Noticias USA (28/01/2005)

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Piper Jaffray Is Raising Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) 2005 Rev. Estimate To $43.8  Billion From $43.1  Billion

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PRAECIS PHARMACEUTICALS INC. (PRCS) reported its fourth quarter net loss of about $13.42 million or $0.26 per share, compared to a loss of $16.05 million or $0.31 per share in the same quarter last year. Analysts expected a loss of $.27 per share.

The company said it generated revenues for the quarter of about $780 thousand, while there were no revenues in the corresponding period last year.

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Canon Inc. (CAJ) reported fourth-quarter net income of $777 million, 7.8% higher than fourth quarter 2003 with revenue of $9,434 million, 9.6% higher than the same quarter last year.

For the full year, the company posted net income of $3,301 million, which represents a year-over-year increase of 24.5% and $ 3.73 per basic share. Net sales for the year was of $33,345 million, which represents a year-over-year increase of 8.4% over fiscal year 2003.

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First Albany Corp. Is Raising Bausch & Lomb (BOL) 2006 Estimate To 4.03 From 4.00

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USF Corp. (USFC) reported income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of $6.6 million or $0.23 per share, compared to $18.7 million or $0.68 per share in the same period last year. Analysts expected earnings of $0.59 per share.

The current fourth quarter included costs and operating losses of $0.25 per share. The fourth quarter of previous year included gain of $0.21 per share.

Revenue for the fourth quarter was $584 million, compared to $547 million reported last year.

The company expects income from continuing operations for fiscal 2005, excluding the effects of USF Red Star, in the range of $2.45 to $2.65 per share. Analysts expect earnings of $2.60.

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Peoples Energy Corp. (PGL) reported first quarter ongoing net income of $29.2 million, or $0.77 per share, compared to $31.4 million, or $0.85 per share, in the year-ago period. Ongoing net income (non-GAAP) is defined as GAAP net income adjusted to exclude the effects of the restructuring-related pension charge. Five Analysts polled by First Call/Thomson Financial expected the company to post earnings of $0.83 per share for the quarter.

Revenues for the first quarter increased to $737.41 million from $604.88 million in the same period last year.

Peoples Energy stated that earnings for the full year would likely be at the low end of the range of $2.75 to $2.90 per share that the company projected earlier.

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AGL Resources (ATG) Reports FY 2004 EPS of $2.28 Vs. $2.01 Last Year.

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Early Friday, Tribune Company (TRB), a media and entertainment company, reported fourth quarter earnings that declined from last year, despite higher revenues.  The company's earnings before special items also missed Wall Street's expectations by 9 cents.

The company posted earnings, excluding items, of $0.61 as compared to earnings, excluding items, of $0.66 per share in the same quarter last year.  On average, 18 analysts polled by First Call/Thomson Financial expected earnings of $0.70 per share for the fourth quarter.

The Chicago, Illinois-based Tribune noted that its current quarter earnings includes non-operating items of $17.93 million or $0.06 per share, after-tax, as compared to $114.2 million or $0.34 per share in the same period a year-ago.

Including the above special items, Tribune reported net income of $216.8 million or $0.67 per share, compared to net income of $338.4 million or $1.00 per share in the comparable quarter prior year.

Operating revenues for the quarter increased slightly to $1.48 billion from $1.46 billion in the corresponding quarter last year. Nine analysts had consensus revenue estimate of $1.50 billion for the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, Tribune incurred a charge of $24 million for the elimination of approximately 230 positions in its Publishing segment. Broadcasting and entertainment's operating revenues remained essentially flat at $385 million as compared to $386 million in 2003.

For the fourth quarter, net interest expense decreased to $35 million, down 26% from $47 million in the fourth quarter of 2003. The decreases were primarily due to the retirement of higher interest rate debt, which was replaced with commercial paper in the second quarter of 2004, the company said.

For the full year, the company posted earnings, excluding items, of $1.95 per share, lower than $2.09 per share in the same period last year.  On average,19 analysts expected full year earnings of $2.23 per share.

The company's earnings includes non-operating items, after-tax, of $90.31 million or $0.28per share, compared to $172.6 million or $0.52 per share last year.

Including the above special items, the company reported net income of $555.5 million or $1.67 per share, compared to $891.3 million or $2.61 per share in the same period last year.   

Operating revenues for the period rose to $5.72 billion from $5.59 billion in the comparable period prior year. Thirteen analysts had consensus revenue estimate of $5.74 billion for the full year.

TRB closed Thursday's regular trading session at $39.01, down 14 cents.

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Halliburton (HAL) Reports Q4 EPS From Continuing Ops Of $0.41 Vs. $0.34 Last Year.

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First Albany Corp. Ups MicroStrategy Inc. (MSTR) To Strong Buy From Buy With $99 Up From $75 Price Target

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The Futures are currently trading in the green before the bell on Friday. The S&P Futures are higher by 1.50 points, the Dow Futures are up 2 points and the Nasdaq Futures are higher by 6 points.

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MAF Bancorp (MAFB) Announces 1.2 Mln. Stock Repurchase Plan

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Woodhead Industries (WDHD) Reports Q1 EPS of $0.10 Vs. $0.17 Last Year.

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Triumph Group (TGI) Reports Q3 EPS of $0.25 Vs. $0.17 Last Year.