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Amazon, MBIA, MasterCard, Starbucks, more

By MarketWatch

Last Update: 4:15 PM ET Jan 31, 2008

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Shares of the following companies were among those
making notable moves in the U.S. stock market Thrusday.

Advancers

Aflac Inc.’s (AFL) shares gained. Fourth-quarter earnings rose to $382 million,
or 78 cents a share, from $332 million, or 67 cents, a year earlier. Revenue
increased to $4.02 billion from $3.69 billion. Analysts had expected earnings of
80 cents a share on revenue of $3.96 billion. The insurance provider said it
expects 2008 operating earnings, excluding the impact of the yen, of $3.70 to
$3.76 a share on a sales increase of 8% to 12%. Wall Street expects 2008 earnings
of $3.83 a share.

Alliant Techsystems, (ATK) shares were slightly higher. The Minneapolis weapons-
and space-systems company reported fiscal third-quarter net income rose 14% on
17% higher sales. For the quarter ended Dec. 30, earnings rose to $58.3 million,
or $1.65 a share, from $51.2 million, or $1.53, in the year-earlier period. Sales
reached $1.05 billion from $903.8 million.

Alliance Data Systems Corp.’s (ADS) shares rallied 16%. Fourth-quarter net income
fell to $33.9 million, or 42 cents a share, from $39.6 million, or 48 cents a
share, a year earlier. The transaction processor said revenue grew to $602.7
million from $524.5 million. Analysts had expected earnings of 93 cents a share
on revenue of $601 million. Earlier Wednesday, Alliance Data sued Blackstone
Group LP (BX) to force the private-equity firm to go through with its $6.4
billion acquisition of the company.

Amazon.com (AMZN) shares gained. It reported fourth-quarter earnings more than
doubled to $207 million, or 48 cents a share, from a year earlier, as revenue
grew 42% to $5.67 billion. Analysts were expecting earnings of 48 cents a share
on revenue of $5.37 billion. For the first quarter, the company said it expects
revenue to come in between $3.95 billion and $4.15 billion, ahead of the $3.92
billion predicted by analysts. See full story
Click for Detail

Audible Inc. (ADBL) shares surged 22%. Amazon.com (AMZN) agreed to buy the
provider of digital spoken word audio content for $11.50 a share, a 23% premium
to its closing price of $9.33 a share in Wednesday trading.

Brunswick Corp. (BC) shares gained 3.9%. It said Thursday that it swung to a
fourth-quarter profit of $6.8 million, or 8 cents per share, from a loss of $53.2
million, or 57 cents per share, in the same quarter a year before. Excluding
tax-related benefits, earnings from continuing operations for the period were 9
cents a share, down from the year-ago’s 22 cents.

Burger King Holdings Inc. (BKC) shares moved up. Second-quarter earnings rose to
$49 million, or 36 cents a share, from $38 million, or 28 cents, in the
year-earlier period. Revenue rose 10% to $613 million. Results reflected a
comparable-sales rise of 4.5%.

CACI International Inc.’s (CAI) shares gained 3.6%. Fiscal second-quarter
earnings fell to $19.2 million, or 63 cents a share, from $20.5 million, or 65
cents a share, a year earlier. The information technology company said revenue
increased to $577.8 million from $476.9 million a year ago. Analysts had
predicted earnings of 63 cents a share on revenue of $559.1 million for the
quarter. CACI raised the lower end of its 2008 outlook by a dime, to $2.60 to
$2.80 a share.

Shares of Celgene Inc., (CELG) the Summit, N.J., the biopharmaceutical company
focused on cancer and inflammatory diseases, moved up. It reported fourth-quarter
net income more than tripled on 51% higher revenue. Earnings reached $75.3
million, or 18 cents a share, from $22.9 million, or 6 cents, in the year-earlier
period. Adjusted earnings were 31 cents against 18 cents. Shares outstanding rose
3.5% to 419.3 million. Revenue increased to $414.6 million from $275 million.

Crown Holdings Inc.’s (CCK) shares gained. Fourth-quarter net income more than
doubled to $343 million, or $2.11 a share, from a year earlier. Revenue rose to
$1.87 billion from $1.68 billion.

