Stocks to Watch: Boeing, Bank of America

NEW YORK -- Boeing's (BA) 787 Dreamliner has been grounded in Europe after the United States grounded the planes and ordered a safety review following a series of recent incidents with the aircraft.

The European Aviation Safety Agency said it endorses Wednesday's directive from the Federal Aviation Administration in the U.S. that grounded the jet until the risk of battery fires is resolved.

Since launching after delays of more than three years, the Dreamliner has been plagued by a series of problems including a battery fire and fuel leaks.

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Bank of America (BAC) is expected by Wall Street Thursday to post fourth-quarter earnings of 2 cents share, flat with the third quarter and below the 15 cents the bank earned a year earlier.

Investors will be looking for signs that Bank of America is beginning to make progress with much-anticipated cost cuts.

For Bank of America, It's About Cost Cuts, Not Growth

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Citigroup (C), the third-largest bank in the U.S,. is expected by analysts Thursday to post fourth-quarter earnings of 87 cents a share, up from 32 cents a share a year earlier.

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Chipmaker Intel (INTC) reports fourth-quarter earnings after Thursday's closing bell and analysts forecast a profit of 45 cents a share, down from 64 cents a year earlier.

Intel Into Earnings Is a Strong Buy

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Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) shares climbed Wednesday following a news report that potential purchasers are evaluating the company's Autonomy and EDS units.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the tech giant has received "expressions of interest from potential suitors" for Autonomy, the U.K. software maker acquired in August 2011. The newspaper cited people familiar with the discussions

The purchase was thrust into the spotlight in November when HP recorded a massive write-down of about $8.8 billion relating to accounting improprieties at Autonomy prior to the acquisition.

HP Shares Spike as Suitors Circle

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EBay (EBAY) posted fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 70 cents a share, a penny above analysts' forecasts, and 17% higher than adjusted earnings a year earlier.

Revenue rose 18% to almost $4 billion, in line with analysts' forecasts.

EBay said it expects first-quarter adjusted earnings of 60 cents to 62 cents a share on revenue of $3.65 billion to $3.75 billion. Analysts are looking for adjusted profit of 64 cents a share on revenue of $3.8 billion.

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UnitedHealth (UNH) is expected by Wall Street to report fourth-quarter profit of $1.20 a share on revenue of $28.2 billion.

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-- Written by Joseph Woelfel



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