Ahead of the Market

Stocks to Watch Today

* Granite Construction (ticker symbol: GVA, Thursday close: $26.44): The construction and transportation contractor said third-quarter earnings will be higher than expected, mostly because of a higher volume of work and increased profitability in the company’s geographic market sectors.

* Medtronic (MDT, $50.38): The medical instruments company’s new device intended to treat aortic aneurysms in the abdominal area has shown results that compare “favorably” to more invasive surgery used to treat the condition, according to a recent study.

*Reporting quarterly earnings today

Company: Electronics For Imaging

Ticker symbol: EFII

Thursday close: $15.63

Per-share estimate*: $0.23

*

Company: Fannie Mae

Ticker symbol: FNM

Thursday close: $59.00

Per-share estimate*: $0.81

*

Company: Georgia Pacific

Ticker symbol: GP

Thursday close: $45.81

Per-share estimate*: $0.38

*

Company: ITT Educational Services

Ticker symbol: ESI

Thursday close: $26.00

Per-share estimate*: $0.37

*

Company: Shelby Williams Industries

Ticker symbol: SY

Thursday close: $12.00

Per-share estimate*: $0.33

*

Company: Willamette Industries

Ticker symbol: WLL

Thursday close: $26.50

Per-share estimate*: $0.22

*Consensus from IBES International Inc.

Analyst revisions and new ratings:

* Market Guide (MARG, $4.25) was rated new “buy” by LaSalle St. Securities.

* Sunglass Hut International (RAYS, $3.88) was downgraded to “outperform” from “buy” by BT Alex. Brown.

* TRW (TRW, $44.94) was downgraded to “market perform” from “recommend list” by Goldman Sachs.

* USX-Marathon Group (MRO, $34.88) was downgraded to “moderately attractive” from “strong buy” by Robert W. Baird & Co.

--Bloomberg News

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