U.S. Movers: American Tower, Macy

Mukesh Buch
26 Feb, 2013
New York City

American Tower fourth quarter net plunged 34% and AutoZone second quarter net climbed 6%. Macy

[R]10:10 AM New York – American Tower fourth quarter net plunged 34% and AutoZone second quarter net climbed 6%. Macy’s fourth quarter net fell 2% and Saks net plunged 45%. Home Depot net surged 32% and Tenet Healthcare net swung to a $45 million profit.[/R]

American Tower Corporation ((AMT)) gained 1.4% or $1.10 to $74.78 after the communications infrastructure reported sales in the fourth quarter ending in December climbed 17.6% to $768.4 million from $653.2 million in the same period of last year. Net earnings in the quarter plunged 33.8% to $135.7 million or 34 cents a diluted share compared to $205.1 million or 52 cents a share a year ago.

The company said total rental and management segment revenue in the quarter increased 15.4% to $739.7 million and domestic rental and management segment revenue increased 7.5% to $499.9 million.

International rental and management segment revenue surged 36.3% to $239.8 million.

AutoZone, Inc. ((AZO)) rose 7 cents to $378.61 after the automotive parts retailer said net sales in the second quarter ending in December grew 2.8% to $1.86 billion from $1.80 billion in the same period of last year. Domestic same store sales for the quarter decreased 1.8%.

Net income in the quarter climbed 5.6% to $176.2 million or $4.78 a diluted share compared to $166.9 million or $4.15 a share a year ago earlier.

For the quarter, gross profit as a percentage of sales soared 51.9%.

Bank of Montreal ((BMO)) increased 32 cents to $61.60 after the diversified financial services provider reported revenue in the first quarter ending in January slid 1% to $4.08 billion from $4.12 billion in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter slipped 5% to $1.05 billion or $1.53 a diluted share compared to $1.11 billion or $1.63 a share a year ago period.

HollyFrontier Corporation ((HFC)) declined 4.2% or $2.25 to $52.35 after the petroleum refiner stated revenues in the fourth quarter ending in December rose 3.5% to $5.15 billion from $4.97 billion in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter surged 75.3% to $391.6 million or $1.92 a diluted share compared to $223.4 million or $1.06 a share a year ago earlier.

Macy’s, Inc. ((M)) jumped 3.3% or $1.29 to $39.82 after the retailer reported net sales in the fourth quarter ending on February 2 jumped 7.2% to $9.35 billion from $8.72 billion in the same period of last year. Comparable store sales for the final quarter of 2012 increased 3.9% and online sales soared 47.7%.

Net income in the quarter fell 2% to $730 million or $1.83 a diluted share compared to $745 million or $1.74 a share a year ago.

The retailer said sales for the fiscal year grew 4.9% to $27.69 billion from $26.41 billion a year ago. Comparable store sales for the year rose 3.7% and online sales for the year surged 41%.

Net Income for the year $1.34 billion compared to $1.26 billion a year ago earlier and diluted earnings per share climbed $3.29 from $2.96 in the last year.

The company expects same store sales growth in fiscal 2013 about 3.5% and earnings per diluted share in between $3.90 and $3.95.

R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company ((RRD)) rose 6 cents to $9.82 after the printing services provider reported net sales in the fourth quarter ending in December declined to $2.66 billion from $2.72 billion in the same period of last year. Net loss in the quarter widened to $849 million or $4.70 a diluted share compared to $326.7 million or $1.78 a share a year ago earlier.

Saks Incorporated ((SKS)) fell 4 cents to $11 after the department store retailer stated net sales in the fourth quarter ending in December surged 6% to $976.6 million from $925.1 million in the same period of last year. Comparable store sales increased 0.7%

Net income in the quarter plunged 45% to $20.4 million or 13 cents a diluted share compared to $37 million or 21 cents a share a year ago period.

The Home Depot, Inc ((HD)) jumped 4.9% or $3.17 to $67.11 after the home improvement retailer reported sales in the fourth quarter ending on February 3 jumped 13.9% to $18.2 billion from $16.1 billion in the same period of last year. Comparable store sales for the quarter climbed 7% and comp sales for U.S. stores jumped 7.1%.

Net earnings in the quarter surged 31.9% to $1.02 billion or 68 cents a diluted share compared to $774 million or 50 cents a share a year ago.

For the year sales advanced 6.2% to $74.75 billion compared to $70.40 billion and net earnings for the year soared 16.8% to $4.54 billion from $3.88 billion. Diluted earnings per share surged 21.7% to $3.03 compared to $2.49 a year ago.

The retailer expects full year sales growth of nearly 2% and comparable store sales increase of about 3%. Diluted earnings per share growth after anticipated share repurchases of approximately 12% to $3.37.

Tenet Healthcare Corporation ((THC)) slipped 33 cents to $37.30 after the health care services provider reported net operating revenue in the fourth quarter ending in December increased 7.3% to $2.33 billion from $2.17 billion in the same period of last year. Net income in the quarter swung to $45 million or 45 cents a diluted share compared to net loss of $76 million or 70 cents a share a year ago earlier.

Vivus, Inc ((VVUS)) plunged 7% or 89 cents to $11.52 after the biopharmaceutical stated total operating revenue in the fourth quarter ending in December surged more than three-fold to $58.3 million from $11.9 million in the same period of last year. Net loss in the quarter widened to $56.7 million or 56 cents a diluted share compared to $11.5 million or 13 cents a share a year ago period.