Benzinga’s News Update (WIN, SIG, MDT, AEO, DLTR, BGP, C)

Windstream Corporation (NYSE: WIN) is currently trading at $10.07, down 0.59% on 87K shares after Windstream announced that it will buy lowa Telecommunications Services Inc. for $1.1 billion. As per the agreement, Windstream will issue 0.804 shares and $7.09 in cash for each share of Iowa Telecommunications Services, Inc. (NYSE: IWA). So far in 2009, WIN gained over 9%.

Signet Jewelers Ltd. (NYSE: SIG) today reported third-quarter net loss of $7 million as compared to $15.1 million and total sales of $613.7 million, a decline of 2.5% from the same quarter last year. Signet also raised its fiscal 2010 free cash flow target range and now expects free cash flow to be between $300 million to $350 million. SIG is currently trading at $26.31, fell 2.12% in the morning trading hours. In the last six months, SIG is up 53%.

Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE: MDT) today announced that its second quarter earnings were $868 million, or $0.78 a share. While, revenue increased to $3.8 billion, an increase of 8% from the same quarter last year. MDT expects fiscal 2010 profits to be in between $3.17 to $3.22 per share. MDT is up 6.87% at $43.08 on 741K shares. MDT also made a new high today at $43.19.

American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO) reported a third quarter profit of $59.2 million, or $0.28 a share, compared to $42.6 million, or $0.21 a share, in the year-ago period. Sales were $749 million, down from $754 million in the third quarter of 2008. Analysts on an average expected AEO to earn $0.22 a share. AEO is up 5.16% to $15.32 on 309K shares. So far in 2009, AEO climbed up 63%.

Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) soared over 3% to $50.58 on 109K shares in the morning trading hours after its third quarter profit increased to $68.2 million, or $0.76 a share, as compared to $43.1 million, or $0.47 a share, a year ago. DLTR expects its fourth quarter profit to be in the range of $1.30 to $1.39 per share.

Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) decreased $0.11 or 5.47% to $1.90 in the morning trading hours after it reported third quarter loss of $37.7 million or $0.63 a share as compared to loss of $175.4 million or $2.90 per share from the same quarter last year. However, analysts on an average were expecting BGP to report loss of $1.25 a share. So far in 2009, BGP is up 375%.

Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C) today announced that it has entered into an agreement with BMO Financial Group (BMO) to sell its Diners Club North America card business. The sale will reduce Citi’s assets in its Citi Holdings unit by around $1 billion. However, the sale will not impact Citi’s net income or capital ratios. Citigroup is currently trading at $4.26, down 0.35% on 17.01 million shares. In the last six months, Citigroup gained over 15%.