Cytec Industries Inc.’s (CYT) shares jumped 8.8%. Fourth-quarter net income fell
to $47.6 million, or 97 cents a share, from $83.4 million, or $1.70 a share, a
year earlier. The chemical company’s sales rose to $901.2 million from $793.6
million. Analysts had predicted earnings of 83 cents a share and revenue of
$852.5 million. Cytec said it expects year earnings in the range of $4.15 to
$4.35 a share, up from 2007 adjusted earnings of $3.90 a share.

Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (DNB) shares gained. 3.1%. It reported fourth-quarter net
income rose to $101.7 million, or $1.74 a share, from $91.2 million, or $1.46 a
share, a year earlier. Revenue rose to $464.7 million from $424.2 million.
Analysts had forecast earnings of $1.67 a share. The business information, data
and services company expects earnings in 2008 to range from $5.19 to $5.29 a
share before gains and charges.

Eli Lilly & Co. (LLY) shares turned to positive. It is in talks to settle civil
and criminal probes into how the company marketed its antipsychotic drug Zyprexa,
The New York Times reported on its Web site, citing several sources close to the
matter. The settlement could reach more than $1 billion paid to federal and state
governments, the paper reported.

Fidelity National Financial (FNF) shares climbed 5.3%. It reported a
fourth-quarter loss of $44.9 million, or 21 cents a share, compared with net
income of $71.2 million, or 34 cents a share, a year earlier. Analysts expected
the company to earn 18 cents a share.

Fannie Mae (FNM) shares rose. It cut President and Chief Executive Daniel H.
Mudd’s 2007 bonus to $2.22 million. Mudd received a 2006 bonus of $3.5 million.
The financial-services company also said Mudd will receive a 2007 long-term
incentive award of $9 million. Fannie Mae disclosed in January 2007 that Mudd
would receive a 2007 and 2008 base salary of $990,000.

Flowers Foods Inc.’s (FLO) shares rose 3.3%. Fourth-quarter net income rose 35%
to $21.4 million, or 23 cents a share, from $15.8 million, or 17 cents, a year
earlier. Sales grew 8.1% to $473.7 million. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial
expected earnings of 21 cents a share on revenue of $469 million. For 2008,
Flowers Foods expects earnings of $1.07 to $1.17 a share, on sales growth of 8.5%
to 11% and sales of $2.21 billion to $2.26 billion. Earnings from continuing
operations are expected to be between $99.5 million to $108.4 million.

Shares of Greenhill & Co., (GHL) the New York investment bank, edged up. It
reported fourth-quarter net income rose 43% on 33% higher revenue. The firm also
raised the quarterly dividend 18% to 45 cents a share, payable March 19 to
holders of record March 5.

Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI) shares turned to positive. Fourth-quarter net income more
than doubled to $50 million, or 52 cents a share, from $24 million, or 25 cents,
a year earlier. The latest adjusted earnings came in at 34 cents a share. Sales
climbed 2% to $1.17 billion.

Harsco Corp. (HSC) shares edged higher. It posted fourth-quarter net income of
$91.4 million, or $1.08 a share, compared with the year-earlier $52.5 million, or
62 cents a share. Earnings from continuing operations for the latest quarter were
74 cents a share. A Thomson Financial survey of analysts projected earnings of 70
cents. The industrial-services company’s sales climbed 21% to $975 million.

ImClone Systems Inc. (IMCL) shares gained 3.3%. It swung to a fourth-quarter loss
of $19.9 million, or 23 cents a share, from profit of $46.6 million, or 53 cents,
in the year-earlier quarter. A poll of analysts by Thomson Financial had tipped
earnings at 25 cents. Revenue was $151 million compared with $132 million.

L-3 Communications Holdings Inc.’s (LLL) shares edged higher. Fourth-quarter net
income rose 19% to $207.4 million, or $1.63 a share, from $173.6 million, or
$1.37 a share, a year earlier, on strong sales and cash flow generation. The New
York surveillance and reconnaissance systems maker said net sales rose 12% to
$3.81 billion from $3.39 billion a year ago.

Harris Corp.’s (HRS) shares jumped 10%. Fiscal second-quarter net income
increased to $114.3 million, or 83 cents a share, from $94 million, or 67 cents a
share, a year earlier. The communication products company’s revenue rose to $1.32
billion from $1.02 billion. Analysts had expected earnings of 81 cents on revenue
of $1.25 billion. Harris increased its forecast for fiscal 2008, saying it
expects per-share earnings of $3.35 to $3.45.

