SAN FRANCISCO – Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Thursday's session are A.G. Edwards Inc., Applied Signal Technology Inc. and General Mills Inc.
A.G. Edwards (AGE) is expected to post third-quarter earnings of 71 cents a share, according to analysts polled by Thomson First Call.
American Greetings Corp. (AM) is seen posting a third-quarter profit of 58 cents a share.
Applied Signal Technology (APSG) is expected to report fiscal fourth-quarter earnings of 22 cents a share
Cintas Corp. (CTAS) is seen posting earnings of 48 cents a share for the fiscal second quarter.
General Mills (GIS) is expected to report fiscal second-quarter earnings of 96 cents a share.
Analysts expect Solectron Corp. (SLR) to post a per-share profit of 3 cents for the fiscal first quarter.
Research in Motion Ltd. (RIMM) said late Wednesday fiscal third-quarter profit rose by a third as sales of its popular BlackBerry email device surged, even as the company faces a legal threat which could suspend U.S. sales of the product.
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3Com Corp. (COMS) trimmed its net loss in its fiscal second quarter, though revenue came in below analysts' expectations for the period, the network equipment company said.
American Healthways Inc. (AMHC) reported net earnings for the first quarter of $6.46 million, or 18 cents a share, compared with $7.76 million, or 22 cents a share, during the same period last year. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had expected per-share earnings of 23 cents. The provider of comprehensive disease management reported quarterly revenue of $90.6 million, compared with $71.2 million last year. Analysts had expected revenue of $93 million. American Healthways affirmed its outlook for fiscal 2006 revenue of $412 million to $432 million. Analysts expect the company to report revenue of $423 million. The company's guidance for the year's net per-share earnings is a range of $1.10 to $1.14. The company's pro forma outlook for the year's per-share earnings is a range of $1.34 to $1.38. Analysts are looking for per-share earnings of $1.34. American Healthways said its per-share earnings outlook for the second quarter is a range of 19 cents to 20 cents, with a pro forma outlook of 25 cents to 26 cents. Analysts are looking for per-share earnings of 26 cents.
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) said third-quarter profit rose 10% to match Wall Street's target.
Cognos Inc. (COGN) said its quarterly profit fell 18% as a transition to a new flagship product hampered its financial performance and it closed less than half as many large deals compared to a year earlier.
Convergys Corp. (CVG) said the impact of two non-operating items and additional severance expenses will reduce its fourth-quarter earnings forecast by 16 cents a share. It now expects to report a per-share profit of 14 cents. The customer- and billing-services provider said the items impacting its forecast are a charge of 8 cents a share for the repatriation of $187 million of foreign earnings; a charge of 6 cents a share for cellular partnership adjustments; and a charge of 2 cents a share for additional severance costs. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call currently expect Convergys to report earnings of 31 cents a share on revenue of $670 million.
Finish Line Inc. (FINL) reported net earnings for the third quarter of $845,000, or 2 cents a share, compared with $2.22 million, or 4 cents a share, during the year-earlier period. The athletic specialty retailer reported quarterly revenue of $274 million, compared with $235.3 million last year.
Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group Inc. (FBR) said it expects a $185 million charge after interest rate hikes and a flattening yield curve knocked the value of its mortgage-backed securities portfolio.
Herman Miller Inc. (MLHR) reported second-quarter earnings of $27.9 million, or 40 cents a share, compared with $15.4 million, or 22 cents a share, during the year-earlier period. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call had expected earnings of 40 cents a share. The office furniture systems company reported quarterly revenue of $438.2 million, compared with $368.4 million last year. Analysts had looked for revenue of $442 million.
Hershey Foods Corp. (HSY) said it plans to begin expensing stock options and other share-based compensation in the fourth quarter. The Hershey, Pa.-based confectioner said it expects the impact of the stock options-expensing to be 3 cents a share in the fourth quarter and 9 cents a share for the full-year 2005. The company said full-year 2004 expenses for the options total 5 cents a share. Hershey said it expects the expenses for share-based compensation in 2006 will be comparable to the expenses for 2005.
Marvell Inc. (MRVL) has agreed to purchase substantially all of the assets of UTStarcom Inc.'s (UTSI) semiconductor design business division for $24 million in cash, the companies said. The deal also includes assets related to UTStarcom's acquisition of Advanced Communications Devices in December 2001. Under terms of the deal, Marvell may pay an additional $16 million upon achieving certain milestones. Marvell may record a one-time charge related to the transaction, which is expected to close within 60 days. The amount of the charge hasn't been determined, they said.
Micron Technology Inc. (MU) reported a 60% drop in its quarterly profit, but better sales of its chips for personal computers and digital-media devices boosted overall revenue.
New York Times Co. (NYT) said its fourth-quarter profit would plunge 39% from that of a year earlier on charges related to job cuts announced in September, as well as stock-based compensation expense.
Omni Energy Services (OMNI) said its seismic drilling backlog has increased recently by 50% to a level now in excess of $40 million. Additionally, the Carencro, La.-based oilfield services company said it is seeing an increase in the amount of transition zone projects scheduled for 2006, compared with the transition zone projects completed in recent years. Omni's backlog represents the seismic drilling projects for which a customer has contracted the company and has provided it with a scheduled start date for the project. "Coupling the increased demand for our environmental and seismic units with the anticipated acquisition of Preheat Inc., management believes 2006 is beginning to look very strong," said Omni Chief Executive James Eckert in a statement.
Paychex Inc. (PAYX) reported fiscal second-quarter net earnings of $111.6 million, or 30 cents a share, compared with $86.9 million, or 23 cents a share, last year. Revenue rose to $399.8 million from $347.3 million a year ago. Analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call had expected the payroll and human resources services provider to report earnings of 29 cents a share on revenue of $398 million. Paychex said its outlook for fiscal 2006 is the same as previously announced, except for the inclusion of the effect of the Federal Funds rate increases on Nov. 1 and Dec. 13.
Red Hat Inc. (RHAT) reported a third-quarter profit that more than doubled from a year ago as the open-source software company reported a steep rise in its key software-subscription sales.
Tibco Software Inc. (TIBX) reported fiscal fourth-quarter net earnings of $26.6 million, or 12 cents a share, compared with $18.2 million, or 8 cents a share, last year. Earnings on an adjusted basis were $21.8 million, or 10 cents a share. Total revenue rose to $134.4 million from $125.7 million a year ago. Palo Alto, Calif.-based Tibco also said its board approved an 18-month plan to buy back up to $100 million of its common shares.
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