Baxter Third Quarter Results On Track to Meet Full Year Guidance

Baxter reported third-quarter results that put it on track to meet our $4.68 adjusted EPS estimate for the year, slightly ahead of management guidance of $4.65-$4.67. We’re maintaining our $80 fair value estimate despite branded hemophilia and generic anesthesia and chemotherapy competition that will likely begin to emerge as headwinds in early 2014. We think Baxter’s wide economic moat is stable, built by intangible assets … Continue reading Baxter Third Quarter Results On Track to Meet Full Year Guidance

Danaher Posts a Strong Bottom Line; Meets Analysts Expectations in Quarter

Danaher delivered third-quarter earnings of $0.84 per share, a 9% increase versus the prior year. The company reaffirmed its full-year earnings guidance, which was higher than our full-year estimates. We have increased our fair value estimate to $62 per share to reflect better-than-expected performance and cash earned since our last report. The resiliency of Danaher’s earnings and cash flows through this cycle reinforce our narrow … Continue reading Danaher Posts a Strong Bottom Line; Meets Analysts Expectations in Quarter

Westamerica Bancorporation Earnings Drop on Interest Declines

Third-quarter profits at Westamerica Bancorporation fell 16% year on year to $16.7 million, or $0.63 a share, from $20.0 million, or $0.73 a share. Earnings decreased largely due to lower net interest income as a result of declining asset yields. While we are not making changes to our narrow moat rating or fair value estimate, we probably will trim our near-term earnings assumptions. Net interest … Continue reading Westamerica Bancorporation Earnings Drop on Interest Declines

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Piper Jaffray Posts Strong Earnings from Acquisitions

Piper Jaffray Companies reported net income applicable to common shareholders of $4.8 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, on $128 million of net revenue for the third quarter of 2013. If $5 million of acquisition-related costs and the results of discontinued operations are excluded, then the company would have reported pro forma earnings per diluted share of $0.57. We are maintaining our current Morningstar economic … Continue reading Piper Jaffray Posts Strong Earnings from Acquisitions

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Heartland Sees Revenue Declines of 3% in Quarter

Heartland’s third-quarter consolidated top line fell 3% year over year, while revenue before fuel surcharges declined 4%; slightly behind our expected run rate for the full-year 2013. Management indicated that rates improved, but “inconsistent” freight demand, limited driver availability, and the government’s recently revised hours-of-service rules weighed on tractor utilization. We expect these factors to be a common theme reported by most truckload carriers for … Continue reading Heartland Sees Revenue Declines of 3% in Quarter

Caltex Reports Significant First Half Declines

Caltex reported a 13% decline in first-half 2013 replacement cost net profit to AUD 171 million, in line with expectations. Revenue fell 2.5% to AUD 23.6 billion due to lower sales volumes and lower average prices. Marketing and distribution earnings before interest and tax, or EBIT, was in line with the record first-half 2012 result of AUD 367 million, as lower sales were favourably offset … Continue reading Caltex Reports Significant First Half Declines