Yum Brands, Monsanto, Family Dollar big movers

Yum Brands, Monsanto, Family Dollar, Costco, Google are among big market movers Wednesday

• By The Associated Press
• On 6:07 pm EDT, Wednesday October 7, 2009

NEW YORK (AP) -- The following stocks were among those that moved substantially or traded heavily Wednesday on the New York Stock Exchange:

NYSE:

Yum Brands Inc., down 49 cents at $34.37

Despite a jump in profit, the restaurant operator said it expects even weaker U.S. sales in the final three months of 2009.

Monsanto Co., down $1.03 at $74.33

The world's biggest seed maker's fourth-quarter loss widened to $233 million on lower revenue, led by a drop in sales of a herbicide.

Abercrombie & Fitch Co., up $1.10 at $32.66

An analyst said expense pressures on the teen apparel retailer are lessening and upgraded the stock to "equal-weight."

Family Dollar Stores Inc., down 27 cents at $28.21

The discount retailer predicted first-quarter earnings and revenue growth, expecting continued business from value-conscious consumers.

Stoneridge Inc., up 35 cents at $8.36

An analyst raised his price target on the maker of engineered electrical and electronic products by 50 percent.

NASDAQ:

Costco Wholesale Corp., up $1.07 at $59

The members-only warehouse club chain's profit slid on a stronger dollar and higher employee health care costs, but beat expectations.

Repros Therapeutics Inc., up 97 cents at $1.86

The company reported positive clinical trial results for a drug candidate designed to increase testosterone production in men.

Google Inc., up $18.80 at $517.54

A federal judge set a deadline for a revised agreement in the battle over Google's effort to get digital rights for out-of-print books.

Buzz up!