News Corp. (NYSE:
NWS -
News) said fiscal second-quarter net income fell to $822 million, or 27 cents per class A share and 23 cents per class B share. In the year-ago period it earned $1.08 billion, or 35 cents per class A share and 29 cents a class B share. On a continuing operations basis, it earned 26 cents a share. Revenue rose to $7.84 billion from $6.67 billion. During the quarter, Liberty Media Corp. agreed to exchange its entire 16.3% position in News Corp. for the company's entire interest in DirecTV Group, three regional sports networks and $550 million of cash, subject to adjustment. If approved, the deal is expected to be completed in the second half of calendar 2007.
New York Mortgage Trust (NYSE:
NTR -
News) agreed to sell certain assets of its REIT unit's mortgage banking platform to IndyMac Bank (NYSE:
NDE -
News) for about $13.4 million.
Nortel Networks Corp. (NYSE:
NT -
News) outlined a restructuring plan that calls for the elimination of 2,900 jobs. It anticipates about 70% of the layoffs will take place this year. The Canadian communications equipment provider also said it expects to shift 1,000 jobs to what it termed "lower-cost locations." The company estimates these actions will result in annual savings of about $400 million with half of this figure expected to be realized in 2007. It sees the cost of the restructuring coming in as high as $390 million with $300 million of this figure related to the workforce reductions and $90 million stemming from plans to consolidate and reduce its global real-estate portfolio. Nortel expects to record about 75% of this cost as charges in 2007. The company said it expects revenue of about $3.26 billion for the fourth quarter, a performance that would represent an increase of about 8.8% from last year's equivalent total of $3 billion. The company, which also announced a restructuring plan that calls for the elimination of about 2,900 jobs, sees gross margin for the period at slightly above 40% of revenue. The current average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial is for revenue of $3.21 billion. The company said it expects to report its operating and financial performance for the fourth quarter and full year in the second half of February.
OYO Geospace (NasdaqGM:
OYOG -
News) shares advanced after the Houston-based maker of equipment for the oil and gas industry posted a fiscal first-quarter net profit of $7.85 million, or $1.30 a share, up from $1.28 million, or 22 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue more than doubled, rising to $44.8 million from $21.9 million.
Ralcorp Holdings (NYSE:
RAH -
News) reported fiscal first-quarter earnings of $7.6 million, or 28 cents a share, up from a year-ago profit of $9.7 million, or 32 cents a share. Sales rose in the latest three months to $522.7 million from $464 million a year earlier. The St. Louis-based branded food provider said its latest quarter includes a non-cash loss of $17.9 on forward sale contracts related to its shares of Vail Resorts Inc. (NYSE:
MTN -
News).
SCM Microsystems' (NasdaqGM:
SCMM -
News) shares leapt after the Fremont, Calif.-based developer of smart card technology forecast an operating profit on revenue of $8.5 million to $9.5 million and a gross margin of roughly 40%. Operating expenses in the fourth quarter are expected to be between $3.3 million and $3.6 million, the company said.
SWS Group (NYSE:
SWS -
News) shares jumped after the Dallas-based provider of investment and financial services reported fiscal second-quarter earnings of $12.9 million, or 48 cents a share, on revenue of $74.3 million.
USANA Health Sciences' (NasdaqGS:
USNA -
News) shares rose after the Salt Lake City, Calif.-based maker of nutrition and personal care products late Tuesday reported a fourth-quarter net profit of $11.1 million, or 61 cents a share, up from $10.5 million, or 54 cents a share, last year. Revenue rose 16.5% to $99.8 million from $85.6 million. The company forecast first-quarter net earnings of 61 cents to 63 cents a share on revenue of $103 million to $105 million. For 2007, the company now expects earnings per share to grow 17% to 20% and revenue to grow 15% to 17%.
Valassis Communications (NYSE:
VCI -
News) reported fourth-quarter earnings before items of $20.6 million, or 43 cents a share, compared to the average estimate of analysts polled by Thomson Financial for a profit of 40 cents a share. For 2007, the Livonia, Mich., marketing services provider said it expects pro forma combined revenue of $2.5 billion to $2.6 billion.
Vanda Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NasdaqGM:
VNDA -
News) said its fourth-quarter net loss narrowed to $11.9 million from a year ago loss of $21.8 million. The year-ago loss also included a $15 million charge from dividend payments to preferred stockholders. Research and development costs rose 52% to $7.9 million. Research costs were around 21% lower than the third quarter due to the completion of two Phase 3 trials. Vanda also engaged an investment bank to provide strategic advisory services. "This engagement may lead to one or more possible transactions, including the acquisition, sale or licensing by the company of businesses or product candidates, the sale or licensing to a third party of one or more of the company's own product candidates, or the acquisition of the company," Vanda said.
Vornado Realty Trust (NYSE:
VNO -
News) shares rose after the company said it's terminating its proposal to acquire Equity Office Properties Trust (NYSE:
EQR -
News). "Vornado concluded that the premium it would have to pay to top Blackstone's latest bid, protected by a twice-increased breakup fee, would not be in its shareholders' interest," the company said in a statement. A report Wednesday morning said Equity Office shareholders at a special shareholder meeting are expected to vote in favor of a bid from private-equity firm Blackstone Group, which had been in a bidding war with Vornado for the nation's largest office REIT.
Published By Michael Baron
Labels: EQR, MTN, NDE, NT, NTR, NWS, OYOG, RAH, SCMM, SWS, USNA, VCI, VNDA, VNO
