American Tower Corp. (NYSE:
AMT -
News) swung to a fourth-quarter net profit of $18.3 million, or 4 cents a share, from a loss of $90.7 million, or 22 cents a share in the year-earlier period. Revenue rose to $337.6 million from $307.6 million driven by growth in the firm's rental and management segment. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial had forecast earnings of 4 cents a share on revenue of $336 million. The company also said its board of directors has approved a $1.5 billion share buyback program. For 2007, the company said it expects to achieve income from continuing operations of $77 million to $93 million.
Boyd Gaming Corp. (NYSE:
BYD -
News) said its fourth-quarter income from continuing operations rose to $83 million, or 63 cents a share, from $35.7 million, or 28 cents, a year earlier. The average earnings estimate of 22 analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial was 39 cents a share. The Las Vegas company said gross revenue for the three months ended Dec. 31 fell to $579 million from $601.4 million.
Cardiome Pharma Corp. (NasdaqGM:
CRME -
News) and partner Astellas Pharma (Other OTC:
ALPMF.PK -
News) said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration accepted for review a new-drug application for the intravenous formulation of vernakalant hydrochloride, an investigational new drug for the acute conversion of atrial fibrillation.
Empire Resorts' (NasdaqCM:
NYNY -
News) shares leapt after New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer issued a "concurrence" to an April 2000 finding that a gambling operations in Sullivan County run by the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe would be in the best interests of the tribe and wouldn't hurt the surrounding communities. Empire, Las Vegas, said a gubernatorial concurrence is required by the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988. Empire said Spitzer also signed the Tribal-State Compact Amendment, authorizing gaming at a Monticello, N.Y., site where the tribe plans to build a casino.
Florida Rock Industries (NYSE:
FRK -
News) shares rose after Vulcan Materials (NYSE:
VMC -
News) reached a deal to acquire the company for about $4.6 billion in cash and stock. The consideration values Florida Rock shares at about $68.03 each, based on Friday's close.
Fossil Inc. (NasdaqGS:
FOSL -
News) said it earned $38.2 million, or 55 cents a share, in the fourth quarter, according to preliminary data. The Richardson, Texas-based apparel retailer said it's still reviewing its stock option granting practices and that the timing of the filing of its official results with the SEC remains uncertain. Sales rose 20.5% to $390.8 million from $324.2 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were looking for earnings of 46 cents a share on sales of $367.3 million. Fossil said it now expects sales to grow in the low double-digits in 2007, while margins continue to improve.
Harley-Davidson (NYSE:
HOG -
News) has reached a tentative agreement with representatives of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 175 in York, Pa. The motorcycle manufacturer said it expects the membership to vote on the deal during the week of Feb. 19. If approved, the agreement would end a strike by 2,800 unionized employees in York that began Feb. 2.
KBW Inc. (NYSE:
KBW -
News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $25.4 million, or 87 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $7.3 million, or 26 cents a share. Revenue surged almost 32% to $120.2 million for the latest quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted for IPO restricted stock awards, the New York investment bank said it earned $26.5 million, or 90 cents a share, in the quarter.
Lesco (NasdaqGM:
LSCO -
News) shares surged after the Cleveland maker of lawn-maintenance products agreed to be acquired by Deere & Co. (NYSE:
DE -
News) for $14.50 a share. Lesco shares closed Friday at $10.43, indicating that Deere is paying a 39% premium for the shares.
Movie Gallery (NasdaqGM:
MOVI -
News) said it expects revenue of about $2.54 billion for fiscal 2006. The Dothan, Ala., movie rental company sees total same-store revenue slipping 2.9% in the fourth quarter. It anticipates operating income of $24 million for the fourth quarter and $102 million for the full year. The company also said its management plans to meet with prospective senior lenders in New York City on Tuesday in relation to its previously disclosed financing transaction.
Natus Medical (NasdaqGM:
BABY -
News) shares advanced after the San Carlos, Calif.-based healthcare products company reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $512,000, or 2 cents a share, down from $2.46 million, or 13 cents a share, last year. Excluding certain items, earnings in fourth quarter 2006 came in at 13 cents a share. Revenue rose to $28.8 million from $12.6 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share profit of 12 cents ion revenue of $28 million. Natus increased its full-year 2007 earnings forecast to a range of 49 cents to 52 cents a share on revenue of $115 million to $117 million.
New River Pharmaceuticals (NasdaqGM:
NRPH -
News) agreed to be acquired by Shire plc (Other OTC:
SHPGF.PK -
News) for $64 per share in cash, or roughly $2.6 billion.
Option Care (NasdaqGS:
OPTN -
News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $6.7 million, or 19 cents a share, up from a restated year-ago profit of $6.2 million, or 18 cents a share. Revenue rose in the latest three months to $194.2 million from $142.4 million in the same period a year earlier. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial was for a profit of 19 cents a share in the December period. Looking ahead, the Buffalo Grove, Ill., healthcare services provider said it expects earnings of 73 to 78 cents a share in fiscal 2007 on sales of between $785 million and $815 million. Wall Street's current consensus estimate is for a profit of 78 cents a share in 2007.
Rock of Ages Corp. (NasdaqGM:
ROAC -
News) reported fourth-quarter earnings from continuing operations of $1.5 million, or 20 cents a share, up from a year-ago equivalent profit of $672,000, or 9 cents a share. Sales at the Concord, N.H., granite company slid 9% to $23.4 million from $25.5 million a year earlier.
Scotts Co. (NYSE:
SMG -
News) said the board declared a one-time cash dividend of $8 per share. The dividend is payable March 5 to holders as of Feb. 26.
Service Corporation International (NYSE:
SCI -
News) increased its buyback authorization to $200 million, a boost of $164 million from its prior approval, and forecast earnings from continuing operations of 46 to 52 cents a share for fiscal 2007 with funeral revenue expected between $1.5 billion and $1.6 billion and cemetery revenue projected to range from $700 million to $740 million.
