Belden to Acquire Tripwire; Costco, Toll Brothers Profit Surge

Mukesh Buch
10 Dec, 2014
New York City

Belden agreed to acquire Portland-based privately-held Tripwire for $710 million. Costco net soared 17% on 7% increase in revenues. Comverse net tumbled 96%. Ferrellgas net loss widened. Krispy Kreme profit climbed 19%. Korn-Ferry net soared 35.1%. Toll Brothers net surged 39%.

[R]11:55 AM New York – Belden agreed to acquire Portland-based privately-held Tripwire for $710 million. Costco net soared 17% on 7% increase in revenues. Comverse net tumbled 96%. Ferrellgas net loss widened. Krispy Kreme profit climbed 19%. Korn-Ferry net soared 35.1%.Toll Brothers net surged 39%.[/R]

Tollbooth Index slid 0.4% or 34.76 to 9,936.57.

Earnings Review

Belden Inc ((BDC)) surged 8.3% or $6.24 to $81.16 after the networking service provider agreed to acquire Portland-based privately-held cyber security software developer Tripwire, Inc. for $710 million in cash from Thoma Bravo, LLC.

The deal is expected to close in the first-quarter of 2015.

Costco Wholesale Corporation ((COST)) gained $1.12 to $144.16 after the discount store operator reported net sales in the first-quarter ending on November 23 climbed 7% to $26.28 billion from a year ago period. Comparable store sales in the quarter jumped 5%.

Net income in the quarter soared 16.7% to $496 million or $1.12 a diluted share compared to $425 million or 96 cents from a same quarter last year.

Comverse Inc ((CNSI)) fell 14 cents to $19.10 after the telecom service provider stated revenues in the third-quarter ending in October declined 23.2% to $123.1 million from a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter tumbled 95.9% to $0.95 million or 4 cents a diluted share compared to $23.1 million or $1.03 from a same quarter last year.

Ferrellgas Partners, L.P ((FGP)) slipped 1.6% or 43 cents to $25.90 after the propane distributor said revenues in the first-quarter ending in October increased 3.2% to $394.4 million from a year ago period.

Net loss in the quarter widened to $32.5 million or 40 cents a diluted share compared to $24.6 million or 31 cents from a same quarter last year.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts ((KKD)) plunged 7.1% or $1.44 to $18.74 after the doughnuts retailer said stated revenues in the third-quarter ending onNovember 2 climbed 7.6% to $122.9 million from a year ago period. System-wide domestic same store sales jumped 3.7%.

Net income in the quarter climbed 19.1% to $8.1 million or 12 cents a diluted share compared to $6.8 million or 9 cents from a same quarter last year.

Korn/Ferry International ((KFY)) jumped 2.2% or 62 cents to $28.55 after the executive recruitment company said total revenues in the second-quarter ending in October advanced 7.5% to $264.7 million from a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter soared 35.1% to $25.4 million or 51 cents a diluted share compared to $18.8 million or 38 cents from a same quarter last year.

Toll Brothers Inc ((TOL)) dropped 2.8% or 97 cents to $33.82 after the homebuilder reported revenues in the fourth-quarter ending in October jumped 29% to $1.35 billion from a year ago period.

Net income in the quarter surged 38.6% to $131.5 million or 71 cents a diluted share compared to $94.9 million or 53 cents from a same quarter last year.

The company said average price of homes delivered climbed 6.2% to $747,000, compared to $732,000 in fiscal third quarter and $703,000 in the same quarter a year ago.