Earnings - 9th Feb 2009

5:29PM Comstock misses by $0.09, misses on revs (CRK) 40.27 -0.63 : Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.22 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.09 worse than the First Call consensus of $0.31; revenues rose 4.9% year/year to $100.2 mln vs the $106.8 mln consensus. Comstock also announced that it is reducing its 2009 drilling budget from $450 million to $366 million in response to weak natural gas prices.

4:36PM Zoltek misses by $0.11, misses on revs (ZOLT) 8.65 +0.44 : Reports Q1 (Dec) earnings of $0.02 per share, $0.11 worse than the First Call consensus of $0.13; revenues fell 3.7% year/year to $38.6 mln vs the $50.3 mln consensus. Co says, "We normally expect to be impacted by customers' year-end production curtailment and seasonal inventory adjustments in the last quarter of each calendar year the first quarter of our fiscal year. This year our results were further affected by customer reaction to increasingly serious global economic uncertainties. Customers in the computer and automotive markets, along with one of our wind turbine customers, postponed or cancelled some orders. While this is certainly disappointing, we believe it represents a temporary lull in the strong growth profile that Zoltek has established in recent years. Although our business is not immune to the global economic turndown, as well as the effects of currency fluctuations and extreme variations in cost of energy and raw materials, there is no evidence of change in the long-term demand from commercial applications for low-cost carbon fibers or the outlook for our business."

4:35PM Correction: Compass Minerals Intl beats by $0.24, beats on revs (CMP) : Earlier we reported the incorrect revenue actual for Q4. We have deleted that story. CMP reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $2.44 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.24 better than the First Call consensus of $2.20; revenues rose 19.1% year/year to $388.3 mln vs the $381.4 mln consensus. Co says, "In 2008, our salt segment continued to show robust volume, pricing and earnings growth in both winter and non-winter applications. Our specialty fertilizer segment was transformed during the year as strong market fundamentals allowed for unprecedented price gains and margin expansion. As we begin 2009, specialty potash pricing has remained strong, though demand has continued to be soft, driven by the global financial and credit issues that affect the broader agriculture market. Our salt segment is continuing its momentum, aided by severe winter weather, previously established price increases and more moderate shipping costs. Together, our strong business segments should continue to provide shareholders with profitable growth in the coming year."

4:11PM Zhongpin sees FY08 revs below consensus; guides FY09 EPS and revs above consensus (HOGS) 10.83 -0.17 : Co sees revs of $540.00 mln vs $565.10 mln First Call consensus. Revenue was slightly lower than the company's guidance of $550 million to $570 million due to lower than anticipated sales volume and selling prices during the fourth quarter of 2008, partly resulting from the impact of the global economic downturn on the Chinese economy. The company expects its 2008 fiscal year gross margin and net margin to be in line with the company's previous guidance. Co issues upside FY09 guidance, sees FY09 EPS of $1.50-1.63 vs $1.49 First Call consensus; sees revs $780-810 mln vs $720.42 mln First Call consensus. Management expects strong revenue growth in 2009 due to anticipated growth from new markets and additional capacity from the company's new chilled and frozen pork and prepared meat facilities as they ramp up to target utilization levels in the first half of 2009. Gross margin for the full year 2009 is expected to be approximately 12.0% with net margin of at least 6.0%. Due to the adverse impact on China's meat processing industry caused by the global economic slowdown, and the company's primary focus on rapidly expanding its market share, management expects margins for fiscal year 2009 to be slightly below the 2008 levels.

4:09PM American Fincl beats by $0.07; guides FY09 EPS above consensus (AFG) : Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $1.04 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.07 better than the First Call consensus of $0.97. Co issues upside guidance for FY09, sees EPS of $3.70-4.00 vs. $3.55 consensus. "Looking into 2009, we expect to produce strong underwriting profits, and forecast an overall combined ratio in the 88% to 91% range. Because of our strong underwriting culture, we will continue to focus on maintaining adequate rates; our objective is to achieve a flat to slight increase in the Specialty Group's overall average renewal rates in 2009. We expect our specialty P&C net written premiums to be down a mid-teen percentage from 2008 levels. This is primarily the result of expected increased reinsurance cessions under our crop quota share agreement and lower spring commodity prices. Absent these changes, which do not affect overall volume of business, our expectation is that the reduction will be in the two to five percent range."

4:07PM K12 beats by $0.02, beats on revs; reaffirms FY09 revs guidance (LRN) 16.44 -0.21 : Reports Q2 (Dec) earnings of $0.12 per share, $0.02 better than the First Call consensus of $0.10; revenues rose 42.6% year/year to $77.6 mln vs the $76.7 mln consensus. Co reaffirms guidance for FY09, sees FY09 revs of $310-320 mln vs. $322.17 mln consensus.

