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Get Four
|  | FEBRUARY 2, 2006 04:38 PM
 MARKET MOVERS Wal-Mart Stores Posts Higher January SalesTyco has higher earnings; Vivendi Universal buys a $1.154 billion stake in Universal Studios; plus more stocks in the news ThursdayWal-Mart Stores (WMT ) posts 4.7% higher January US total same-store sales and 15% higher total company sales. Tyco (TYC ) posts 39 cents vs. 34 cents first quarter earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations on a 1.1% revenue rise. It sees 40 cents to 42 cents second quarter EPS from continuing operations and $1.85 to $1.92 in fiscal year 2006. Vivendi Universal (V ) is to acquire from Matsushita its 7.66% stake of Universal Studios Holding I Corp. (USHI ) for $1.154 billion. Vivendi will increase its control and ownership in Universal Studios from 92.3% to 100%. Whirlpool (WHR ) posts $1.83 vs. 14 cents fourth quarter EPS on an 8.9% sales rise. It sees $7.00 to $7.25 2006 EPS without taking into account any effects of its proposed merger with Maytag. Tractor Supply (TSCO ) posts 75 cents vs. 54 cents fourth quarter EPS on 10% higher same-store sales and 31% higher total sales. It sees $2.32 to $2.39 2006 EPS on sales of $2.35 billion to $2.4 billion, assuming same-store sales increase of 3% to 4%. Costco Wholesale (COST ) posts 9% higher January same-store sales and 12% higher total sales. Lowe's (LOW ) approves an increase in its current share repurchase program of up to $1 billion, effective immediately. The St. Paul Travelers (STA ) posts 26 cents vs. 44 cents fourth quarter EPS on a 1.7% drop in gross written premiums. It notes that fourth quarter 2005 includes after-tax charges of $566 million for asbestos and environmental reserve development, and $435 million for catastrophe losses. Mattson Technology (MTSN ) posts 11 cents vs. 30 cents fourth quarter EPS on a 28% sales decline. It sees first quarter sales of $52 million to $57 million. Starbucks (SBUX ) posts 22 cents vs. 17 cents first quarter EPS on a 7% higher same-store sales rise and 22% higher total revenue. It posts a 10% rise in January comps and 23% higher total revenue. It raises fiscal year 2006 EPS by 5 cents to between 68 cents and 70 cents. Owens-Illinois (OI ) posts $5.86 fourth quarter loss vs. 25 cents loss from continuing operations as non-cash charges totaling $935.6 million offset flat sales. It posts 3 cents vs. 24 cents fourth quarter EPS from continuing operations, excluding items. Gap (GPS ) posts 1% higher January same-store sales and 7% higher net sales. For the fourth quarter, it posts 6% lower same-store sales and 2% lower net sales. It ups fiscal year 2006 EPS estimates to $1.22 to $1.25 on better-than-expected operating performance and a 1 times tax benefit. Nordstrom (JWN ) posts 6% higher January same-store sales and 12% higher total sales. It posts 5.8% higher fourth quarter same-store sales and 9.3% higher total sales. Research In Motion (RIMM ) the English High Court rules in favor of the Blackberry maker by deciding that all patent claims in InPro's UK Patent are invalid. Guess (GES ) posts 31% higher January same-store sales and 41% higher total sales. Travelzoo (TZOO ) posts 10 cents vs. 9 cents fourth quarter EPS (diluted) on 32% higher revenue. It notes fourth quarter 2005 EPS was impacted by Sarbanes-Oxley Act Section 404 compliance costs of $571,000, and loss of $584,000 from the company's new UK business. Sara Lee (SLE ) posts 31 cents (excluding items) vs. 41 cents second quarter EPS on a 1.4% revenue drop. It sees 21 cents to 26 cents third quarter EPS and $1.17 to $1.27 in fiscal year 2006. Labor Ready (LRW ) posts 28 cents vs. 20 cents fourth quarter EPS on a 24% revenue rise. It sees 18 cents to 19 cents first quarter EPS on revenue of $294 million to $297 million and $1.30 to $1.35 2006 EPS on revenue of $1.37 billion to $1.4 billion. Comcast (CMCSA ) posts 6 cents vs. 19 cents fourth quarter EPS as declines in investment, other income, and an increase in effective tax rate offset a 9.2% revenue rise. It sees cable and consolidated revenue growth of 9% to 10% in 2006. Shoe Carnival (SCVL ) posts 12% higher January same-store sales and a 14% total sales rise. It now sees 20 cents to 22 cents fourth quarter EPS, which includes a 3 cents charge for store closing costs. It also sees $1.38 to $1.40 fiscal year 2006 EPS. Federated Department Stores (FD ) posts 1.0% higher January same-store sales and 83.1% higher total sales. It raises $2.25 to $2.35 fourth quarater EPS from continuing operations guidance to $2.60 to $2.65. However, it still sees same-store sales down by 1.5% to 0.5% in both February and the first quarter. Avon Products (AVP ) posts 40 cents vs. 61 cents fourth quarter EPS as restructuring charges, higher costs, and expenses offset a 3.8% sales rise. It sees further costs that will have significant negative impact on EPS throughout the year. Murphy Oil (MUR ) posts 82 cents vs. 72 cents fourth quarter EPS on a 39% revenue rise. It says it was hurt by hurricane-related expenses, higher exploration expenses, and downtime at GoM production facilities. CVS (CVS ) posts 48 cents vs. 30 cents fourth quarter EPS on a 6.7% same-store sales rise and 9.1% total sales rise. It notes that fourth quarter EPS benefitted by 7 cents in non-recurring items. It posts 5.4% higher January same-store sales. Cephalon (CEPH ) announces that it reached settlement with Barr Laboratories over a patent infringement related to Provigil Tablets and Actiq. Royal Caribbean (RCL ) posts 2 cents fourth quarter loss vs. 13 cents loss on a 6.7% revenue rise. It sees 45 cents to 50 cents first quarter earnings per share (EPS) and $2.95 to $3.15 in 2006. Micrel (MCRL ) posts 11 cents vs. 6 cents fourth quarter earnings per share (EPS) on a 9.6% revenue rise. It sees a first quarter sequential revenue rise of 3% to 8%.  All of the views expressed in this research report accurately reflect the research analyst's personal views regarding any and all of the subject securities or issuers. No part of analyst compensation was, is or will be, directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views expressed in this research report. Standard & Poor's Regulatory Disclosure Any advice, analysis, or recommendations contained in articles labeled "Insight from Standard & Poor's" reflect the views of Standard & Poor's, which operates separately from and independently of BusinessWeek Online. It is possible that BWOL may from time to time publish information that is not consistent with advice, analysis, or recommendations that are published by Standard & Poor's. Standard & Poor's and BusinessWeek Online are each units of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
BW MALL
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