• H.J. Heinz Company (NYSE:HNZ) reported Q3 EPS of $0.85, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.81 per share
• Big Lots Inc (NYSE:BIG) reported Q4 EPS of $1.46, above the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.37 per share
• Global news giant News Corp (NASDAQ:NWSA) 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) 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) 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) shares rose 5.2% after the company amended its $1.6 billion credit facility
• Data storage company Teradata Corp (NYSE:TDC) 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) 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
APPLE INC (AAPL): Free Stock Analysis Report
BIG LOTS INC (BIG): Free Stock Analysis Report
COVENTRY HLTHCR (CVH): Free Stock Analysis Report
GLOBAL DEFENSE (GTEC): Free Stock Analysis Report
HEINZ (HJ) CO (HNZ): Free Stock Analysis Report
NEWS CORP INC-A (NWSA): Free Stock Analysis Report
METROPCS COMMUN (PCS): Free Stock Analysis Report
TERADATA CORP (TDC): Free Stock Analysis Report
Zacks Investment Research