4:06PM American Science & Engineering beats by $0.22, beats on revs (ASEI) 79.40 : Reports Q3 (Dec) earnings of $1.13 per share, $0.22 better than the First Call consensus of $0.91; revenues rose 53.3% year/year to $65.3 mln vs the $62.8 mln consensus. "Revenue growth in the quarter was driven by a robust demand for our Z Backscatter Vans, AS&E's proprietary cargo products, and field services. Operating income significantly increased in the quarter with improved gross margins from higher revenues, significant improvement in cargo margins, and continued focus on controlling overhead and expenses."

8:12AM AGCO Corp beats by $0.07, misses on revs; guides FY09 EPS in-line, revs in-line (AG) 25.04 : Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $1.08 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.07 better than the First Call consensus of $1.01; revenues fell 0.6% year/year to $2.16 bln vs the $2.36 bln consensus. Co issues in-line guidance for FY09, sees EPS of $3.00-3.25 vs. $3.22 consensus; sees FY09 revs of $7.5-7.8 bln vs. $7.74 bln consensus.

7:34AM Lorillard beats by $0.16, beats on revs (LO) 62.26 : Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $1.53 per share, $0.16 better than the First Call consensus of $1.37; revenues rose 13.7% year/year to $1.09 bln vs the $0.93 bln consensus. The increase in gross profit reflects an increase in net sales, partially offset by higher manufacturing costs and higher costs related to the State Settlement Agreements.

7:04AM Energy Conversion beats by $0.02, beats on revs; guides Q3 revs below consensus; guides FY09 revs below consensus (ENER) 25.75 : Reports Q2 (Dec) earnings of $0.33 per share, $0.02 better than the First Call consensus of $0.31; revenues rose 82.8% year/year to $103.1 mln vs the $101.8 mln consensus. Co issues downside guidance for Q3, sees Q3 revs of $95-110 mln vs. $120.17 mln consensus. Co issuesdownside guidance for FY09, sees FY09 revs of $395-440 mln vs. $450.61 mln consensus.

3:14AM Sohu.com beats by $0.19, reports revs in-line; guides Q1 EPS above consensus, revs below consensus (SOHU) 45.61 : Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $1.35 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.19 better than the First Call consensus of $1.16; revenues rose 86.2% year/year to $121.6 mln vs the $121 mln consensus. Co issuesmixed guidance for Q1, sees EPS of $1.05-1.10, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $1.01 consensus; sees Q1 revs of $111.5-115.5 mln vs. $117.41 mln consensus. Co reports non-GAAP operating margin of 43%, compared with 38% in Q308. Non-GAAP net margin excluding income tax adjustments $6.0 mln increased to 44% for Q408, compared with 35% in Q308. Sohu estimates brand advertising revenues for Q109 to be between $39.0-41.0 mln. Sohu estimates online game revenues for Q109 to be between $58.0-60.0 mln.

1:54AM Ctrip.com beats by $0.09, beats on revs (CTRP) 21.50 : Reports Q4 (Dec) earnings of $0.33 per ADS, excluding non-recurring items, $0.09 better than the First Call consensus of $0.24; revenues rose 19.0% year/year to $58.1 mln vs the $57.1 mln consensus. Operating margin was 30% in Q408, compared to 36% in the same period in 2007. Excluding share-based compensation charges (non-GAAP), operating margin was 38%, compared to 42% during the same period in 2007. Gross margin was 77% during Q408, compared to 81% in the same period in 2007. For Q109, co expects to continue the year-on-year net revenue growth at a rate of approx 5-10%.

Earnings - 28th July 2008

CMP: Compass Minerals International Inc. reported its first second-quarter profit, and sales rose 27 percent compared with the same period last year. In a release after the market closed on Monday, the Overland Park-based company (NYSE: CMP) reported earnings of $1.6 million, or 5 cents a share, for the quarter that ended June 30. This compares with a loss of $3.2 million, or 10 cents a share, last year. The company typically records a loss in the second quarter, when it builds rock salt inventories for the winter season. Five analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call reported a consensus earnings estimate of 26 cents a share for the quarter. “This significant achievement illustrates the success of our strategies to strengthen our non-winter, non-seasonal applications coupled with the company’s minimal exposure to economic cycles,” company CEO Angelo Brisimitzakis said in the release. Sales for the quarter were $162 million, up from $127.5 million last year. Four analysts reported a consensus revenue estimate of $158 million for the quarter. Compass ranks No. 18 on the Kansas City Business Journal’s list of area public companies

6:38PM SL Green Rlty beats by $0.29, beats on revs (SLG) 78.90 -4.10 : Reports Q2 (Jun) funds from operations of $2.00 per share, $0.29 better than the First Call consensus of $1.71; revenues rose 21.4% year/year to $305.8 mln vs the $262.4 mln consensus.

