U.S. Movers: AT&T, Covidien, Honeywell, Microsoft, Kimberly-Clark, P&G

Mukesh Buch
25 Jan, 2013
New York City

AT&T second quarter net loss narrowed and Covidien first quarter net slid to $493 million. Honeywell fourth quarter net swung to profit. Microsoft second quarter net slipped 4%. Kimberly-Clark fourth quarter net declined 33% and P&G net surged 140%.

[R]10:05 AM New York – AT&T second quarter net loss narrowed and Covidien first quarter net slid to $493 million. Honeywell fourth quarter net swung to profit. Microsoft second quarter net slipped 4%. Kimberly-Clark fourth quarter net declined 33% and P&G net surged 140%.[/R]

AT&T Inc. ((T)) increased 1.1% or 37 cents to $34.12 after the communication service provider reported total revenue in the second quarter ending in December edged up to $32.58 billion from $32.50 billion in the same period of last year. Net loss in the quarter narrowed to $3.86 billion or 68 cents per diluted share compared to $6.68 billion or $1.12 a share a year ago.

AT&T said total wireless subscribers increased 1.1 million in the fourth quarter and reached 107 million and added 780,000 wireless postpaid subscribers, the largest increase in three years. Smart phone sales recorded 10.2 million units.

Covidien Plc ((COV)) gained 56 cents to $62.18 after the healthcare products maker said net sales in the first quarter ending in December advanced 5% to $3.06 billion from $2.90 billion in the same period of last year. Net earnings in the quarter slid to $493 million or $1.03 per diluted share compared to $494 million or $1.02 a share a year ago earlier.

The company estimated fiscal 2013 net sales to increase in the range of 5% to 8% in the medical devices segment and “up high-single-digits or above” in the pharmaceuticals segment.

Halliburton Company ((HAL)) soared 5.6% or $2.13 to $39.91 after the oilfield service provider reported total revenue in the fourth quarter ending in December grew 3% to $7.29 billion from $7.06 billion in the same period of last year. Net earnings in the quarter declined 26% to $669 million or 72 cents per diluted share compared to $906 million or 98 cents a share a year ago.

Honeywell International Inc. ((HON)) rose 29 cents to $68.53 after the aerospace products maker stated sales in the fourth quarter ending in December rose 1% to $9.58 billion from $9.47 billion in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter swung to $251 million or 32 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $310 million or 40 cents a share a year ago period.

The company lifted its full-year 2013 sales guidance between $39 billion and $39.5 billion or to growth of 4% to 5% and earnings per share in the range of $4.75 to $4.95 or increase of 6% to 11%.

Microsoft Corporation ((MSFT)) gained 12 cents to $27.75 after the software company reported net sales in the second quarter ending in December slid 3% to $21.46 billion from $20.89 billion in the same period of last year. Net earnings in the quarter slipped 4% to $6.38 billion or 76 cents per diluted share compared to $6.62 billion or 78 cents a share a year ago.

Kimberly-Clark Corporation ((KMB)) added 37 cents to $86.95 after the personal and consumer products maker reported net sales in the fourth quarter ending in December climbed 3% to $5.31 billion from $5.18 billion in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter declined 33% to $267 million or 68 cents per diluted share compared to $401 million or $1.01 a share a year ago.

The company said sales in the fourth quarter in personal care segment jumped 8% to $2.4 billion and sales in North America increased 5%. At K-C International sales climbed 10% and sales in Europe increased 4%.

The company expects net sales for 2013 to increase 3% and adjusted earnings per share in the range of $5.50 to $5.65, up 5% to 8%.

Select Comfort Corporation ((SCSS)) plunged 18.4% or $5.21 to $22.99 after the furniture retailer said net sales in the fourth quarter ending in December climbed 17% to $220.6 million from $189.1 million in the same period of last year. Comparable sales in the quarter jumped 11%.

Net earnings in the quarter dropped 18% to $12.5 million or 22 cents per diluted share compared to $15.4 million or 27 cents a share a year ago earlier.

The company expects full-year 2013 earnings per diluted share of between $1.65 and $1.80, a 15% to 26% increase.

The Procter & Gamble Company ((PG)) jumped 3.4% or $2.41 to $72.82 after the consumer goods maker reported total revenue in the second quarter ending in December rose 2% to $22.17 billion from $21.74 billion in the same period of last year. Net earnings in the quarter surged 140% to $4.06 billion or $1.39 per diluted share compared to $1.69 billion or 57 cents a share a year ago.

P&G lifted earnings per share guidance for the year to $3.97 to $4.07, up 3% to 6% but lowered third quarter earnings per share guidance between 91 cents to 97 cents.

Weyerhaeuser Company ((WY)) slipped 3.8% or $1.20 to $30.30 after the forest products maker said net sales in the fourth quarter ending in December jumped 24% to $2 billion from $1.61 billion in the same period of last year. Net earnings in the quarter more than doubled to $143 million or 26 cents per diluted share compared to $65 million or 12 cents a share a year ago earlier.