Hologic Inc.’s (HOLX) shares were slightly higher. It reported a fiscal
first-quarter loss of $359 million, or $3.31 a share, compared with profit of $16
million, or 30 cents, in the year-earlier quarter. A Thomson Financial poll of
analysts produced a consensus estimate of a loss of 4 cents per share. The
Bedford, Mass., medical-technology company’s revenue more than doubled to $371
million from $163 million. The company also approved a 2-for-1 stock split.

MasterCard Inc.’s (MA) shares surged 12%. Fourth-quarter net income jumped to
$304.2 million, or $2.26 a share, from $40.9 million, or 30 cents, a year
earlier, due in part to $1.37 a share in gains from additional sales of the
company’s investment in Redecard S.A. in Brazil. The Purchase, N.Y., payment-card
company said revenue increased 28% to $1.07 billion from $839.2 million. Analysts
polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of 72 cents a share on revenue of
$985 million.

Mattel (MAT) shares rallied 11%. It reported a 15% fourth-quarter profit rise to
$328.5 million, or 89 cents a share, with sales up 4% to $2.19 billion.
International sales growth offset a 3% drop in the U.S., helped by a 19% rise in
worldwide girls brands other than Barbie. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial
expected earnings of 73 cents a share. Mattel also approved a $500 million stock
buyback.

MBIA Inc. (MBI) shares surged 7.2%. It on Thursday reported it swung to a
fourth-quarter loss of $2.3 billion as the bond insurer absorbed a loss on the
securities it guaranteed.

Nike Inc. (NKE) shares gained 3.8%. It said Thursday that shareholders of British
soccer-gear maker Umbro have accepted Nike’s takeover bid, which was valued at
about $565 million. Pending court hearings and final regulatory approvals, the
company expects to complete the acquisition in early March.

Merrill Lynch & Co. (MER) shares were slightly higher. It said it won’t pay 2007
bonuses to executives at the investment bank. The brokerage firm will make
stock-option grants to some executives to encourage them to stay as it tackles
tough market conditions this year. Gregory Fleming, chief operating officer, will
get 1.19 million options and Vice Chairman Robert McCann is getting 971,346
options.

New York Times Co. (NYT) shares moved up. It swung to a fourth-quarter profit of
$53 million, or 37 cents a share, from a year-earlier loss of $648 million, or
$4.50 a share. Excluding special items, earnings from continuing operations were
44 cents a share, down from 46 cents. A Thomson Financial survey of analysts, on
average, predicted earnings of 48 cents a share for the quarter. The New York
media company said revenue fell 7.1% to $865.8 million from $931.5 million. New
York Times also said December ad revenue fell 25%.

Novellus Systems Inc. (NVLS) shares gained. It reported fourth-quarter net income
of $52.9 million, or 47 cents a share, up from $42.6 million, or 34 cents, for
the year-earlier period. Revenue was $363.5 million compared with $438.5 million.
Analysts had expected the company to report earnings of 36 cents a share on
revenue of $361.4 million.

Raytheon Co. (RTN) fourth-quarter earnings rose 64% to $598 million, or $1.37 a
share up from $365 million, or 81 cents, in the year-ago period. The Waltham,
Mass., defense contractor’s latest adjusted earnings from continuing operations
were 96 cents. Sales climbed 8% to $6 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson
Financial expected 92 cents a share on revenue of $5.9 billion. For 2008,
Raytheon expects earnings from continuing operations to range $3.65 to $3.80 a
share. Analysts are looking for $3.81 a share.

Rite Aid Corp.’s (RAD) shares were slightly higher. January same-store sales rose
2% from a year ago. Pharmacy same-store sales and front-end same-store sales also
increased 2%. The Camp Hill, Pa., drugstore chain’s total drugstore sales for the
four-week period ended Jan. 26 rose 52% to $1.99 billion from $1.32 billion in
the year-ago period.

Shares of Rofin-Sinar Technologies Inc., (RSTI) the Plymouth, Mich., producer of
laser-beam sources and laser-based solutions, jumped 16%. It reported fiscal
first-quarter advanced 47% to $16.9 million, or 53 cents a share. Sales rose 21%
to $134.7 million.

