Amazon.com (AMZN) 35.75 -6.13 (-14.6%)
For the third quarter in a row, on line retailer misses on earnings in its report; Company delivers EPS of $0.35, which is $0.05 below the consensus estimate; Also falls short of its own guidance for operating income; In terms of expectations going forward, Amazon.com guided Q1 (Mar) and FY05 (Dec) sales in line, but cut its FY05 operating income range; On its call, the company noted that its new 'Amazon Prime' could be the most expensive undertaking for the company since free supersaver shipping; Stock has slipped below its 50-day moving average tonight

American Eagle (AEOS) 51.50 -1.53 (-2.9%)
Teen retailer raises its Q4 (Jan) EPS outlook for the fourth consecutive time after releasing Jan same store sales of 22% (consensus of 16.5%); Company now sees EPS of $1.46-1.50 (consensus of $1.32) for year/year growth of 142%; Management's outlook for Q1 (Apr), however, was not quite as encouraging as it guided EPS towards the low-end of estimates; Put the metric at $0.43-0.45 versus the Reuters Estimates of $0.45 

Blockbuster (BBI) 9.40 unch
As expected, video rental chain counters Movie Gallery's (MOVI) latest offer for competitor Hollywood Entertainment (HLYW); Blockbuster has made a bid valued at approximately $14.50 per share, comprised of $11.50 in cash and $3.00 in BBI class A stock; The $14.50 purchase price represents a 2% premium to HLYW's closing price; HLYW's stock has already rallied to $14.50 in the after hours; MOVI has given back $0.03 to $21.22

ESS Technologies (ESST) 5.50 -0.60 (-9.8%)
After cutting its Q4 (Dec) earnings outlook twice, small-cap semiconductor company still falls short of the already reduced Street estimates; Reports a net loss that widened to ($0.50) - the consensus called for a loss of $0.18 - on revenues that fell 48% to $43.1 mln (consensus of $43.9 mln); Management said that it expected a slow 1H05, and projected a worse than anticipated FY05 (Dec) outlook; Stock has plunged to a new 52-week low tonight

Pulte Homes (PHM) 69.00 +0.75 (+1.1%)
The second largest US homebuilder turns in a 65% increase in Q4 (Dec) EPS, to $3.20 (consensus of $3.05) and a 35% rise in revenues, to $4.2 bln (consensus of $4.07 bln); The company noted that its backlog value increased 24% to a record $5.2 bln; Management cited this and a 'solid demand environment' for its upside FY05 EPS forecast of $9.00-9.50; Look for relative strength tomorrow from the homebuilders, particularly if the bond market holds in