Jim Cramer Blog

Allied Waste Industries Inc. (NYSE:AW - News) reported fourth-quarter net income of $9.8 million, or break-even measured in per-share results, down from $66.7 million, or 15 cents a share, a year ago.

Shares of Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NasdaqGS:BFAM - News) gained ground after the Boston-based provider of child care and early education reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $11 million, or 41 cents a share, up from $9.8 million, or 35 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue rose to $181.3 million from $163.1 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share profit of 39 cents on revenue of $181.9 million.
Bsquare Corp. (NasdaqGM:BSQR - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $706,000, or 7 cents a share. During the same period a year ago, the company posted a net loss of $246,000, or 3 cents a share.
Buffalo Wild Wings (NasdaqGS:BWLD - News) said quarterly net income rose, as revenue gained, to $6.8 million, or 77 cents a share, from $2.62 million, or 30 cents a share, during the same period in the prior year. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were looking for per-share earnings of 53 cents. The Minneapolis-based operator of restaurants said quarterly revenue rose to $83.3 million from $59 million in the prior year, while Wall Street was looking for $81 million.
Campbell Soup Co.'s (NYSE:CPB - News) fiscal second-quarter net income rose to $285 million, or 72 cents a share, from $254 million, or 61 cents a share, a year ago. Excluding items, earnings were 68 cents a share for the quarter. A Thomson Financial survey of analysts, on average, predicted earnings of 63 cents a share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates usually exclude items. The Camden, N.J., food company said sales for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose 4.3% to $2.25 billion from $2.16 billion a year earlier. The company raised its fiscal 2007 forecast for EPS growth from continuing operations to 10% to 12% from 5% to 7%.
Cascade Corp. (NYSE:CAE - News) was tabbed to replace ElkCorp in the S&P SmallCap 600 index. ElkCorp is being acquired by Building Materials Corp. of America.
Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG - News) said more customers eating at its restaurants helped feed fourth-quarter results that were far better than Wall Street's expectations. Denver-based Chipotle -- ending its first fiscal year as a public company -- said it made $10.8 million, or 33 cents a share, for the quarter compared with last year's profit of $4.26 million, or 16 cents a share.
Compass Bancshares (NasdaqGS:CBSS - News) agreed to be acquired by BBVA (NYSE:BBV - News) for $9.6 billion. Compass holders will be able to get either 2.8 BBVA U.S.-listed shares or $71.82 in cash. BBVA said the deal is at a 16% premium to Compass' average price over the last ten days. BBVA said U.S. operations will represent about 10% of the group's operation.
DaimlerChrysler (NYSE:DCX - News) shares advanced following a report that the company is in talks to sell its Chrysler Group business to General Motors (NYSE:GM - News), according to industry trade publication Automotive News.
Ditech Networks (NasdaqGM:DITC - News) reported fiscal third-quarter earnings of $2 million, or 6 cents a share, up from a year-ago loss of $100,000, or breakeven on a per share basis. On a non-GAAP basis, the Mountain View, Calif., maker of voice processing equipment earned $3 million, or 9 cents a share, in the latest quarter. Looking ahead, Ditech said it expects revenue to rise 5% in the fourth quarter from its third-quarter total of $22.1 million.
Fieldstone Investment Corp. (NasdaqGS:FICC - News) has agreed to be purchased for $5.53 a share in cash, a premium of $2.93 a share, or 112% over its closing price of $2.60 a share on Thursday. The buyers are Credit-Based Asset Servicing and Securitization LLC (C-BASS); an affiliate of MGIC and Radian Group. The purchase price values the Columbia, Md. real estate investment trust with a portfolio of non-conforming mortgage loans at about $260 million.
First BanCorp (NYSE:FBP - News) shares surged after the San Juan, P.R.-based company agreed to sell roughly 9.25 million shares of its common stock to Scotiabank for $94.8 million, valuing the shares at $10.25 each. After the sale, Scotiabank will hold 10% of First BanCorp's outstanding common stock. In addition, First BanCorp has agreed to notify Scotiabank if it makes any decision to begin a process to sell itself during the first 18 months after Scotiabank's investment is made, and to negotiate with Scotiabank exclusively for 30 days if Scotiabank so requests.
Gentiva Health Services (NasdaqGS:GTIV - News) was upgraded to outperform from market perform at Raymond James.
Hittite Microwave Corp. (NasdaqGS:HITT - News) reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $12.1 million, or 39 cents a share, up from $7.11 million, or 23 cents a share, a year earlier.
Hurco Cos. (NasdaqGS:HURC - News) posted first-quarter earnings of $5.4 million, or 84 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $3 million, or 48 cents a share. Sales jumped 47% in the latest three months to $46.9 million from $31.9 million a year ago. The Indianapolis-based industrial technology company said its strong performance in the quarter reflects improved demand, specifically in European markets.
J. .M. Smucker Co.'s (NYSE:SJM - News) fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 29% to $40.4 million, or 71 cents a share, from $31.3 million, or 54 cents a share, a year earlier, boosted by higher sales at its continuing operations, a lower tax rate, a decrease in merger expenses and fewer outstanding shares. Excluding restructuring and merger expenses, the company earned 72 cents a share, up from 68 cents a year earlier. The Orrville, Ohio, maker of branded fruit spreads, peanut butter and other food products said net sales for the quarter ended Jan. 31, fell 2.5% to $523.1 million from $536.5 million.
Mohawk Industries Inc. (NYSE:MHK - News) said fourth-quarter net income rose, as revenue gained, to $129.5 million, or $1.90 a share, from $99.6 million, or $1.47 a share, during the same period in the prior year. The flooring supplier said quarterly revenue increased to $1.9 billion from $1.8 billion in the prior year.
Mosaic Co. (NYSE:MOS - News) said the salt saturated brine inflow at its Esterhazy, Saskatchewan mines has decline to an estimated rate of about 12,000 gallons per minute. The initial estimate was for a flow of 20,000 to 25,000 gallons per minute.

Labels: AW, BBV, BFAM, BSQR, BWLD, CAE, CBSS, CMG, CPB, DCX, DITC, FBP, FICC, GM, GTIV, HITT, HURC, MHK, MOS, SJM