U.S. Movers: Affymax, DSW, FactSet, Lululemon, Walgreen

Mukesh Buch
19 Mar, 2013
New York City

Affymax plunged as the company seeks a buyer or may have file bankruptcy protection. DSW fourth quarter net jumped 40%. FactSet net advanced 5%. Lululemon dropped on quality problems. Walgreen agree to acquire a stake in AmerisourceBergen as a part of sales agreement.

[R]12:15 AM New York – Affymax plunged as the company seeks a buyer or may have file bankruptcy protection. DSW fourth quarter net jumped 40%. FactSet net advanced 5%. Lululemon dropped on quality problems. Walgreen agree to acquire AmerisourceBergen.[/R]

Affymax, Inc. ((AFFY)) tumbled 56.6% or $1.66 to $1.26 after the biopharmaceutical company reported to reduce the company''s workforce by 75% or approximately 230 employees.

The company also said it will retain the bank to evaluate strategic alternatives including the sale of the company or its assets or corporate merger.

DSW Inc ((DSW)) declined 6.4% or $4.29 to $62.76 after the specialty retailer said sales in the fourth quarter ending on February 2 surged 16% to $594.3 million from the same period of last year. The comparable sales in the quarter increased 3.6%.

Net income in the quarter jumped 40% to $27.1 million or 59 cents a diluted share compared to $19.4 million or 37 cents a share a year ago period.

FactSet Research Systems Inc. ((FDS)) slipped 4% or $3.97 to $94.06 after the financial information provider stated revenue in the second quarter ending on February 28 soared 7% to $213.1 million from the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter advanced 5% to $44.5 million or $1 a diluted share compared to $46.7 million or $1.02 a share a year ago.

For the third quarter, the company expects revenues between $213 million and $216 million and diluted earnings per share in the range of $1.14 to $1.16.

FutureFuel Corp. ((FF)) plunged 9.6% or $1.29 to $12.37 after the chemical and bio-fuels maker reported revenue in the fourth quarter ending in December declined 17% to $74.6 million from the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter plunged 42% to $6.2 million or 15 cents a diluted share compared to $10.6 million or 26 cents a share a year ago.

Lululemon Athletica inc. ((LULU)) dropped 5.1% or $3.39 to $62.51 after the athletics and yoga apparel retailer reported certain shipments of product available in store from March 1 do not meet our technical specifications. The items affected are certain styles of women''s bottoms in black Luon fabric.

Lululemon estimated this issue to have a “significant impact on financial results” of for the first quarter. The retailer said up to March 17, comparable store sales increased 11% and expected revenue guidance between $350 million and $355 million.

Rentech, Inc. ((RTK)) slipped 3.5% or 9 cents to $2.43 after the clean energy solution provider said net revenue in the fourth quarter ending in December plunged 47% to $92.5 million from the same period of last year. Net loss in the quarter widened to $24.5 million or 11 cents a diluted share compared to $8.5 million or 4 cents a share a year ago earlier.

Gross margins for the nitrogen manufacturing business dropped 31% from 41% for the same period last year.

Walgreen Co. ((WAG)) climbed 6.2% or $2.65 to $45.08 after the drugstore chain and Alliance Boots GmbH today agree to acquire AmerisourceBergen Corp.

Separately, the drugstore chain reported net sales in the second quarter ending in February were flat at $18.65 billion. Net earnings in the quarter climbed 11% to $756 million or 79 cents a diluted share compared to $683 million or 78 cents a share a year ago.

Walgreen said total sales in comparable stores were dropped 2.6% and customer traffic in comparable stores declined 5.2%. Front-end same store sales in the second quarter slipped 2.6%. The basket size in comparable stores climbed 2.8% and prescription drug sales in comparable stores slumped 2.7%.