5:16PM Mosaic beats by $0.24, beats on revs (MOS) 122.66 +0.61 : Reports Q4 (May) earnings of $1.88 per share, excluding non $0.05 gain, $0.24 better than the First Call consensus of $1.64; revenues rose 105.8% year/year to $3.47 bln vs the $2.85 bln consensus. The average Q4 DAP price, FOB plant, was $754 per tonne, which is a $416 per tonne increase compared with a year ago and a $267 per tonne increase compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2008. The average Q4 MOP price, FOB plant, was $335 per tonne, which is a $181 per tonne increase compared with a year ago and a $114 per tonne increase compared with Q3 of FY08. Co gives outlook saying, Sales volumes for the Phosphates segment are expected to range from 9.0-9.4 mln tonnes for FY09. Potash segment sales volumes are expected to range from 8.2-8.6 mln tonnes in FY09. Mosaic's realized DAP price, FOB plant, for Q1 of FY09 is estimated to be $1,020-1,080 per tonne. Co's Q1 FY09 average realized MOP price, FOB plant, is estimated to be $460-510 per tonne.

5:11PM Manitowoc beats by $0.12, beats on revs; raises bottom-end of FY08 EPS guidance (MTW) 28.98 -0.08 : Reports Q2 (Jun) earnings of $1.01 per share, ex items, $0.12 better than the First Call consensus of $0.89; revenues rose 28.1% year/year to $1.3 bln vs the $1.23 bln consensus. Co raises bottom-end of guidance for FY08, sees EPS of $3.30-3.40, from $3.20-3.40, ex items, vs. $3.42 consensus. "The company continues to see brisk global demand for its mobile telescopic, crawler, and high-capacity tower cranes; however, we are noticing slower demand for lower capacity tower cranes in western Europe. We expect to realize better-than- industry growth with Foodservice revenue increases in the mid-single-digits range and improving margins in the mid-teens," Co also noted that it is closely monitoring and managing the impact of higher steel and commodity costs across each of its businesses.

5:03PM Walter Inds beats by $0.37, beats on revs (WLT) 86.28 +1.77 : Reports Q2 (Jun) earnings of $0.94 per share, $0.37 better than the First Call consensus of $0.57; revenues rose 24.8% year/year to $370 mln vs the $304.7 mln consensus. Changes in metallurgical coal sales volumes between the third and fourth quarter reflect a change in the anticipated timing of shipments for approximately 100,000 tons versus prior expectations. The average metallurgical coal operating margin per ton is expected to improve by approximately $5 per ton in the fourth quarter compared to previously communicated expectations, driven largely by higher metallurgical coal sales prices. The coke sales outlook for the second half of the year also reflects a shift in tons between the third and fourth quarter as coke oven repairs in the third quarter will reduce tonnage volumes slightly that will be made up in the fourth quarter. The operating margin per ton ranges are consistent with prior expectations and reflect favorable spot sales prices, offset by higher coal input costs.

4:37PM CF Industries beats by $1.42, misses on revs (CF) 145.68 +1.96 : Reports Q2 (Jun) earnings of $5.02 per share, includes as $0.92 mark-to-market gain, $1.42 better than the First Call consensus of $3.60; revenues rose 36.8% year/year to $1.16 bln vs the $1.21 bln consensus. Average selling prices for all nitrogen products increased from both the year-earlier quarter and Q1 of 2008. For ammonia, the average selling price was $513 per ton, up from $390 in Q2 2007 and $428 in Q1 of 2008. For urea, average selling price was $417 per ton, up from $331 in the year-earlier quarter and $387 in 2008's Q1. For UAN, the average selling price was $313 per ton, up from $206 in the year-earlier quarter and $285 in Q1 2008. Co says, "Unfortunately, the cold, wet spring and flooding delayed planting or required replanting throughout large portions of the Corn Belt. It also limited the application of pre-plant and side-dress ammonia, used to maximize yield on corn... Fertilizer producers should begin seeing the positive effects of that acreage increase during this year's third and fourth quarters, as customers are expected to restock inventories in anticipation of a robust fall application season... while demand for this fall and the spring of 2009 appears strong, there are issues facing domestic producers, including uncertainty regarding export tax levels in China and the cost of sulfur. Co also noted that the impact of fertilizer prices on demand and U.S. ethanol policy bear watching."

