Earnings Roundup

General Mills Inc GIS reported a 28% decline in its fiscal second-quarter net income and affirmed its FY12 forecast. General Mills' quarterly earnings dropped to $444.8 million, or $0.67 per share, from $613.9 million, or $0.92 per share, in the year-ago period. Its adjusted earnings came in at $0.76 per share. General Mills' sales surged to $4.62 billion from $4.07 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.79 per share on sales of $4.6 billion. GIS affirmed its FY12 earnings forecast of $2.59 to $2.61 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $2.61 per share. Sanderson Farms Inc SAFM reported a wider-than expected fourth-quarter loss on Tuesday. Sanderson Farms posted a quarterly net loss of $21.6 million, or $0.97 per share, versus a year-ago net income of $47.8 million, or $2.08 per share. Excluding items, Sanderson Farms lost $0.70 per share. However, analysts were expecting a loss of $0.59 per share. Sanderson Farms' sales climbed 6% to $559.8 million, versus analysts' estimates of $536.4 million. Navistar International Corp NAV reported a rise in its fiscal fourth-quarter profit. Navistar's quarterly profit surged to $255 million, or $3.48 per share, from $44 million, or $0.61 per share, in the year-earlier period. On an adjusted basis, Navistar earned $3.37 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $3.02 per share. Navistar's sales climbed to $4.32 billion from $3.37 billion. Jefferies & Co JEF reported a decline in its fourth-quarter profit. Jefferies' quarterly profit dropped to $48.4 million, or $0.21 per share, from $62.7 million, or $0.31 per share, in the year-earlier period. Excluding one-time gain and other items, Jefferies' earnings came in at $0.17 per shar, versus analysts' estimates of $0.16 per share. Jefferies' net revenue declined to $554 million from $680 million. ConAgra Foods Inc CAG reported a 15% drop in its fiscal second-quarter net income. ConAgra's quarterly earnings fell to $171.8 million, or $0.41 per share, from $200.9 million, or $0.46 per share, in the year-ago period. Its adjusted earnings from continuing operations came in at $0.47 per share. ConAgra's shares outstanding declined 5.5% to 413.6 million. ConAgra's sales rose to $3.4 billion from $3.15 billion. Analysts were expecting a profit of $0.43 per share on sales of $3.34 billion. To get these earnings delivered in real-time, sign up for a free trial of Benzinga Projected