DARDEN RESTAURANTS (DRI, 20.88)- The restaurant operator's third quarter earnings rose 35% and beat analyst estimates by 2 cents a share.  The company cited strong same-restaurant sales growth at it Olive Garden and Red Lobster chains for the better than expected results.  The shares will get a lift on the news this morning.

GENERAL CIGAR HOLDINGS (MPP, 9.5)-  The company said that it is in talks to sell its Mass Market Cigar business, and an announcement regarding the sale could be made Friday morning before the market opens.  The company did not name the potential acquirer.

HUTCHINSON TECHNOLOGY (HTCH, 23.06)- The disk drive component maker said it will lay off 500 workers due to falling order demand.  The company still expects its scond quarter earnings to meet analyst estimates.  The stock is down in Europe on the news.

INACOM (ICO, 11.19)- The company warned that it will lose 10 to 20 cents a share (excluding charges) compared to current analyst estimates of a 37 cent a share gain.  Inacom blamed a revenue slowdown in the PC sector for the expected loss.  The stock is down from a 52 week high of 37.25 and will fall today.

INT'L MICROCOMPUTER SOFTWARE (IMSI, 11.25)- The PC software maker warned that its third quarter loss will be wider than expected. The company expects to lose 70 cents a share in the quarter, analysts were looking for a loss of 11 cents.  Revenues will decline in the quarter as the company continues its transition to an Internet based selling model.

ODWALLA (ODWA, 6.13)- The fruit juice maker reported a 15% increase in second quarter revenues, but suffered a wider loss than expected.  Odwalla blamed a crop freeze for the disappointing results, and said it may suffer additional losses in the second half of its fiscal year due to December's freeze.

AZTECH TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS (AZTC, 4)- The company warned that fist quarter and full year estimates will be substantially below analyst's estimates.   AZTC expects to earn 1 to 3 cents a share in the quarter and 20 to 30 cents for the full year.  Analysts were expecting earnings to be $0.12 in the quarter and $0.58 for the year.  The I.T. services company attributed the shortfall to decreased profit margins on its products and increased overhead.  The company is also exploring strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value.

BIOCHEM PHARMA (BCHE, 20)- The Canadian biotech said the F.D.A. has approved a new indication for its drug Epivir.  A positive for the stock in today's trading.

CASCADE CORP (CAE, 9.94)- The company's fourth quarter earnings missed analyst estimates by 6 cents a share.  Revenues fell 7.5%.  The company blamed weather related disruptions and shipment delays to two OEMs for the poor earnings showing.

COREL (COSFF, 2.25)- The software company reported a first quarter loss of 24 cents a share.

MICRON TECHNOLOGY (MU, 52)- The memory chip maker beat estimates by 7 cents a share in its second quarter. Earnings icreased to $0.08 a share (after charges) compared to last year's loss of 24 cents a share.  Semiconductor gross margins increased to 32% in the quarter compared to 9% in the first quarter, but PC system unit sales decreased 14%.  The shares fell 1 3/8 to 52 on Instinet after the news.  The earnings news should give a lift to the semiconductor group today.

MILLIONAIRE.COM (MLRE, 5)- The internet auction web site operator and publisher of Millionaire Magazine has been subpoenaed by the S.E.C. in an investigation of the company's capital raising activities and trading in the company's OTC BB stock.  The share's are down from 27 and should fall further on the news.

OSULLIVAN INDUSTRIES (OSU, 12.3)- The furniture manufacturer has received a buyout offer from its senior management.  The company has formed a committee to explore strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value in response to the news.  The company did not disclose the size of the bid.  The shares will rise on the news today.

ARROW INTERNATIONAL (ARRO, 23.31)- The medical device maker met second quarter earnings expectations and announced that it will buy back 4% of its stock.  Revenues increased 11.2%.

COFLEXIP STENA (CXIPY, 34)- The oil service company warned that full year revenues will be 10-15% lower than last year's.  The company also reported fourth quarter earnings 4 cents below expectations, and full year 1998 earnings 14 cents below expectations.  The company blamed low oil prices and economic turmoil in Brazil for the lower revenue expectations.  The stock will come under pressure today.

