Baxter, Conn's, Lululemon Signet Jump; GameStop, Worthington Drop

Mukesh Buch
27 Mar, 2014
New York City

Baxter Intl to split into pharmaceutical and medical products company. Conn''s profit and sales soared. GameStop dropped as net declined 16%. Lululemon net edged up. Paychex net climbed 11%. Signet net rose. Worthington profit tumbled.

[R]9:35 PM New York – Baxter Intl to split into pharmaceutical and medical products company. Conn''s profit and sales soared. GameStop dropped as net declined 16%. Lululemon net edged up. Paychex net climbed 11%. Signet net rose. Worthington profit tumbled.[/R]

Baxter International Inc ((BAX)) climbed 5.4% or $3.78 to $73.86 after the healthcare company plans to create two separate, independent global healthcare companies by the middle of next year. One focused on biopharmaceuticals and the other on medical products.

Conn''s, Inc ((CONN)) soared 5.7% or $1.97 to $36.49 after the consumer electronics retailer reported revenue in the fourth-quarter ending in January soared 44.3% $361.1 million. Same store sales surged 33.4%.

Net income in the quarter climbed 56.5% to $27.7 million or 75 cents a diluted share compared to $17.7 million or 50 cents.

HB Fuller Co ((FUL)) rose 31 cents to $47.45 after the adhesives maker stated net revenue in the first-quarter ending on March 1 increased 1.3% to $486 million.

Net income in the quarter slumped 29.5% to $14.6 million or 28 cents a diluted share compared to $20.7 million or 41 cents.

GameStop Corp ((GME)) plunged 7.1% or $2.78 to $36.11 after the video game retailer said total sales in the fourth-quarter ending on February 1 grew 3.4% to $3.68 billion. Comparable store sales in the quarter soared 7.8%.

Net income in the quarter declined 15.5% to $220.5 million or $1.89 a diluted share compared to $261.1 million or $2.15.

GameStop expects total sales in the first-quarter to grow between 7% to 10% and comparable store sales to increase 5% to 8%. Net income in the quarter expected to rise in the range of $64 million to $70 million and diluted earnings per share between 55 cents to 60 cents.

Lululemon Athletica Inc ((LULU)) surged 8.6% or $4.15 to $52.38 after the athletic apparel designer and retailer reported net revenue in the fourth-quarter ending on February 2 jumped 7% to $521 million. Comparable store sales in the quarter declined 2%.

Net income in the quarter edged up 0.3% to $109.7 million compared to $109.4 million and diluted per share was flat at 75 cents from a year ago.

For the first quarter, the retailer expects net revenue in the range of $377 million to $382 million and diluted earnings per share in the range of 31 cents to 33 cents.

For fiscal 2014, the company forecast net revenue between $1.77 billion and $1.82 billion and diluted earnings per share in the range of $1.80 to $1.90.

Paychex, Inc ((PAYX)) gained 1.4% or 57 cents to $42.49 after the payroll and outsourcing solution provider reported total revenue in the third-quarter ending in February jumped 7% to $636.5 million.

Net earnings in the quarter advanced 11% to $160.1 million or 44 cents a diluted share compared to $144.5 million or 40 cents.

Signet Jewelers Ltd ((SIG)) jumped 5.7% or $5.65 to $104 after the jewelry retailer said total sales in the fourth-quarter ending on February 1 rose 3.4% to $1.56 billion. Same store sales in the quarter climbed 4.3%.

Net income in the quarter grew 2% to $175.2 million or $2.18 a diluted share compared to $171.8 million or $2.12.

The retailer added e-commerce sales in the quarter surged 23.6% to $79 million from $63.9 million in the same quarter of a year ago.

Worthington Industries, Inc ((WOR)) dropped 3.2% or $1.28 to $39.20 after the metals processing company stated net sales in the third-quarter ending in February climbed 25% to $773.2 million.

Net earnings in the quarter tumbled 76.5% to $40.6 million or 57 cents a diluted share compared to $23 million or 32 cents.