U.S. Movers: AmeriGas, Fossil, General Dynamics, priceline.com, Rockwell

Mukesh Buch
08 Nov, 2011
New York City

AmeriGas said fourth quarter net loss widened to $45.2 million. Fossil third quarter net rose 2.1% to $69.6 million. General Dynamics agreed to acquire Force Protection. priceline.com third quarter net soared to $469.5 million. Rockwell fourth quarter soared 53% to $201.8 million.

[R]11:40 AM New York – AmeriGas said fourth quarter net loss widened to $45.2 million. Fossil third quarter net rose 2.1% to $69.6 million. General Dynamics agreed to acquire Force Protection. priceline.com third quarter net soared to $469.5 million. Rockwell fourth quarter soared 53% to $201.8 million.[/R]

AAON, Inc. ((AAON)) decreased 2.3% or 52 cents to $21.53 after the air-conditioning and heating equipments maker reported third quarter net sales increased 14% to $73.8 million from $64.9 million in the year-ago quarter. Net income in the quarter rose 9% to $5.6 million or 23 cents per diluted share compared to $5.2 million or 21 cents per share in the year ago earlier.

AmeriGas Partners, L.P. ((APU)) fell 1.7% or 79 cents to $43.36 after the propane gas distributor reported fourth quarter revenue grew to $460.1 million from $381.0 million in the year-ago quarter. Net loss in the quarter widened to $45.2 million or 81 cents per diluted share compared to $40.9 million or 73 cents per share in the year ago quarter.

Alleghany Corporation ((Y)) rose 0.2% or 72 cents to $319.76 after the insurance company reported third quarter total revenues rose to $232.5 million from $250.2 million in the year-ago quarter. Net earnings in the quarter decreased to $19.2 million or $2.03 per diluted share compared to $36.6 million or $4.07 per share in the year ago quarter.

Fossil, Inc. ((FOSL)) dropped 7.2% or $7.09 to $90.11 after the fashion accessories maker reported third quarter net sales increased 22.7% to $642.9 million from $523.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Net income in the quarter rose 2.1% to $69.6 million or $1.09 per diluted share compared to $68.2 million or $1.00 per share in the year ago.

General Dynamics Corporation ((GD)) fell 0.1% or 9 cents to $64.11 after the aerospace and defense products maker agreed to acquire Force Protection, Inc. ((FRPT)) for a price of $5.52 per share or for approximately $360 million. Transaction expected to be complete by end of 2011.

HollyFrontier Corporation ((HFC)) slipped 2.4% or 83 cents to $32.45 after the petroleum refiner reported third quarter revenue soared 147.4% to $5.17 billion from $2.09 billion in the year-ago quarter. Net income in the quarter soared nine-fold to $523.1 million or $2.48 per diluted share compared to $51.2 million or $0.48 per share in the year ago.

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. ((IFF)) dropped 8.7% or $5.35 to $55.96 after the flavor and fragrance products maker reported third quarter net sales rose 6% to $714 million from $674 million in the year-ago quarter. Net income in the quarter increased 7% to $82.2 million or $1.00 per diluted share compared to $77 million or $0.95 per share in the year ago quarter.

McDonald''s Corporation ((MCD)) fell 0.2% or 24 cents $94.38 after the restaurants operator said comparable sales growth of 5.5% in October. In the U.S., comparable sales rose 5.2%, Europe posted growth of 4.8% and Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa increased 6.1%.

Markel Corporation ((MKL)) fell 0.4% or $1.70 to $395.01 after the insurance company reported third quarter earned premiums grew to $509.2 million from $435.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Net income in the quarter fell to $53.3 million or $5.48 per diluted share compared to $63.2 million or $6.48 per share in the year ago earlier.

priceline.com Inc ((PCLN)) gained 5.1% or $26.20 to $535.20 after the online travel company reported third quarter revenue surged 45% to $1.5 billion from $1.0 billion in the year-ago quarter. Net income in the quarter soared to $469.5 million or $9.17 per diluted share compared to $223.0 million or $4.41 per share in the year ago.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. ((ROK)) increased 6.9% or $4.84 to $74.65 after the automation power solution provider reported fourth quarter sales increased 22% to $1.65 billion from $1.36 billion in the year-ago quarter. Net income in the quarter soared 53% to $201.8 million or $1.39 per diluted share compared to $131.3 million or $0.91 per share in the year ago.

Rackspace Hosting, Inc ((RAX)) advanced 6.8% or $2.85 to $44.46 after the cloud hosting domains operator reported third quarter revenue grew 32.5% to $264.6 million from $199.7 million in the year-ago quarter. Net income in the quarter rose to $20 million or 14 cents per diluted share compared to $11.8 million or 9 cents per share in the year ago period.

Southern Union Company ((SUG)) fell 0.4% or 20 cents $42.02 after the gas storage and distribution company reported third quarter sales grew to $617.2 million from $487.5 million in the year-ago quarter. Net earnings in the quarter rose to $58.0 million or 46 cents per diluted share compared to $36.6 million or 29 cents per share in the year ago earlier.

Sotheby’s ((BID)) slumped 7.1% or $2.45 to $31.99 after the auctioneer company reported third quarter total revenues fell 4% to $58.2 million from $73.1 million in the year-ago quarter. Net loss in the quarter widened to $29.7 million or 44 cents per diluted share compared to $19.4 million or 29 cents per share in the year ago quarter.

UGI Corporation ((UGI)) decreased 2.7% or 81 cents to $28.54 after the holding company reported fourth quarter total revenues rose to $1,039.3 million from $890.4 million in the year-ago quarter. Net loss in the quarter swung to $22.4 million or 20 cents per diluted share compared to net income of $2.1 million or 2 cents per share in the year ago period.

Zebra Technologies Corporation ((ZBRA)) gained 2.5% or 92 cents $37.45 after the printing devices maker reported third quarter net sales increased 10.2% to $253.3 million from $229.8 million in the year-ago quarter. Net income in the quarter soared 72.1% to $45.0 million or 84 cents per diluted share compared to $26.1 million or 46 cents per share in the year ago quarter.