Company News for March 04, 2011 - Corporate Summary

• H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE:HNZ - Analyst Report) reported Q3 EPS of $0.85, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.81 per share

• Big Lots Inc (NYSE:BIG - Analyst Report) reported Q4 EPS of $1.46, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.37 per share

• Global news giant News Corp (NASDAQ:NWSA - Analyst Report) won approval from the U.K. government for its $12.7 billion bid to take full control of British Sky Broadcasting Group

• Stifel Nicolaus upgraded health insurer Coventry Health Care (NYSE:CVH - Analyst Report) from hold to buy rating, saying Coventry’s 2011 outlook is probably understating its potential for the year

• On Thursday government contractors Global Defense Technology & Systems Inc. (NASDAQ:GTEC - Snapshot Report) shares rose 51% to $24.25 after the company reported that it would be acquired for $24.25 per share by an affiliate of Ares Management LLC

• Wireless provider MetroPCS Communications Inc. (NYSE:PCS - Analyst Report) shares rose 5.2% after the company  amended its $1.6 billion credit facility

• Data storage company Teradata Corp (NYSE:TDC - Analyst Report) said it would buy the remaining portion of Aster Data Systems which it doesn’t own for $263 million

• Cowen & Co downgraded Motorola Mobility Holdings Inc. (NYSE:MMI) from outperform to neutral rating on concerns that Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL - Analyst Report) newly-launched iPad 2 would be a hurdle for  Motorola’s Xoom tablet

• Drug manufacturer Opko Health Inc. (AMEX:OPK) announced its plans to sell $100 million in stock

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