4:12PM Advanced Analogic Tech misses by $0.02, reports revs in-line; guides Q3 EPS, guides Q3 revs in-line with consensus (AATI) 4.27 -0.36 : Reports Q2 (Jun) loss of $0.04 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.02 worse than the First Call consensus of ($0.02); revenues fell 17.8% year/year to $21.2 mln vs the $21.1 mln consensus. Co issues guidance for Q3, sees GAAP EPS of ($0.03)-(0.01), may not be comparable to $0.02 consensus; sees Q3 revs of $24-26 mln vs. $24.52 mln consensus.

4:09PM Atheros Communications beats by $0.01, reports revs in-line (ATHR) : Reports Q2 (Jun) earnings of $0.31 per share, $0.01 better than the First Call consensus of $0.30; revenues rose 20.5% year/year to $121.5 mln vs the $120.8 mln consensus.

4:02PM AuthenTec beats by $0.01, beats on revs; guides Q3 EPS in-line, revs below consensus; guides FY08 revs in-line (AUTH) 9.90 -0.30 : Reports Q2 (Jun) earnings of $0.04 per share, $0.01 better than the First Call consensus of $0.03; revenues rose 49.6% year/year to $18.4 mln vs the $17.4 mln consensus. Co issues mixed guidance for Q3, sees EPS of $0.04-0.05 vs. $0.05 consensus; sees Q3 revs of $19-20 mln vs. $20.22 mln consensus. Co issues in-line guidance for FY08, sees FY08 revs of $72-78 mln vs. $77.08 mln consensus.

4:02PM Ladish misses by $0.11, misses on revs (LDSH) 21.99 -0.53 : Reports Q2 (Jun) earnings of $0.43 per share, $0.11 worse than the First Call consensus of $0.54; revenues rose 4.8% year/year to $119 mln vs the $123.5 mln consensus.

8:39AM Wrigley beats by $0.06, beats on revs (WWY) 78.99 : Reports Q2 (Jun) earnings of $0.74 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.06 better than the First Call consensus of $0.68; revenues rose 14.0% year/year to $1.57 bln vs the $1.53 bln consensus.

7:32AM Simon Properties beats by $0.07, beats on revs; guides FY08 FFO above consensus (SPG) 90.59 : Reports Q2 (Jun) funds from operations of $1.56 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.07 better than the First Call consensus of $1.49; revenues rose 7.8% year/year to $922.9 mln vs the $885 mln consensus. Co issues upside guidance for FY08, sees FFO of $6.45-6.52, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $6.44 consensus.

7:28AM Verizon beats by $0.02, reports revs in-line (VZ) 34.45 : Reports Q2 (Jun) earnings of $0.67 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.02 better than the First Call consensus of $0.65; revenues rose 3.7% year/year to $24.12 bln vs the $24.18 bln consensus. Co reports Q2 net adds of 1.5 mln customers, with 68.7 mln total customers. Co reports 1.12% total churn and 0.83% retail post-paid churn. Co reports 176k net new FiOS TV customers and 187k net new FiOS Internet customers. Co reports 10.4% increase in consumer ARPU in legacy telecom markets and 18.7% increase in Verizon Business strategic services revenue.

7:08AM Kraft Foods beats by $0.08, beats on revs; guides FY08 EPS above consensus (KFT) 29.38 : Reports Q2 (Jun) earnings of $0.58 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.08 better than the First Call consensus of $0.50; revenues rose 21.4% year/year to $11.18 bln vs the $10.7 bln consensus. Co issues upside guidance for FY08, sees EPS of at least $1.92 vs. $1.89 consensus. The company continues to expect cumulative annualized savings from the restructuring program to reach approximately $1.0 bln by year-end and $1.2 bln by the end of 2009. To date, cumulative annualized savings from this cost restructuring program totaled approximately $927 mln, up from approximately $785 mlnat the end of 2007.

3:22AM Elbit Systems anticipates positive impact on Q208 results due to higher level of revenues from short-term delivery contracts (ESLT) 53.87 : Co announces that it anticipates an impact on its Q208 results of additional net after tax profit of approx $8-11 mln, due mainly to a higher level of revenues generated from short-term delivery contracts in the quarter. Conversely, the co notes, as indicated in its announcement on July 2, 2008, that its financial results for Q208 will also be negatively impacted in a net after tax amount of approx $10 mln, as a result of a recent court ruling in the U.S. Both developments will be reflected in Q208 results.

1:28AM Sohu.com beats by $0.25, beats on revs; guides Q3 EPS above consensus, revs above consensus (SOHU) 82.82 : Reports Q2 (Jun) earnings of $0.92 per share, excluding non-recurring items, $0.25 better than the First Call consensus of $0.67; revenues rose 161.6% year/year to $102 mln vs the $96.5 mln consensus. Co issues upside guidance for Q3, sees EPS of $1.00-1.05, excluding non-recurring items, vs. $0.71 consensus; sees Q3 revs of $112.0-116.0 mln vs. $106.75 mln consensus.