HEADLINE STOCKS-Some U.S. stocks to watch on Oct. 8

NEW YORK, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Some U.S. stocks to watch on
Wednesday:

WAL-MART STORES INC (WMT.N)

The discount retailer reported September sales and forecast
third-quarter earnings from continuing operations of 73 to 76
cents a share. For more see [ID:nL8132274].

Shares of the Dow component closed Tuesday at $54.84 but
rose 1.8 percent to $55.80 in pre-market trades.

TARGET CORP (TGT.N)

The retailer forecast October same-store sales that are
flat to down 3 percent. [ID:nWEN8956]

Shares closed Tuesday at $39.86 but fell 2.5 percent to
$38.86 in pre-market trades on Wednesday.

COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP (COST.O)

The discount retailer reported fourth-quarter earnings that
rose from the prior year but missed estimates. [ID:nN08501835]

The stock closed Tuesday at $57.80.

STEIN MART INC (SMRT.O)

The retailer said September same-store sales were down 15
percent from the prior year. [ID:nWNAB5719]

Shares closed Tuesday at $2.94.

BRISTOL-MYERS (BMY.N)

Merrill Lynch upgraded the pharmaceutical company two
notches to buy from underperform. For more information, see:
[RCH/US]

Shares closed Tuesday at $18.84.

ALCOA INC (AA.N)

The aluminum company late Tuesday reported third-quarter
earnings that fell from the prior year. [ID:nN07482688]

Shares of the Dow component closed at $16.71 but fell 4.2
percent to $16.01 in after-hours trading.

UNIVERSAL STAINLESS & ALLOY PRODUCTS (USAP.O)

The company forecast third-quarter earnings of 35 to 40
cents a share, far below the Reuters estimates of 77 cents.
[ID:nWNAB5691]

Shares of Universal Stainless closed Tuesday at $18.84.

WET SEAL INC (WTSLA.O)

The company reported a decline of 7.5 percent in September
same-store sales and affirmed its third-quarter outlook of 5
cents to 7 cents a share. [ID:nWNAB5688]

Shares of the retailer closed Tuesday at $3.10.

STEWART ENTERPRISES INC (STEI.O)

SERVICE CORP INTERNATIONAL (SCI.N)

Funeral home operator Service Corp International (SCI.N)
withdrew its offer to buy rival Stewart Enterprises Inc for $11
a share. [ID:nBNG351207]

Shares of Stewart fell more than 28 percent at the opening
to $5.05, after closing at $7.09 Tuesday on Nasdaq. Service's
shares, which closed at $7.19 on the NYSE, rose 1.8 percent to
$7.32.

METLIFE (MET.N)

The life insurance company forecast third-quarter earnings
from continuing operations of $1.38 to $1.58 a share and said
it would offer 75 million common shares to supplement its
capital position. [ID:nN07491570]

Shares of the company dropped nearly 30 percent at the
opening on the NYSE after closing Tuesday at $36.87.

SEALY CORP (ZZ.N)

The mattress maker's third-quarter profit halved but beat
market estimates on cost-cutting efforts and a new bedding
line. [ID:nBNG362080].

Shares of the company rose 12 percent to $4.55 in trading
after the bell. They had closed at $4.05 Tuesday on the NYSE.

FORD MOTOR (F.N)

GENERAL MOTORS (GM.N)

Citigroup downgraded both car companies to sell from hold
the day after they said they would be cutting their European
output. [RCH/US] Ford also said that its Volvo Car unit would
be cutting 3,300 jobs [ID:nL8604858].

Ford shares closed at $2.92 while shares of General Motors,
a Dow component, closed at $7.56.

CITIGROUP (C.N)

The financial services company said it would cut 500 jobs
and sell its back office unit in India for $505 million.
[ID:nBOM362156]

Shares of the Dow component closed Tuesday at $15.15.

SCANSOURCE INC (SCSC.O)

The maker of bar-code readers on Tuesday forecast
first-quarter sales below market estimates. For more
information, see [ID:nBNG217789]

Shares fell to $21.99 before the bell after closing at
$23.08 Tuesday on Nasdaq.

PFIZER (PFE.N)

In a lawsuit, the pharmaceutical company was accused
of suppressing medical studies that didn't support the use of
its epilepsy drug. [ID:nL8662211] Separately, Merrill Lynch
upgraded Pfizer two notches to buy from underperform. [RCH/US]

Shares of Pfizer, a Dow component, closed Tuesday at
$17.65.

SYMANTEC CORP (SYMC.O)

The software company is buying Messagelabs for $695 million
in cash. [ID:nWNAB5706]

Shares closed Tuesday at $15.

DDI CORP (DDIC.O)

The circuit board engineering company said third-quarter
revenue rose 14 percent to $49.3 million. [ID:nWNAB5716]

Shares of DDI closed Thursday at $4.15.
(Editing by James Dalgleish)