COMMSCOPE (CTV, 18.25)- The company said that first quarter earnings will be 3 to 6 cents above current expectations due to strong domestic sales and higher gross margins. The shares will get a boost on the news today.

EARTHWEB (EWBX, 43.75)- The Internet company announced that it has acquired electronic reference library provider MicroHouse for $9 million.  The purchase increases the EWBX subscriber base by over 200%.  The stock will rise on the news.

FSI INTERNATIONAL (FSII, 7.19)- The company suffered a wider than expected loss of 33 cents a share in its second quarter.  The semiconductor equipment maker said it is still experiencing competitive pricing pressure in its business.  The shares have lost 50% of their value since January and could come under renewed pressure today.

FULLER H.B. (FULL, 48)- The company's first quarter earnings beat estimates by 4 cents a share as sales rose 4.7% in the quarter.

FURON (FCY, 11.75)- The industrial products maker beat estimates by 7 cents a share in its fourth quarter.  The company said that European sales were strong.  The shares have fallen from a 52-week high of 25.38 and will make an attempt to regain some of that loss in today's trading.

LENNAR (LEN, 21)- The homebuilder's first quarter earnings exceeded analyst expectations by 3 cents a share.  Revenues jumped 34% in the quarter and the company's backlog increased 18 percent. Share will get a lift from the news.

READ RITE (RDRT, 7.75)- The company warned that second quarter revenues will be 10% below those of the first quarter and that it will report a loss in the quarter.  The disk drive component maker gave no reason for the lower sales.  The shares have been under pressure recently, and will remain under pressure after this news.

CABLETRON SYSTEMS (CS, 10.06)- The networking equipment company beat fourth quarter earnings estimates and posted a profit of 1 cent a share on a 10.8% rise in revenues.  The company also announced that it will sell its manufacturing division and cut 300 jobs.  Cabletron   expects to incur a charge in its first quarter to cover the restructuring.   The shares should get a slight lift on the news.  Cabletron finally appears to be turning the corner and the shares are attractive at current depressed levels.

CORPORATE EXPRESS (CEXP, 4.97)- The office products distributor lost 5 cents a share in its 4th quarter.  Analyst's estimates were for a 1 cent a share profit.

CROWN CRAFTS (CRW, 5.63)- The company will take a $9 million restructuring charge in itsfourth quarter to "address overcapacity and excessive inventory issues".

DUPONT (DD, 57.25)- The chemical maker will spinoff its remaining 70% stake in oil company Conoco.

FIRST AMERICAN (FAM, 41.06)- The Nashville banking company warned that its fist quarter and full year 1999 estimates will be below analyst expectations.  The company's CEO blamed the shortfall on "unanticipated client attrition with resulting balance declines; and   higher expense levels in client service areas".

INNOTRAC (INOC, 12.19)- The company said that first quarter earnings will be 28-35% above current analyst estimates.  The company cited higher than expected sales of caller ID equipment for Bell South as the primary reason for the increased expectations.  The shares should rise this morning on the news.

MERIX (MERX, 46.63)- Excluding a $7.1 million restructuring charge, the company earned 8 cents per diluted share, beating analyst estimates for its third quarter.

MICRON ELECTRONICS (MUEI, 11.19)- The PC maker's second quarter earnings met analyst's lowered expectations. The company blamed pricing pressures, and a seasonal slowdown in sales for a 7% decline in revenues. 

PATHOGENESIS (PGNS, 34.75)-  The company warned that it will lose 30 cents a share in its first quarter because of slow sales of its only drug.  Analysts were expecting a profit of 20 cents a share.  The shares fell 23 points in after hours trading to 11.75 on the news and will remain under pressure today.

EFI ELECTRONICS (EFIC, 1.38)- The company warned that slow revenues will cause it to incur a 4Q  loss The company also announced that it is exploring means to enhance shareholder value, including partnerships and mergers- The company warned that slow revenues will cause it to incur a 4Q  loss The company also announced that it is exploring means to enhance shareholder value, including partnerships and mergers.