GameStop, Intersil, Oracle, Palm Corp.:
By Josh Fineman
New York, Dec. 18 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a list of companies whose shares may fluctuate in U.S. markets Thursday, Dec. 19. This preview includes news that broke after markets closed Wednesday at 4 p.m., New York time. Stock symbols are in parentheses after the company name.
Most likely to move:
GameStop Corp. (GME) fell as low as $9.40 in after-hours trading. It closed at $13.32 in regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The operator of video-game stores said in release distributed by Business Wire it expects same-store sales for the quarter to fall 4 percent to 6 percent, and profit of 48 cents to 52 cents a share. It had forecast a rise in same-store sales of 8 percent to 12 percent and profit of 62 cents to 68 cents a share.
Rival Electronics Boutique Holdings Corp. (ELBO) fell as low as $17.30 in after-hours trading. It closed at $21.88 in regular trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market.
Intersil Corp. (ISIL) fell as low as $11.81 in after-hours trading. It closed at $14.38 in regular trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The maker of computer chips for wireless personal computers lowered it fourth-quarter profit estimate to 18 cents a share from a previous forecast of 20 cents, excluding costs.
Oracle Corp. (ORCL) rose as high as $11.35 in after-hours trading. It closed at $10.63 in regular trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The software maker said second-quarter net income was 10 cents a share. The company was expected to earn 8 cents, the average estimate of analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call.
Palm Inc. (PALM) rose as high as $19.08 in after hours trading. It closed at $16.73 in regular trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The hand-held computer maker had a second-quarter profit of 12 cents a share. The company had earlier predicted a ``small loss'' for the quarter.
Others:
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY): The household-goods retailer said it had profit of 25 cents for the third quarter. It was expected to earn 23 cents, the average estimate of analysts polled by First Call. Bed Bath & Beyond fell 43 cents to $32.33.
Herman Miller Inc. (MLHR): The maker of office furniture said in a statement distributed by PR Newswire that it expects third- quarter earnings of 3 cents to 7 cents a share. It was forecast to earn 14 cents, the average estimate of three analysts polled by First Call. Herman Miller rose 2 cents to $19.60.
Inamed Corp. (IMDC): The maker of breast implants expects to earn $2.28 to $2.38 a share next year, excluding costs. On that basis, the company was forecast to earn $2.38, the average estimate of four analysts surveyed by First Call. Inamed fell 51 cents to $30.66.