AutoZone, Burlington Stores Climb; Conn's, H & R Block, Verizon Decline

Mukesh Buch
09 Dec, 2014
New York City

AutoZone net jumped 3% on 8% increase in revenues. Argan net increased 4%. Burlington Stores and H & R Block net loss widened. Conn''''s net swung to a loss. Verizon declined despite positive outlook.

[R]11:30 AM New York – AutoZone net jumped 3% on 8% increase in revenues. Argan net increased 4%. Burlington Stores and H & R Block net loss widened. Conn''s net swung to a loss. Verizon declined despite positive outlook.[/R]

Tollbooth Index fell 0.5% or 51.57 to 9,869.08.

Earnings Review

AutoZone, Inc ((AZO)) jumped 2.8% or $16.13 to $597.18 after the auto parts retailer and distributor said net sales in the first-quarter ending on November 22 soared 8% to $2.3 billion from a year ago period. Domestic same-store sales in the quarter climbed 4.5%.

Net income in the quarter jumped 9.3% to $238.3 million or $7.27 a diluted share compared to $218.1 million or $6.29 from a same quarter last year.

Argan, Inc ((AGX)) climbed 3.3% or $1.04 to $32.12 after the engineering construction company said revenues in the third-quarter ending in October more than doubled to $127.6 million form a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter increased 4.2% to $12.4 million or 84 cents a diluted share compared to $11.9 million or 83 cents from a same quarter last year.

Burlington Stores Inc ((BURL)) soared 5.4% or $2.31 to $45.16 after the discount retailer reported net sales in the third-quarter ending on November 1 advanced 8.7% to $1.17 billion from a year ago period. Comparable store sales in the quarter surged 5.2%.

Net loss in the quarter widened to $34.2 million compared to $16.9 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share increased to 16 cents from 5 cents a same quarter last year.

Conn''s, Inc ((CONN)) tumbled 39.4% or $13.82 to $21.27 after the specialty retailer stated revenues in the third-quarter ending in October surged 19% to $370.1 million form a year ago period. Same-store sales in the quarter slipped 1.0%.

Net in the quarter swung to a loss of $3.1 million or 8 cents a diluted share compared to profit of $24.4 million or 66 cents from a same quarter last year.

CoorsTek Inc, the semiconductor-parts maker agreed to acquire Covalent Materials Corp. from the Carlyle Group LP and Unison Capital Group. The combined revenues are expected to reach $1.25 billion.

The transaction is expected to close on December 26.

H & R Block Inc ((HRB)) declined 5.3% or $1.80 to $32.24 after the tax and banking service provider reported revenues in the second-quarter ending in October edged up 0.7% to $134.6 million form a year ago period.

Net loss in the quarter widened to $112 million or 41 cents a diluted share compared to $104.9 million or 39 cents from a same quarter last year.

Verizon Communications Inc ((VZ)) dropped 3.5% or $1.71 to $47.19 after the wireless communication service provider forecasted stronger than expected wireless customer growth in the fourth-quarter.

Verizon estimated 9.5% current postpaid subscriber will upgrade to a new device in the fourth quarter compared to an upgrade rate of 7.4% in the same period a year ago.

The company reiterated capital spending for 2014 is estimated to be about $17 billion.