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STOCKS TO WATCH: CA, Cisco, IBM, 3Com and VoiceStream

4 min read

Stocks likely to be among Tuesday's most actively traded issues include Computer Associates, Cisco, IBM, Excite@Home, 3Com, VoiceStream and Xicor.

  • Computer Associates International Inc.(NYSE: CA)

    Shares fell by as much as 16 percent on Monday after the business software maker said it would report fourth-quarter results a week later than expected.

    A Wall Street analyst who asked not to be named said the selling was sparked after Computer Associates said it would not issue its earnings report until May 18 during a presentation at the Chase Hambrecht & Quist investor conference in San Francisco.

    The analyst said a report from another wire service had quoted an investor as saying that the delay was tied to a review by new auditors on accounting for recent acqusitions.

    The report led jittery investors "to shoot first and ask questions later" on the fear that a delay could signal a financial shortfall.

  • Cisco Systems (Nasdaq: CSCO)

    Speaking of earnings, Cisco reports its third-quarter earnings after the closing bell Tuesday.

    First Call Corp. consensus expects Cisco to earn 13 cents a share in the quarter, though most people could easily see 14 cents a share this time around.

    "Going forward, the valuation will probably remain on the high end unless they give us something to revise estimates higher," said Martin Pyykkonen, an analyst at CIBC World Markets. "Right now, it's a question of how much competitive distance they can put between themselves and Lucent and Nortel."

    Pykkonen sees sales in the neighborhood of $4.68 billion and earnings-per-share of 13 cents.

  • Excite@Home Corp. (Nasdaq:ATHM)

    In the latest in a series of executive departures from the Internet company, Tom Jermoluk is resigning as chairman and being replaced by Chief Executive George Bell.

    The company, which analysts say is suffering from growing pains, announced Jermoluk's departure Monday.

    In January,Jermoluk relinquished the chief executive title to Bell, who comes from the excite.com narrowband part of the business, which provides content and Web search functions. Jermoluk's resignation had been considered likely ever since.

    But some see the news as one more departure for a company that has seen a long line of executives quit amid some confusion over its direction and prolonged weakness in its stock price.

    Shares dipped 7/16 to close at 17 1/2 Monday, a fraction of its 52-week high of more than 80 a share.

  • IBM (NYSE: IBM)

    IBM CEO Lou Gerstner will tell Wall Street how the company is going to grow again.

    In his annual meeting with analysts, Gerstner will talk up the company's future.

    Unlike prior meetings, however, Gerstner's one-man show won't be a love-fest. The company's most recent quarter was so-so because of a Y2K hangover.

    IBM will Webcast the meeting at 4 p.m. EDT.

  • 3Com Corp. (Nasdaq: COMS)

    The computer-networking equipment maker said it will buy back as much as $1 billion of its shares.

    The new plan replaces previous authorizations totaling 45 million shares from June 1998 to September 1999. During fiscal 2000, 3Com repurchased 20.5 million shares, bringing the total number of shares repurchased since June 1998 to 35.3 million for a total outlay of $919.3 million.

    The company said its balance sheet includes over $3 billion in cash and short-term investments.

    3Com also set July 27 as the day it will spin off its 94 percent stake in electronic-organizer maker Palm Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) to 3Com shareholders of record as of July 11.

    3Com rose 9/16 to 43 11/16 at Monday's close. Palm rose 1 1/16 to 32 1/4.

  • VoiceStream Wireless (Nasdaq: VSTR)

    The wireless communications provider fell short of the consensus estimate again in the first quarter.

    After market close Monday, the company reported a first quarter net loss of $203.3 million, or $1.68 per share. First Call's survey of 11 analysts predicted a loss of $1.14 per share.

    The reported loss includes $82.1 million in amortization costs, and a $5.6 million charge related to stock options. Analyst estimates appear to include all charges, according to First Call.

    VoiceStream missed the consensus forecast every quarter last year.

    Shares of VoiceStream plunged to 92 1/2 in afterhours activity on the Island electronic communications network. The stock closed Monday's regular trading at 105 1/4, down 10 13/16 for the session.

  • Xicor Inc. (Nasdaq: XICO)

    The specialty semiconductor maker warned that earnings for its second quarter ending July 2 will likely miss analysts' estimates.

    ``In light of not meeting analyst expectations, Bruce Gray, Xicor's president, resigned," chairman and CEO Raphael Klein said in a statement. Klein also said he will assume the role of president.

    Xicor rose 13/16 to 18 3/8 at Monday's close.

    Reuters contributed to this report.>