Premarket roundup: Yahoo gains as profit margins impress, Lockheed Martin downgraded

Premarket roundup: Yahoo, Lockheed Martin

Among the premarket stories for Wednesday, Oct. 21, from AP Financial News:

Yahoo Inc. shares rose before the market opened after the company posted strong profit margins for the third quarter.

An analyst downgraded shares of Lockheed Martin Corp., citing its weak earnings outlook for next year amid concerns about possible delays in a key fighter-jet program.

Some analysts expect Wal-Mart Stores Inc. may announce plans at its analysts’ meeting that it will accelerate U.S. store growth next year. Wall Street is also looking to hear details of more price-cutting strategies as the retailer heads into the holiday season.

Shares of SanDisk Corp. rose in premarket trading after reporting that sales grew 14 percent in the third quarter, helping the flash memory card maker swing to a profit.

An analyst cut the ratings of some hotel real estate investment trusts, saying a possible recovery of the sector may not be as close or as strong as some believe.

When eBay Inc. reports its third-quarter earnings after the closing bell, investors may get a better sense of how well the company’s ongoing efforts to refresh its online marketplace are working.

Demand is stable in most major markets of Pentair Inc., an analyst said as he raised his rating on the manufacturer of water storage and treatment systems.