Signet to buy Zale for $1.4 Billion; Lithia Motors, Spirit Airlines Jump

Mukesh Buch
19 Feb, 2014
New York City

Devon Energy net swung to a profit and sell Canada assets for $2.8 billion. Eaton Vance net soared 22%. Lithia Motors profit and sales soared as same store sales in the quarter climbed 11%. Omnicare net swung to a loss. Signet agreed to acquire Zale for $21 a share in cash.

[R]11:15 AM New York – Devon Energy net swung to a profit and sell Canada assets for $2.8 billion. Eaton Vance net soared 22%. Lithia Motors profit and sales soared as same store sales in the quarter climbed 11%. Omnicare net swung to a loss. Signet agreed to acquire Zale for $21 a share in cash.[/R]

Devon Energy Corp ((DVN)) gained 2.4% or $1.52 to $64.43 after the energy company reported total revenue in the fourth-quarter ending in December grew 1.8% to $2.62 billion.

Net in the quarter swung to a profit $207 million or 51 cents a diluted share compared to a loss of $357 million or 89 cents.

Separately, today Devon has signed an agreement to sell the majority assets of Canadian conventional natural gas assets to Canadian Natural Resources Limited for C$3.125 billion or $2.8 billion. The transaction is expected to close early in the second quarter of this year.

Eaton Vance Corp ((EV)) increased 1.4% or 50 cents to $37.33 after the investment company said revenue in the first-quarter ending in January climbed 13.1% to $360.3 million.

Net income in the quarter soared 21.8% to $73.7 million or 56 cents a diluted share compared to $60.5 million or 38 cents.

Lithia Motors Inc ((LAD)) surged 9.3% or $5.50 to $64.49 after the automotive dealer reported total revenue in the fourth-quarter ending in December surged 16.8% to $1.02 billion. Total same store sales in the quarter climbed 11%.

Net income in the quarter soared 38% to $27.4 million or $1.04 a diluted share compared to $19.8 million or 76 cents.

The company added new vehicle same store sales in the quarter increased 11% and used vehicle retail same store sales jumped 16%. Service, body and parts same store sales increased 8%.

The new car dealer projected total revenue in the first-quarter in the range of $4.5 billion to $4.6 billion and diluted earnings per share between 92 cents and 94 cents.

Omnicare, Inc ((OCR)) declined 4.5% or $2.90 to $61.64 after the healthcare service provider stated net sales in the fourth-quarter ending in December jumped 5.1% to $1.54 billion.

Net in the quarter swung to a loss $83.7 million or 77 cents a diluted share compared to a profit of $59 million or 54 cents.

Omnicare expects revenue for the year to increase between 5% and 6.7% and earnings per diluted share in the range of $3.64 to $3.72.

Signet Jewelers Limited ((SIG)) surged 16.3% or $12.90 to $92.17 after the jewelry retailer agreed to acquire Zale Corporation for $21 per share in cash valued at approximately $1.4 billion. Signet''s offer represents premium of 41% over Zale''s closing price as of February 18.

Spirit Airlines Inc ((SAVE)) climbed 5.2% or $2.48 to $50.14 after the airline company stated revenue in the fourth-quarter ending in December soared 27.9% to $420 million.

Net income in the quarter jumped 120.8% to $43.2 million or 59 cents a diluted share compared to $19.6 million or 27 cents.