Stocks to Watch: Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Viacom

Among the companies with shares expected to actively trade in Thursday’s session are Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(WMT), Kohl's Corp.(KSS) and Viacom Inc.(VIAB)

Wal-Mart’s fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 2.8% as sales improved at its Sam’s Club stores, though revenue was weaker than expected. The world’s largest retailer narrowed its full-year earnings guidance and gave a mostly cautious profit view for the current quarter, pushing shares down.

Kohl’s third-quarter earnings fell 18% as the department-store chain reported weaker same-store sales and margins. Shares fell as earnings and revenue missed expectations and the retailer again cut its 2013 profit guidance.

Viacom’s fiscal fourth-quarter profit jumped 24% as the media giant benefited from growth in advertising and home-entertainment revenue, pushing results above estimates. Class B shares rose 3.2%.

Brooks Automation Inc.'s(BRKS) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings fell 95% as the technology-products company’s revenue slipped on weak demand from semiconductor customers and a much smaller tax benefit. Results beat expectations, but the company gave a weak outlook for the first quarter. Shares edged lower.

Cisco Systems Inc.'s(CSCO) fiscal first-quarter profit dropped 4.6% as the network-equipment company recorded charges tied to job cuts and a recent acquisition, more than offsetting rising revenue and gross margins. Revenue growth for the period missed expectations and Cisco issued a downbeat outlook for the current quarter, sending shares down.

Millennial Media Inc.'s(MM) shares slumped after the mobile advertising service provider reported third-quarter results that widely missed Wall Street expectations. Though the company’s sales jumped from a year ago, the growth wasn’t as strong as expected, and Millennial Media’s bottom line also came up short. Shares slid.

Netease Inc.'s(NTES) third-quarter profit rose 29% as the company continued to benefit from its Chinese Internet-gaming operations. But shares fell as earnings came in below Wall Street expectations.