Stocks in focus for Tuesday

Goldman Sachs, Lehman Bros, Darden Restaurants

By MarketWatch

Last Update: 7:22 PM ET Mar 17, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Among the companies whose shares are expected to
see active trade in Tuesday’s session are Wall Street giants Goldman Sachs and
Lehman Brothers and casual dining company Darden Restaurants.

Goldman Sachs (GS), a global investment banking, securities and investment
management firm, is expected to report first-quarter earnings of $2.93 a share,
according to analysts polled by FactSet Research.

Wall Street brokerage firm Lehman Brothers Holdings (LEH) is likely to report
first-quarter earnings of 93 cents a share.

Darden Restaurants (DRI), the world’s largest casual dining company, is forecast
to post earnings of 81 cents a share in the third quarter.

Health-care company Healthways (HWAY) is projected to report second-quarter
earnings of 33 cents a share.

AAR Corp. (AIR), a supplier of products and value-added services to aerospace and
defense industry, is estimated to post earnings of 46 cents a share in the third
quarter.

After Monday’s closing bell, the Wall Street Journal reported that federal
officials are in the process of putting together a potential deal that could
allow Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) to increase their support for the
mortgage market by buying and guaranteeing more home loans. The Office of Federal
Housing Enterprise Oversight is close to reducing, although not completely
eliminating, an excess capital requirement in place at both firms, the newspaper
said, citing people familiar with the matter. The current requirement forces the
two companies to hold 30% more capital than their normal minimums.

Watch list

Fitch Ratings said it raised the outlook on Allergan Inc. (AGN) to positive from
stable because of the company’s strong operational performance. Fitch affirmed
its long-term issuer default rating, senior unsecured debt rating, and bank loan
rating of A- for Allergan.

Alliance Data Systems Corp. (ADS) said it notified private-equity firm Blackstone
Group LP (BX) that it has breached the agreement of its planned acquisition of
Alliance Data for $81.75 a share. The notice also said Blackstone and its
affiliates are “contractually obligated” to satisfy their respective obligations
and complete the transaction.

Moody’s Investors Service placed Amgen’s (AMGN) A2 long-term and Prime-1
short-term ratings under review for possible downgrade. The move follows the
recent recommendation by a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel to place
additional oncology-related restrictions on the use of erythropoietin-stimulating
agents, including Amgen’s Aranesp, according to the rating agency.

CNET Networks Inc. (CNET) intends to appeal a recent bylaw provisions decision in
the Delaware Supreme Court. The San Francisco-based interactive media company
claims the decision incorrectly calls into question the bylaws of other companies
with similar provisions. CNET also believes JANA Partners LLC shouldn’t be
allowed to seek to secure control of the company without providing a premium.

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