BUZZ-U.S. STOCKS ON THE MOVE-Alibaba, Twitter, Starwood, Humana
(For faster updates on individual market-movers, Eikon users please use search string "STXBZ US"; for the Day Ahead newsletter, http://link.reuters.com/mex49s; for the Morning News Call newsletter, http://link.reuters.com/nex49s) U.S. stocks slipped on Wednesday after data showed that economic growth braked more sharply than expected in the first quarter, and ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's likely decision to maintain historically low interest rates. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 0.66 percent at 17,989.89, the S&P 500 was down 0.65 percent at 2,101.01 and the Nasdaq Composite was down 0.85 percent at 5,012.669.
** LUMBER LIQUIDATORS HOLDINGS INC, $27.04, -19.09 pct
The hardwood flooring retailer reported a 2 percent fall in net sales so far in April and said it could not provide a full-year forecast.
** TWITTER INC (Xetra: A1W6XZ - news) , $39.97, -5.44 pct
The Microblogging site reported quarterly revenue that fell short of Wall Street estimates and cut its full-year forecast due to weak demand for its new direct response advertising.
** ALIBABA GROUP HOLDING LTD, $82.235, -3.34 pct
The Chinese e-commerce company is freezing hiring for the rest of the year because it has grown "too quickly", Executive Chairman Jack Ma told staff.
** BLUEBIRD BIO INC (NasdaqGS: BLUE - news) , $136.51, +2.81 pct
Piper Jaffray raised its price target on the drug developer's shares, saying the company's gene therapy, LentiGlobin, will emerge as a curative therapy for most sickle cell anemia patients this year.
** HELEN OF TROY LTD, $89.94, +12.64 pct
The personal care products and kitchenware maker reported higher-than-expected fourth-quarter adjusted profit and revenue, driven by strong cold and flu season and demand for new healthcare products.
** STRATASYS (Xetra: A1J5UR - news) , $41.1644, -19.76 pct
** 3D SYSTEMS, $24.98, -4.51 pct
** VOXELJET (NYSE: VJET - news) , $8.511, -3.50 pct
Stratasys estimated first-quarter profit below analysts' expectations, citing a stronger dollar and a decline in spending by clients, particularly in North America.
Shares (Berlin: DI6.BE - news) of other 3D printer makers also fell.
** DIXIE GROUP INC, $10.1999, -1.55 pct
The carpet and rugs maker reported a first-quarter net loss versus a profit a year earlier.
** CARTER'S INC, $99.91, +7.46 pct
The children's apparel marketer reported better-than-expected first-quarter adjusted profit and revenue, driven by Carter's and OshKosh divisions in the United States.
** EPIZYME INC (NasdaqGS: EPZM - news) , $18.09, -5.83 pct
The drug developer's first-quarter loss was bigger than expected, hurt by a jump in R&D expenses and a fall in collaboration revenue.
** VERISK ANALYTICS INC (NasdaqGS: VRSK - news) , $76.08, +4.74 pct
The data analytics firm reported better-than-expected first-quarter profit and revenue as sales in its decision analytics business, which helps customers make decisions about managing assets and associated risks, rose about 17 percent.
** HILTON WORLDWIDE HOLDINGS INC, $29.82, +1.29 pct
The hotel operator reported higher-than-expected quarterly revenue, helped by higher room rates and increased occupancy.
** GRUBHUB INC (NYSE: GRUB - news) , $41.46, -8.48 pct
The online food order and delivery company's quarterly profit missed market estimates due to a jump in expenses and taxes.
** MASTERCARD INC, $90.42, +0.21 pct
The world's No. 2 debit and credit card company reported a 17 percent rise in quarterly profit as more people used its cards worldwide.
** GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER CO, $28.745, +5.87 pct
The largest U.S. tire maker reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit as it shrugged off the effect of a stronger dollar by managing its costs.
** GENERAL DYNAMICS CORP, $137.88, +3.30 pct
The U.S. weapons maker on Wednesday reported higher-than-expected earnings and revenue for the first quarter.
** STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE INC (NYSE: HOT - news) , $86.88, +7.52 pct
The company, which owns the St. Regis (NYSE: RGS - news) and Sheraton hotel brands, said it was exploring strategic and financial alternatives and "no option is off the table."
** GARMIN LTD (NasdaqGS: GRMN - news) , $45.38, -4.44 pct
The maker of GPS-based gadgets' quarterly revenue rose much less than expected as a strong dollar ate into its overseas income.
** HANNON ARMSTRONG SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE CAPITAL (NYSE: HASI - news) , $18.95, -1.97 pct
The company, a provider of debt and equity financing for infrastructure projects, said it will issue 4 million shares, representing 14 percent of its outstanding stock, in a public offering.
** ONCOLYTICS BIOTECH INC (Toronto: ONC.TO - news) , $0.74, +4.80 pct
The drug developer's lead pancreatic cancer drug, Reolysin, got orphan drug status from the European health regulator.
** SPIRIT AIRLINES INC (NasdaqGS: SAVE - news) , $71.05, -8.77 pct
The airlines on Wednesday reported first-quarter profit growth in line with analysts' expectations and said unit revenue fell in part because of falling airfare.
** ARIAD PHARMACEUTICALS INC (Xetra: 895301 - news) , $9.11, +2.71 pct
Sarissa Capital Management LP said Ariad's Harvey Berger would retire as CEO as part of a deal to settle the hedge fund's proxy battle with the drugmaker.
** XPO LOGISTICS INC (NYSE: XPO - news) , $47.72, +12.41 pct
The company has agreed to buy France's Norbert Dentressangle SA for $3.53 billion, including debt, in a deal it says will make it one of the top 10 logistics company in the world.
** GENWORTH FINANCIAL INC (NYSE: GNW - news) , $8.93, +11.76 pct
The life and mortgage insurer is considering strategic options, including going private or selling its global life and annuity insurance unit (GLAIC), Chief Executive Tom McInerney said.
** BARCLAYS PLC (LSE: BARC.L - news) , $15.98, -0.68 pct
The British bank set aside another 800 million pounds ($1.2 billion) on Wednesday to cover potential settlements for alleged foreign exchange manipulation, hitting profits and reflecting its struggle to put past problems behind it.
** AKAMAI TECHNOLOGIES INC (NasdaqGS: AKAM - news) , $74.39, -2.21 pct
The company, whose service helps speed up delivery of online content, forecast current-quarter profit below analysts' expectations, citing a stronger dollar.
** UNITED STATES STEEL CORP (NYSE: X - news) , $24.09, -10.04 pct
The U.S. steelmaker cut its full-year forecast for adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization forecast to $700 million to $900 million from $1.1 billion to $1.4 billion.
** WYNN RESORTS LTD (NasdaqGS: WYNN - news) , $109.45, -16.12 pct
The casino operator reported weaker-than-expected first-quarter profit, hurt by lower revenue from its Macau operations.
** HUMANA INC (NYSE: HUM - news) , $169.3, -6.52 pct
The U.S. health insurer reported a lower-than-expected profit in the first quarter as expenses related to claims in its retail and group segments increased.
** TEMPUR SEALY INTERNATIONAL INC (NYSE: TPX - news) , $61.5, +1.99 pct
The mattress maker reported a 5.4 percent rise in quarterly sales, helped by higher demand in its North America business, the company's largest market. (Compiled by Avik Das in Bengaluru; Editing by Simon Jennings)