JetBlue (NasdaqGS:JBLU - News) was upgraded to buy from neutral at Goldman Sachs.
Knology (NasdaqGM:KNOL - News) was upgraded by UBS to buy from neutral ahead of the communication technology company's earnings next week. The fundamental outlook remains strong, free cash flow should grow significantly in 2007 and refinancing will substantially lower the cost of debt, the broker said.
Laboratory Corp. of America Holdings (NYSE:LH - News) said its fourth-quarter earnings rose 17% to $103.7 million, or 81 cents a share, from $88.9 million, or 64 cents a share, a year earlier. The Burlington, N.C., provider of clinical laboratory services said that excluding $7.7 million in restructuring charges and other charges related to the retirement of the company's chief executive, the company earned $108.4 million, or 85 cents a share, compared with $93.1 million, or 67 cents a share, a year earlier. Laboratory Corp. said revenue for the quarter rose 9.3% to $898.6 million from $822.3 million a year ago. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial expected, on average, earnings of 72 cents a share on revenue of $874 million. In addition, Laboratory Corp. said it expects 2007 revenue growth of 11% to 13% and earnings of $3.93 to $4.09 a share.
Macquarie Infrastructure Co. (NYSE:MIC - News) was initiated with a neutral rating and a $40 price target at Credit Suisse.
Medimmune (NasdaqGS:MEDI - News) was higher after the company reported favorable results of a study of the use of its FluMist vaccine with children under five years of age. In addition, on Wednesday, investor Carl Icahn and his Icahn Management L.P. affiliate disclosed that they had bought 2.8 million Medimmune shares.
Midland Co. (NasdaqGS:MLAN - News) said its fourth-quarter net income rose to $21.1 million, or $1.07 a share, from $20 million, or $1.03 a share, a year earlier. Excluding realized capital gains, the insurer earned $19.1 million, or 97 cents a share, for the latest period. Fourth-quarter revenue increased 13% to $207.4 million from $183.5 million. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial, on average, expected the Cincinnati company to earn 93 cents a share and generate revenue of $198.7 million for the latest fourth quarter. For 2007, Midland expects net income of $3.25 a share to $3.55 a share.
Molson Coors Brewing Co. (NYSE:TAP - News) reported sharply higher fourth quarter profit Thursday, buoyed by volume increases and an extra selling week. The company said it earned $99.2 million, or $1.15 a share, up from $22.4 million, or 26 cents, in the year ago period. Excluding various items, the company would have earned $108.4 million, or $1.24 a share, up from $53.9 million, or 63 cents. Sales net of excise taxes were $1.5 billion, a gain of 10%, while volume rose to 10.9 million barrels form 10.3 million. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial had been for Molson Coors to earn 94 cents a share on revenue of $1.42 billion.
Ness Technologies Inc. (NasdaqGS:NSTC - News) said it anticipates generating a profit of $1 to $1.05 a share for 2007, on revenue pegged in a range of $560 million to $570 million. The profit forecast includes about 7 per diluted share for one-time expenses, which the company expects will be taken against first-quarter results. Excluding these one-time expenses, Ness Technologies forecast the current quarter's earnings in a range of 21 cents to 23 cents a share on revenue of $123 million to $129 million. Analysts' average profit projections, as compiled by Thomson Financial, stand at 23 cents a share for the first quarter and $1.02 for 2007, with average revenue estimates of $129 million and $560 million, respectively.
Network Appliance (NasdaqGS:NTAP - News) shares gained after the storage-technology company reported third-quarter results that exceeded Wall Street analysts' estimates. The company earned $66.5 million, or 17 cents a share, on revenue of $729.3 million. Excluding one-time items, it would have earned $111.1 million, or 29 cents a share, while analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial had forecast a profit of 28 cents a share on $703.8 million in revenue. Brokerage Friedman, Billings & Ramsey raised its rating on the stock to outperform from market perform.
Nutrisystem (NasdaqGS:NTRI - News) shares jumped after the company said fourth-quarter earnings rose to $19.6 million, or 53 cents a share, from a year-earlier profit of $6.27 million, or 17 cents a share. The Horsham, Pa., diet-food company said revenue nearly doubled to $133.6 million, from $69.6 million a year earlier. It also said its board has approved the buyback of up to $200 million worth of its common stock.
Nymex Holdings (NYSE:NMX - News) was upgraded to neutral at J.P. Morgan.
