Earnings Roundup

Costco Wholesale Corp COST reported a 2.6% rise in its fiscal-first-quarter net income. Costco's quarterly earnings surged to $320 million, or $0.73 per share, from $312 million, or $0.71 per share, in the year-ago period. Its sales climbed to $21.18 billion from $18.82 billion. Its revenue, including membership fees, gained 12% to $21.63 billion from $19.24 billion. However, analysts were expecting a profit of $0.80 per share on sales of $21.29 billion. Costco reported a 10% rise in its comparable sales. Smithfield Foods Inc SFD reported better-than-expected fiscal second quarter results. Smithfield's quarterly net income dropped to $120.7 million, or $0.74 per share, from $143.7 million, or $0.86 per share, in the year-ago period. Its sales surged 10% to $3.3 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.70 per share on sales of $3.21 billion. Layne Christensen Co LAYN reported a 6.8% rise in its fiscal third-quarter income. Layne Christensen's quarterly profit surged to $8.8 million, or $0.45 per share, from $8.2 million, or $0.42 per share, in the year-ago period. Its revenue climbed 9.3% to $294.9 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.49 per share on revenue of $278 million. Ciena Corp CIEN reported a narrower fourth-quarter loss. Ciena posted a quarterly loss of $22.3 million, or $0.23 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $80.3 million, or $0.86 per share. Excluding certain items, Ciena posted a loss of $0.03 per share. However, analysts were expecting an adjusted profit of $0.06 per share. Its revenue climbed 9.1% to $455.5 million. Ciena in September expected revenue of $440 million to $460 million. Conn's Inc CONN reported a wider third quarter loss and lowered its full-year adjusted earnings forecast. For the year ending Jan. 31, Conn's projects adjusted earnings of $0.55 to $0.65 per share, versus its prior view of $0.65 to $0.70 per share. Conn's posted a quarterly net loss of $12.7 million, or $0.40 per share, versus a year-ago loss of $4.8 million, or $0.19 per share. Excluding items, Conn's posted its earnings at $0.02 per share. Its sales climbed around 5% to $179.5 million. Brown-Forman Corp BF reported a 2% rise in its fiscal second-quarter earnings. Brown-Forman's quarterly earnings climbed to $157.6 million, or $1.09 per share, from $154 million, or $1.05 per share, in the year-earlier quarter. Its sales climbed 12% to $1.01 billion from $905.7 million. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $1.09 per share on sales of $957.4 million. Brown-Forman lowered the top end of its full-year adjusted earnings forecast to a range of $3.45 to $3.70 per share, from its earlier range of $3.45 to $3.85 per share. National Bank of Canada NTIOF reported a rise in fourth-quarter profit. National Bank of Canada's quarterly net income rose to C$294 million, or C$1.74 per share, from a year-ago profit of C$287 million, or C$1.66 per share. Its revenue surged 9% to C$1.19 billion. National Bank of Canada's net income from the wealth management segment jumped 13% to C$35 million. National Bank of Canada also lifted its quarterly dividend by 6% to 75 Canadian cents a share. OAO Severstal reported a 29% drop in its third-quarter net profit. Severstal's quarterly net profit declined to $429 million, from $602 million in the year-ago quarter. However, analysts were expecting a net profit of $480.3 million. Its revenue climbed to $4.77 billion, from $4.38 billion. Severstal's earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization rose to $1.13 billion, from $1.11 million, versus analysts' estimates of $1.12 billion. Ashtead Group PLC ASHTF reported a strong rise in its fiscal first-half pretax profit. Ashtead's pretax profit for the period climbed to GBP82.9 million, from GBP23.6 million, in the year-ago period. Its revenue gained 24% to GBP575.5 million. Ashtead's board declared an interim dividend of 1.0 pence per share, versus 0.93 pence, last year. Kirkland Lake Gold Inc KGILF reported a rise in its second-quarter profit. Kirkland Lake Gold projects gold production for fiscal years 2014 to 2016 of 210,000 to 250,000 ounces per year. Kirkland Lake Gold's quarterly gold production climbed to 24,478 ounces. Kirkland Lake Gold's net and comprehensive income rose to C$9.2 million, from $C8.5 million, in the year-ago period. Its revenue surged to C$40.3 million.