U.S. Movers: Delta Air Lines, du Pont, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon

Mukesh Buch
22 Jan, 2013
New York City

Delta Air Lines fourth quarter net tumbled and du Pont fourth quarter net declined 70%. Johnson & Johnson profit surged to $2.57 billion. Travelers fourth quarter net profit declined 51%. Verizon fourth quarter net loss widened.

[R]9:55 AM New York – Delta Air Lines fourth quarter net tumbled and du Pont fourth quarter net declined 70%. Johnson & Johnson profit surged to $2.57 billion. Travelers fourth quarter net profit declined 51%. Verizon fourth quarter net loss widened.[/R]

Brinker International, Inc. ((EAT)) declined 6.1% or $2.06 to $31.31 after the restaurant operator said total revenue in the second quarter ending on December 26 rose 1% to $689.8 million from $681.9 million in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter increased 4% to $37.2 million or 50 cents per diluted share compared to $35.7 million or 44 cents a share a year ago.

Delta Air Lines, Inc. ((DAL)) slid 8 cents to $13.53 after the airline company stated total sales in the fourth quarter ending in December grew 2% to $8.60 billion from $8.40 billion in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter tumbled to $7 million or 1 cent per diluted share compared to $425 million or 50 cents a share a year ago period.

“Results this quarter are remarkable in light of the $100 million negative impact Superstorm Sandy had on our airline and refinery operations,"" said Paul Jacobson, Delta''s chief financial officer.

E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company ((DD)) gained 1% or 50 cents to $47.49 after the agriculture products maker reported total sales in the fourth quarter ending in December slid 1% to $7.57 billion from $7.68 billion in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter declined 70% to $111 million or 12 cents per diluted share compared to $373 million or 40 cents a share a year ago.

The company operating income expected to decline in first half of 2013 compared to a year ago period and sales for the full year to be about $36 billion.

Johnson & Johnson ((JNJ)) slipped 37 cents to $72.86 after the healthcare products maker reported total sales in the fourth quarter ending in December climbed 8% to $17.6 billion from $16.3 billion in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter surged to $2.57 billion or 91 cents per diluted share compared to $218 million or 8 cents a share a year ago.

The company expects earnings guidance for the full year 2013 between $5.35 and $5.45 per share.

Regions Financial Corporation ((RF)) increased 2% or 15 cents to $7.58 after the retail and mortgage bank stated total revenue in the fourth quarter ending in December was nearly flat at $1.35 billion from the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter swung to $261 million or 18 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $602 million or 48 cents a share a year ago earlier.

The Travelers Companies, Inc. ((TRV)) climbed 3.4% or $2.68 to $78.99 after the insurance company said total revenue in the fourth quarter ending in December rose 2% to $6.48 billion from $6.37 billion in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter plunged 51% to $304 million or 78 cents per diluted share compared to $618 million or $1.51 a share a year ago period.

The insurer added catastrophe losses in the current quarter were $689 million including losses resulting from superstorm Sandy of $669 million.

TD Ameritrade Holding Corp ((AMTD)) gained 2.1% or 39 cents to $18.82 after the brokerage service provider said net revenue in the first quarter ending in December slid to $651 million from $653 million in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter slipped 3% to $147 million or 27 cents per diluted share compared to $152 million or 27 cents a share a year ago quarter.

Verizon Communications Inc. ((VZ)) rose 12 cents to $42.66 after the communication service provider reported revenues in the fourth quarter ending in December advanced 6% to $30 billion from $28.4 billion in the same period of last year. Net loss in the quarter widened to $1.93 billion or $1.48 per diluted share compared to $212 million or 71 cents a share a year ago.

For the fiscal 2012, revenues grew 4% to $115.8 billion from $110.9 billion in the same period of last year. Net income in the year rose 4% to $10.6 billion or 31 cents per diluted share compared to $10.2 billion or 85 cents a share a year ago.

In the quarter, Verizon added 2.2 million wireless net retail connections including record 2.1 million retail post-paid net connections totaling 35.1 million retail postpaid accounts at the end of the fourth quarter.

Waters Corporation ((WAT)) slumped 1.9% or $1.75 to $90.14 after the analytical instrument maker said sales in the fourth quarter ending in December increased 1.5% to $521.8 million from $521.4 million in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter surged 28% to $175.9 million or $2 per diluted share compared to $137.1 million or $1.51 a share a year ago period.