P.H. Glatfelter Co. (NYSE:GLT - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $15 million, or 33 cents a share, down from a year-ago profit of $26.9 million, or 61 cents a share. Excluding items, such as gains from the disposition of timberlands and shutdown and restructuring charges, the company posted a non-GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) profit of $10 million, or 22 cents a share, in the latest quarter. Sales rose in the latest three months to $268.6 million from $143.2 million in the same period a year earlier. The York, Pa., specialty papers and engineered products maker noted that the latest results include the impact of its Lydney and Chillicothe acquisitions. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial was for a profit of 15 cents a share in the December period.
Pool Corp. (NasdaqGS:POOL - News) said its fourth-quarter loss for the three months ended Dec. 31 widened to $5 million, or 10 cents a share, from a loss of $876,000, or 2 cents a share in the year-ago period. The Covington, La. pool distributor said sales increased 6% to $318.5 million in the wake of its acquisition of Wickham acquisition, growth in the Horizon business and a 1% increase in base business sales. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call forecast a loss of 9 cents a share, on average. Operating loss for the fourth quarter was $4.1 million compared to operating income of $2.3 million. For 2007, the company projects 15% to 20% earnings growth.
Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (NYSE:RS - News) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $74.6 million, or 98 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $60.6 million, or 91 cent a share. Sales surged 81% in the latest three months to $1.57 billion from $868.7 million in the same period a year earlier. The Los Angeles-based metals company said the latest results include a pre-tax LIFO expense of $37.9 million, or 31 cents a share. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial was for a profit of $1.22 a share in the December period on revenue of $1.56 billion. The company said its gross profit margins were slightly below its earlier expectations due to some inventory de-stocking that caused added competitive pressures. Reliance also said its LIFO expense in the latest quarter was "significantly higher" than anticipated.
Smithfield Foods (NYSE:SFD - News) said it expects earnings for the third quarter of fiscal 2007 to come in a range of 53 to 56 cents a share, down from 63 cents a year ago. The average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial is for earnings of 41 cents a share. The company said a 'significant' decline in hog production earnings was partially offset by strong international earnings and 4 cents a share of tax adjustments.
Spartan Motors (NasdaqGS:SPAR - News) shares rose after the Charlotte, Mich.-based maker of chassis and vehicles reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $3.28 million, or 16 cents a share, up from $986,000, or 5 cents a share, last year. The 2006 fourth quarter included a non-cash charge of $2.1 million, 10 cents a share, related to a write-off of goodwill for Spartan's ambulance subsidiary, Road Rescue. Revenue rose to $123.6 million from $75.5 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share profit of 17 cents on $102.3 million.
State Auto Financial Corp. (NasdaqGS:STFC - News) said that fourth-quarter net income rose to $44.9 million, or $1.08 a share, from $29.5 million, or 71 cents a share, a year ago reflecting a disciplined underwriting policy. Analysts were expecting the property and casualty insurance holding company to post earnings of 85 cents a share, according to data supplied by Thomson Financial. The company's combined ratio for the fourth quarter of 2006 was 83.5, versus 90.5 a year ago. Revenue rose to $281.0 million, from $280.9 million in 2005. 2007 is expected to be a year of positive transition, the company said.
Stratasys (NasdaqGS:SSYS - News) shares jumped after the Minneapolis-based maker of rapid prototyping devices and 3-D printing systems reported fourth-quarter net earnings of $3.65 million, or 35 cents a share, up from $3.15 million, or 30 cents a share, last year. Excluding stock-based compensation expense, profit came in at 38 cents a share. Revenue rose to $29.7 million from $23.5 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting a per-share profit of 36 cents on revenue of $27.6 million. Stratasys forecast 2007 earnings of $1.28 to $1.40 a share, or $1.37 to $1.49 a share excluding items, on revenue of $105 million to $110 million.
Strayer Education (NasdaqGS:STRA - News) said fourth-quarter net income rose 7% to $16 million, or $1.11 a share, with revenue up 20% to $74.3 million. Excluding stock-bsed compensation costs, it would've earned $1.22 a share, up 18% from a year ago. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of $1.08 a share. The company estimated first-quarter earnings between $1.27 and $1.29 a share, and stock-based compensation expenses of 11 cents a share. Analysts on average see earnings of $1.27 a share in the first quarter.
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