Guest Supply (GSY

) agreed to be acquired by Sysco Corp. (SYY

) for a number of Sysco shares equal to $26.

Texas Instruments (TXN

) posted $0.31 vs. $0.25 Q4 EPS (pro forma) on a 15% revenue rise. The company expects Q1 revenue to decline about 10% sequentially. S&P downgraded its opinion on the shares to avoid.

Computer Associates (CA

) posted $0.42 vs. $0.32 Q3 EPS on a 5.4% revenue rise.

Technitrol Inc. (TNL

) posted $0.88 vs. $0.40 Q4 EPS from operations on 27% higher revenues. The company says it sees $3.42 to $3.53 2001 EPS. S&P reiterated its buy rating on the shares.

Merrill Lynch upgraded American Express (AXP

) to near term buy from accumulate and placed the stock on its Focus One list. The company posted on Monday $0.50 vs. $0.44 Q4 EPS on a 9% revenue rise.

Actionpoint Inc. (ACTP

) announced a new version of its XML-based ActionPoint Dialog Server software product that supports Web server environments running on UNIX.

Cellegy Pharmaceuticals (CLGY

) said it intends to file a new drug application with the FDA earlier than expected, to request marketing approval for Anogesic, a drug used to treat pain associated with chronic anal fissures.

Salomon SB downgraded M-Sys Flash Disk (FLSH

) shares to outperform from buy. Yesterday the company posted $0.14 Q4 EPS vs. breakeven.

OpenWave Systems (OPWV

) posted $0.09 Q2 EPS from operations vs. a $0.05 per share loss on sharply higher revenues. The company sees quarterly revenues for calendar 2001 growing 10%-20% sequentially. Robertson Stephens and Goldman Sachs raised their estimates.

Pivotal Corp. (PVTL

) posted $0.03 Q2 EPS from operations vs. a $0.01 per share loss on sharply higher revenues. BMO Nesbitt placed its estimates under review and reiterated its market perform rating on the Pivotal shares.

FreeMarkets (FMKT

) posted a $0.27 Q4 loss from operations vs. a $0.41 loss on a sharp revenue rise. Goldman Sachs reportedly downgraded its rating on the shares.

EMC Corp. (EMC

) posted $0.25 vs. $0.17 Q4 EPS on 40% revenue rise.

Praxair (PX

) posted $0.76 vs. $0.70 Q4 EPS on a 5.8% sales rise. The company sees $0.73-$0.77 Q1 EPS and 10% 2001 EPS growth, given the expected "soft landing" in the U.S. economy.

Merrill Lynch (MER

) reportedly posted $0.93 Q4 EPS.

Merck & Co. (MRK

) posted $0.75 vs. $0.66 Q$ EPS on 27% sales rise. S&P maintained its hold rating, noting that quarterly growth was the weakest among the past six quarters. Merrill Lynch downgraded the stock.

Silicon Labs (SLAB

) posted $0.13 vs. $0.12 Q4 EPS from operations on 61% revenue rise. The company says deteriorating demand creates uncertainty for 2001. Morgan Stanley Dean Witter reiterated its outperform rating.

Tellabs (TLAB

) posted $0.56 vs. $0.39 Q4 EPS on 42% sales rise. S&P maintained its share rating of accumulate.

Conseco (CNC

) says it remains well ahead of schedule on asset sales/debt reduction. The company says with 11 months to go, it's 85% of the way towards raising cash to retire $2 billion in debt.

Bear Stearns upgraded IMS Health(RX

) to buy from attractive. The company has a $32 12-month target.

Lehman Brothers upgraded PacifiCare Health Systems (PHSY

) to buy from market perform. Separately, the company named Gregory Scott as EVP and CFO.

GATX(GMT

) posted $0.42 vs. $0.52 Q4 EPS from continuing operations, but doesn't expect to meet its 12%-15% 2001 EPS growth goal.

DoubleClick (DCLK

) announces that the Federal Trade Commission has closed its inquiry into the company's ad serving and data collection practices.

Merrill Lynch upgraded Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF

) to buy from accumulate. Dain Rauscher initiated coverage of the stock with a buy rating.

First Boston downgraded Ann Taylor(ANN

) to hold from buy.

American Superconductor (AMSC

) posted a Q3 $0.20 loss vs. a $0.19 loss as higher R&D costs offset its 12% revenue rise.

Alliance Bancorp (ABCL

) agreed to be acquired by Charter One Financial (CF

)for $5.25 cash, and 0.72 Charter One share per Alliance share.

Centennial Technology (CENL

)

agreed to be acquired by Solectron (SLR

) in a deal worth about $108 million.

D.R. Horton (DHI

) raised its quarterly dividend 25%.

Openwave Systems (OPWV

) posted $0.09 Q2 EPS from operations vs. an $0.05 loss, led by a sharp revenue rise. The company sees quarterly revenues for calendar 2001 growing 10%-20% sequentially. Robertson Stephens and Goldman Sachs raised their estimates.

Viad Corp. (VVI

) sees lower than consensus $0.36 Q4 EPS on 7% revenue rise, cites weakness in convention and event services segment.

USB Piper downgraded its rating on InfoSpace (INSP

) to neutral from buy. Yesterday, the company renamed Naveen Jain as CEO; and named Ed Belsheim as COO and Tammy Halstead as CFO.

3D Systems (TDSC

) says Q4 revenue will be only about 10% higher than the year-ago level. The company cites unanticipated slowdown in certain European biz sectors, including. automotive, household appliances, timing of certain machine sales.

Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE

) posted $0.04 Q4 EPS (including nonrecurring reduction in income tax expense of $0.03) vs. $0.04 loss on slight revenue rise. The company sees 15%-22% EPS growth in 2001.

SAP AG (SAP

) posted EUR 1.16 vs. EUR 1.01 Q4 EPS on a 31% revenue rise. The company sees revenue growth in the 2001 first half slightly exceeding the 2000 rate.

Dynegy (DYN

) posted $0.32 vs. $0.19 Q4 EPS on a 91% revenue rise.

Apache (APA

) agreed to buy REPSOL YPF's oil and gas concession interests in Egypt for US$410M.

American General (AGC

) posted $1.32 vs. $1.17 Q4 EPS from operations on a 4.7% revenue rise. The company raised its dividend 9%, and set a 2-for-1 split.

Vitesse Semiconductor (VTSS

) posted $0.25 vs. $0.11 Q1 EPS (pro forma) on 85% revenue rise. S&P upgraded its rating on the shares to buy from hold.