is $25.45 to $35.99.

Barnes and Noble Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is interesting considering that it is at a premium to its implied buyout price.  Thomson Reuters has estimates of -$0.91 EPS and $1.39 billion in revenues; next quarter estimates are -$0.88 EPS and $1.45 billion in revenues.  Shares are trading around $20.00 and the 52-week trading range is $8.45 to $20.46.