Maxim Integrated to Acquire Volterra Semiconductor for $23 Per Share

Maxim Integrated announced this week that it will acquire Volterra Semiconductor for $23 per share or $605 million in total (or $450 million after excluding Volterra’s cash on hand). Analyst’s initial take is that the deal will be made at a reasonable, but not especially cheap, valuation, but it does allow Maxim to expand into the server power management chip business and the acquisition of … Continue reading Maxim Integrated to Acquire Volterra Semiconductor for $23 Per Share

MarkWest Energy Reports Lower Q2 Results

On Wednesday afternoon, MarkWest Energy announced second-quarter results that were lower than last year, though roughly in line with expectations. Contending with meager gas and NGL prices, net income was cut by more than half to $84 million from $187 million last year, and though processing volumes actually increased dramatically by 53% over last year, weak commodity prices prevented a commensurate profit increase. Distributable cash … Continue reading MarkWest Energy Reports Lower Q2 Results

Atmos Energy Benefits from Natural Gas Profits in Q3

Atmos Energy reported solid third-quarter earnings per share from continued operations of $0.42, compared with $0.32 in the year-ago quarter. Management reaffirmed its fiscal 2013 EPS forecast range of $2.45-$2.55 per share. The company will pay a $1.40 per share dividend in fiscal 2013, a 1.4% increase from 2012. Natural gas distribution gross profit rose sharply, up $44 million or 23%. Roughly 65% of the … Continue reading Atmos Energy Benefits from Natural Gas Profits in Q3

Henderson Group Reports Impressive Underlying Profit

U.K.-based fund manager Henderson Group reported an impressive underlying profit before tax of GBP 101 million for first-half 2013, up 22% on first half 2012 and in line with our expectations and guidance. Diluted earnings per share of 8 pence per share increased 14% on 7 pence in first-half 2012. Assets under management increased 3.5% from GBP 66 billion at December 2012 to GBP 68 … Continue reading Henderson Group Reports Impressive Underlying Profit

WR Announces Cost Cutting Initiative

Westar management announced a cost-cutting initiative via employee reductions to save $16 million annually (roughly 3% of total operating and maintenance and selling, general, and administrative expenses) beginning in the fourth quarter of 2012 and extending through the third quarter of 2013, given continued economic weakness and soft customer growth. Westar filed an abbreviated rate case in April 2013 to recover $335 million of its … Continue reading WR Announces Cost Cutting Initiative

Subscriber Growth Helps Telstra Meet Expectations

Telstra reported a fiscal 2013 result in line with Street expectations. The low single-digit earnings growth was driven by mobile and the network, applications and services (NAS) divisions. Mobile revenue increased 6% to AUD 9.2 billion, driven by strong subscriber growth and increase in market share. Increased demand for cloud services from corporates lifted NAS revenue by 17.7% to AUD 1.5 billion. Payment from the … Continue reading Subscriber Growth Helps Telstra Meet Expectations