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STOCKS TO WATCH: Cabletron Systems, Lexmark and Palm

2 min read

Expect the following technology stocks to be among Tuesday's most actively traded issues: Cabletron Systems, Lexmark and Palm.

  • Cabletron Systems (NYSE: CS)

    Cabletron should see a nice rally Tuesday after topping analysts' estimates in its second quarter.

    The network-equipment maker posted a profit of $1.1 million, or a penny a share, on sales of $241.1 million.

    First Call Corp. consensus expected it to lose a penny a share in the quarter.

    The $241.1 million in sales marks a 10 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter, when it earned $12.5 million, or 7 cents a share, on sales of $218.5 million.

    Cabletron shares moved up $2.50 a share in after-hours trading after closing up 63 cents to $31.25 in regular trading.

  • Lexmark International (NYSE: LXK)

    Lexmark shareholders are in for a long day Tuesday after the printer maker warned its third- and fourth-quarter earnings will fall short of analysts' estimates due to slow sales of inkjet cartridges and a weak euro.

    Its shares closed off $2.63 to $52 ahead of the warning.

    Company officials said it expects to earn between 45 cents to 50 cents a share in its third quarter, well below the First Call Corp. consensus estimate of 60 cents a share.

    It also said fourth-quarter earnings will be between 55 cents to 65 cents a share, below the consensus estimate of 73 cents a share.

    The computer printer manufacturer said sales of inkjet cartridges in the quarter may be at least $25 million less than in the company's prior expectations.

    It still expects to post a 9 percent jump in sales from the year-ago quarter.

    Sales in the fourth quarter, which will also suffer from slower-than-expected growth in the corporate market, are expected to be 10 percent to 15 percent higher than the fourth quarter of last year.

    In its latest quarter, Lexmark missed analysts' estimates when it posted a profit of $84 million, or 62 cents a share, on sales of $893 million.

  • Palm (Nasdaq: PALM)

    Palm should be active Tuesday after the handheld computer maker doubled the Street estimates in its first quarter.

    In the quarter, it earned almost $24 million, or 4 cents a share, on sales of $401 million.

    Analysts were expecting a profit of 2 cents a share in the quarter.

    Its shares closed up 44 cents to $52.25 ahead of the earnings report.

    The $401 million in sales marks a 127 percent improvement from the year-ago quarter.

    Including a variety of one-time charges, Palm pocketed $17.3 million, or 3 cents a share, in the quarter.