Replies to post #231 on Earning Plays

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AT&T Reports $3.1 Billion in Q4 Earnings
AT&T (News - Alert) Inc. has earned $3.1 billion during the fourth quarter on gains in its wireless business and growth in its broadband Internet sales, the company reported Thursday.
For the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2007, AT&T's reported fourth-quarter revenues totaled $30.3 billion, up from $15.9 billion in the year-earlier quarter, which according to the company reflects the Dec. 29, 2006 acquisition ofBellSouth ( News - Alert) Corporation and the accompanying consolidation of wireless results.
http://internetcommunications.tmcnet.com/topics/broadband-mobile/articles/19158-att-reports-31-billion-q4-earnings.htm

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ord loss narrows in 4Q, offers buyouts
By DEE-ANN DURBIN AP Auto Writer
Article Launched: 01/24/2008 06:45:25 AM PST

DEARBORN, Mich.—Ford Motor Co. narrowed its losses in the fourth quarter amid continued weakness in North America, said the outlook for U.S. sales in 2008 remains grim and is making more employee buyout offers to cut costs.

Ford is offering buyouts to its 54,000 U.S. hourly workers, Chief Executive Alan Mulally said. Mulally said salaried cuts will also be made, mostly through attrition. The company will also adjust production schedules as demand sags.

Ford predicted its U.S. market share will be at the low end of a 14 to 15 percent range in 2008, down from 14.8 percent in 2007, as high gas prices and consumers' economic worries continue to slow the market. Ford fell behind Toyota Motor Corp. in U.S. sales last year, ceding its long-held position as the nation's No. 2 auto seller.
http://origin.mercurynews.com/markets/ci_8064567?nclick_check=1

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Amgen profit up, 2008 outlook steady

By MARCUS WOHLSEN
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

SACRAMENTO -- Biotech giant Amgen Inc. reported Thursday that its fourth-quarter profits rose, topping analysts' estimates, despite government warnings about the safety of its popular anemia drugs.

The company's forecast for 2008, however, calls for revenue to dip compared to 2007 - in line with Wall Street's expectations - and for earnings to slip into a lower range and fall short of Wall Street's prediction.

Amgen reported a profit of $835 million for the fourth quarter, or 76 cents per share, compared with $833 million, or 71 cents per share, during the same period a year earlier. Revenue fell 2 percent to $3.75 billion from $3.84 billion in the quarter a year earlier.

Excluding a mix of one-time buyout and restructuring charges, the company said it earned $1 per share, compared with 90 cents per share a year earlier. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected an adjusted profit of 97 cents per share on revenue of $3.54 billion.

The pharmaceutical maker, based in Thousand Oaks, earned an adjusted total of $4.30 per share for the year, excluding stock options expenses, on revenue of $14.78 billion.

It forecast earnings per share in 2008 of $4 to $4.30 per share on revenue of $14.2 billion to $14.6 billion, while Wall Street analysts forecast earnings per share of $4.37 on revenue of $14.49 billion.

Not everyone was concerned with Amgen's projections falling short of expectations. Eric Schmidt, a biotech equities analyst with Cowen and Company, LLC, said the company was playing it safe and could easily exceed its own estimates.

[3xBuBu]

Alaska Air Group Q4 Adj. Loss Widens; Revenues Rise [ALK]

1/24/2008 2:26:12 PM Airline operator Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK) Thursday announced results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. Non-GAAP net loss for the quarter, excluding special items, widened from last year. On a GAAP basis, the company reported net profit for fourth quarter. Alaska Air recorded a year-over-year increase in its fourth quarter consolidated revenues.

Alaska Air Group, based at Seattle in Washington, reported total GAAP net income of $7.4 million or $0.19 per share for fourth quarter, compared to a net loss of $11.6 million or $0.29 per share in the prior year quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, excluding adjustments resulting from mark-to-market fuel hedge accounting, the company posted a net loss of $17.9 million or $0.46 per share for the quarter, compared to a loss of $3.4 million or $0.08 per share in the year ago quarter. On average, twelve analysts surveyed by First Call/Thomson Financial expected a loss of $0.32 per share for the quarter.

http://www.rttnews.com/sp/breakingnews.asp?date=01/24/2008&item=89&vid=0

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Nokia shares jump after results
A broad reading of U.S.-listed shares of overseas companies rose Thursday, led by Nokia Corp. whose shares leaped following the mobile-phone giant's stronger-than-expected financial results.

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US Airways swings to 4Q loss
US Airways Group Inc.'s fourth-quarter net income swung to a loss of $79 million, or 87 cents per diluted share, from net income of $12 million, or 13 cents per diluted share, in the same period in 2006.

The company cites higher fuels costs for its loss in the latest quarter. Aircraft fuel costs and related taxes increased nearly 27 percent to $730 million in the quarter.
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=ACBJ&date=20080124&id=8090070

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Xerox Net Income Climbs 79% on Color Demand, Supplies (Update5)

By Courtney Dentch

Jan. 24 (Bloomberg) -- Xerox Corp., the world's largest maker of high-speed color printers, posted a greater-than- expected 79 percent profit jump on increased demand for equipment and supplies. Xerox rose the most in more than two years in New York trading.

Fourth-quarter net income climbed to $382 million, or 41 cents a share, from $214 million, or 22 cents, a year earlier, the Norwalk, Connecticut-based company said today in a statement. Sales increased 11 percent to $4.88 billion and the company extended its share buyback program by $1 billion.

Xerox boosted color revenue 14 percent by adding devices that print, copy, fax and scan, and expanded document-management services into paper-intensive industries such as finance and health care. Sales of toner, paper and supplies rose 13 percent, much like companies that produce shaving razors benefit from selling blades later, an analyst said.
http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=ACBJ&date=20080124&id=8090070

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Tenneco Slips To Q4 Loss On Charges; Revenues Rise 29% [TEN]

1/24/2008 1:14:34 PM Tenneco Inc. (TEN), a provider of emission control and ride control products, Thursday revealed fourth quarter results, reporting a net loss, compared to profit last year due to refinancing costs and non-cash tax charges to realign the European ownership structure. The company recorded an increase in fourth quarter revenues, helped by technology- driven growth and a global geographic balance.

The Lake Forest, Illinois-based company recorded a GAAP net loss of $72 million or $1.57 per share for the recent quarter, compared to net income of $15 million or $0.31 per share in the prior year quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, the company recorded net income of $15 million or $0.34 per share for the quarter, compared to $3 million or $0.05 per share in the corresponding quarter a year earlier. On average, analysts surveyed by First Call/Thomson Financial expected earnings of $0.34 per share.

Fourth quarter results include pre-tax restructuring expenses of $18 million or $0.26 per share, refinancing charges of $21 million or $0.31 per share, net tax expenses of $62 million or $1.34 per share to realign the European ownership structure and a net benefit of $4 million related to adjustments for prior year income tax returns.

http://www.rttnews.com/sp/breakingnews.asp?date=01/24/2008&item=70