Stocks to Watch: Google, Merck, 99 Cents Only Stores and More!

Miscellaneous | Dave Kansas | April 15, 2011 5:49 am

Some hot stocks to watch this morning, courtesy of our friends at Dow Jones.

Google reported a disappointing 18% increase in first-quarter earnings as the company continues to invest heavily in emerging technologies and opportunities, something that new Chief Executive Larry Page has made a priority. Shares in the Internet giant dropped 5.5% to $547 in after-hours trading.

Cubist Pharmaceuticals’ first-quarter earnings rose 11%, topping analysts’ estimates, as the company’s revenue increased, helped by better performance from its main drug. Shares were up 4.6% to $31.75 after hours.

StanCorp Financial issued a weaker-than-expected adjusted earnings outlook for the first quarter, news that sent the insurance and retirement services provider’s shares lower in after-hours trading. Shares fell 4.9% to $43.15 in after-hours trading.

MTS Systems Corp. said it asked for and has been granted additional time to respond to a suspension from government contracts that was put in place last…