Family Dollar Stores (FDO) confirmed that it has received an unsolicited conditional proposal from Trian Group to acquire the company at a price in the range of $55 to $60 per share in cash. Family Dollar Stores overall option implied volatility of 25 is near its 26-week average of 27, according to Track Data, suggesting non-directional price movement.

Air Products (APD) withdrew its offer to purchase Airgas (ARG). Airgas overall option implied volatility of 33 is above its 12-week average of 28, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Options Update is by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Air Products and Chemicals Inc. (NYSE: APD) met Q1 profit estimates and lowered its guidance.
• Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) stellar Q1 results easily topped analysts' expectations, sending shares higher.
• Coach Inc. (NYSE: COH) unimpressive Q2 results due to holiday sales were in line with expectations.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) Q4 profits were dragged down finance, consumer divisions.
• Harley-Davidson Inc. (NYSE: HOG) Q4 earnings tumbled on lower demand globally and domestically.
• Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) reported better-than-expected Q4 earnings but lower revenue.
• Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) released its dismal Q2 results early and announced job cuts.
• Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc. (NYSE: POT) Q4 earnings more than doubled on higher prices.
• Seagate Technology (NYSE: STX) fell after posting losses and guidance for more weakness ahead.
• Sony Corp. (NYSE: SNE) warned that it would post its biggest loss ever in full-year 2008.
• State Street Corp. (NYSE: STT) earnings tumbled on charges but still topped analysts' estimates.
• UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE: UNH) Q4 earnings were in line with estimates and it reaffirmed its outlook.
• United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX) modest Q4 earnings growth was in line with expectations.

For more highlights from this week, see eBay, Google, IBM, Southwest, UAL, AMR, Northern Trust and others

Air Products (NYSE: APD) reported Q1 EPS of 97 cents versus consensus estimates of 97 cents. APD sees Q2 EPS 80 cents -90 cents versus consensus estimates of $1.07. APD closed at $52.64. February option implied volatility of 68 is above its 26-week average of 50, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Praxair (NYSE: PX), a large industrial gas company, closed at $59.21. PX is scheduled to report Q4 EPS on January 28. PX February option implied volatility of 57 is above its 26-week average of 48, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Airgas (NYSE: ARG) closed at $37.03. ARG will release EPS on January 28. ARG February option implied volatility of 71 is above its 26-week average of 57, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Praxair (NYSE: PX) closed at $50.06 Monday. PX is scheduled to report Q3 EPS on October 29. Deutsche Bank lowered EPS estimates for PX to reflect the strengthening U.S. dollar and the slowdown in global GDP growth. PX November option implied volatility of 87 is above its 26-week average of 38 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Air Products (NYSE: APD) closed at $47.30 Monday. APD overall option implied volatility of 77 is above its 26-week average of 38 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Airgas (NYSE: ARG) closed at $31.40 Monday. ARG November option implied volatility of 97 is above its 26-week average of 44 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

The quarter is winding down, and here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Air Products & Chemicals Inc. (NYSE: APD) lowered its guidance for the current quarter.
• AutoZone Inc. (NYSE: AZO) missed Q4 earnings estimates despite a modest increase in profits.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) reported disappointing Q2 results that met analysts' expectations.
• Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) faces earnings declines if the Paulson plan fails, says Jim Cramer
• Circuit City Stores Inc. (NYSE: CC) earnings declines finally led to the ouster of CEO Schoonover.
• Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) beat Q3 expectations despite charges and reserves.
• General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) lowered its Q3 and full-year forecast due to financial sector woes.
• KB Home (NYSE: KBH) reported a greater-than-expected loss for Q3, and yet shares rose.
• Lennar Corp. (NYSE: LEN) posted significantly smaller Q3 losses on cost cutting.
• McCormick & Co. Inc. (NYSE: MKC) topped Q3 expectations due to the sale of a brand.
• Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) posted better-than-expected Q1 results despite a decline in net income.
• Research in Motion Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM) posted strong Q2 results accompanied by a weak forecast.
• Rite Aid Corp. (NYSE: RAD) Q2 net loss more than doubled and revenues were flat
• Secure Computing Corp. (NASDAQ: SCUR) missing estimates didn't stop a deal with McAfee (NYSE: MFE).
• 3Com Corp. (NASDAQ: COMS) Q1 results topped both analysts estimates and previous guidance.
• 3M Co. (NYSE: MMM) faces significant earnings declines if the Paulson plan fails, says Jim Cramer.

Also, are analysts' expectations for the the coming year too optimistic?

Upcoming quarterly reports include Circuit City (NYSE: CC), Walgreen (NYSE: WAG), Pepsi Bottling Group (NYSE: PBG), Constellation Brands (NYSE: STZ), Marriott International (NYSE: MAR), Family Dollar Stores (NYSE: FDO).

Visit AOL Money & Finance for more earnings coverage.

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Walgreen, CBS Corp, SL Green Realty, Brandywine Realty Trust and Navteq were today's noteworthy downgrades:

• Walgreen (NYSE: WAG) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Merrill and to Market Perform from Outperform following its weak Q4 report. Merrill sees limited upside following the worse-than-expected quarter.
  
• CBS Corporation (NYSE: CBS) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Deutsche Bank to reflect the company's soft rating trends and poor local advertising growth.
  
• Banc of America downgraded shares of SL Green Realty (NYSE: SLG) and Brandywine Realty Trust (NYSE: BDN) to Neutral from Buy. The firm downgraded shares of SL Green to reflect their more cautious stance on the office sector and believes uncertainty over cap rates will limit share upside, and downgraded shares of Brandywine to reflect a lack of near-term catalysts and their more cautious stance on the office sector.
  
• Navteq Corporation (NYSE: NVT) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at UBS and to Market Perform from Outperform at JMP Securities following its acquisition by Nokia Corporation (NYSE: NOK).

OTHER DOWNGRADES:

• Goldman Sachs removed Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) from its Conviction Buy List.
  
• The firm downgraded Air Products & Chemicals (NYSE: APD) to Neutral from Buy and Valspar Corporation (NYSE: VAL) to Sell from Neutral.
  
• CIBC downgraded Axcan Pharma (NASDAQ: AXCA) to Sector Performer from Sector Outperformer.
  
• Humana Inc (NYSE: HUM) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Merrill.