Snap-On Inc.’s (SNA) shares gained 8.2%. Fourth-quarter net income rose to $57.3
million, or 98 cents a share, from $38 million, or 64 cents a share, a year
earlier. Analysts had predicted 82 cents a share. Net sales increased to $742.9
million from $651.4 million. Snap-on expects to record $15 million to $20 million
in 2008 restructuring expenses, down from $26 million in 2007. The company
predicts sales and operating earnings for the year will exceed its 2007 results
due to the cost reduction.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. (HOT) shares gained. Fourth-quarter
profit fell 28% to $146 million, or 74 cents a share, from $203 million, or 93
cents, a year ago. The latest earnings excluding special items were 79 cents a
share and revenue rose 2.4% to $1.61 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson
Financial had been expecting earnings of 67 cents a share on revenue of $1.53
billion.

Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN) shares rose 8.2%. It will close 117
under-performing stores from 2008 to 2010 and reduce staff to strengthen
profitability. Ann Taylor expects the program to save about $50 million by fiscal
2010, with savings of about $20 million to $25 million in 2008. The company
expects to incur a charge of 29 cents a share in fiscal 2007. Excluding expenses,
the company affirmed its fiscal 2007 earnings outlook of $1.80 to $1.85 a share.

Timken Co. (TKR) shares added 5%. Fourth-quarter net income climbed to $48.3
million, or 50 cents a share, from $35.4 million, or 37 cents, in the year-ago
period. Adjusted net rose to 51 cents a share from 30 cents. Revenue climbed to
$1.34 billion from $1.23 billion. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial forecast
earnings of 55 cents and revenue of $1.28 billion. The company expects
first-quarter earnings of 70 to 80 cents a share, excluding items. Analysts
expect 73 cents.

Wesco International Inc.’s (WCC) shares jumped 9%. Fourth-quarter net income rose
4.8% to $61.1 million, or $1.34 a share, from $58.3 million, $1.10 a share, a
year earlier. The Pittsburgh maintenance products holding company said sales
increased 8.2% to $1.49 billion from $1.38 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson
Financial expected earnings of $1.16 a share on revenue of $1.48 billion.

Decliners

Allis-Chalmers Energy (ALY) shares tumbled. 7.1%. It estimates it earned $5.6
million, or 16 cents a share, on revenue of $147 million in the fourth quarter.
The results were hurt by weakness in demand for drill pipe in the Gulf of Mexico
due to the hurricane season, severe flooding in Villahermose and labor strikes in
Argentina. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected the firm to earn 35
cents a share on revenue of $145 million. It expects 2008 earnings per share of
$1.35 to $1.45 on revenue of $655 million to $670 million. Analysts expected
earnings of $1.92 a share for 2008.

AstraZeneca (AZN) shares were slightly lower. Fourth-quarter profit dropped to
$1.28 billion, or 86 cents a share, from $1.45 billion, or 93 cents a share, a
year ago. Sales climbed 14% to $8.17 billion. AstraZeneca also said that it
expects to file license applications for as many as three new medicines in 2008.

Shares of BluePhoenix, (BPHX) the Herzliya, Israel, provider of IT-modernization
solutions, slumped 18%. It swung to a fourth-quarter net loss of 38 cents a share
from a year-earlier profit of 9 cents. Adjusted earnings were 21 cents against 10
cents. Revenue rose 33% to $24.4 million.

Cameron (CAM) shares fell 9.4%. Fourth-quarter net income climbed to $125.9
million, or 54 cents a share, from $96.5 million, or 42 cents a share in the
year-ago period. Excluding charges, earnings were 61 cents a share. Revenue at
the Houston oil services firm rose to $1.34 billion from $1.08 billion. Analysts
surveyed by Thomson Financial forecast earnings of 60 cents a share and revenue
of $1.24 billion, on average. Cameron said it expects first-quarter earnings of
50 to 53 cents a share.

Covance Inc.’s (CVD) shares lost 7.2%. Fourth-quarter earnings rose to $50.9
million, or 78 cents a share, from $38.3 million, or 59 cents. The
biopharmaceutical company’s revenue increased to $411 million from $343 million.
Analysts had expected 72 cents a share on revenue of $402 million. Covance
expects 2008 earnings of $3.18 per share on low-to mid-teens-percent revenue
growth. Wall Street expects 2008 earnings of $3.19 a share.

Duke Realty Corp.’s (DRE) shares lost 6.4%. Fourth-quarter net income rose to $62
million, or 40 cents a share, from $55 million, or 37 cents a share, a year
earlier. Funds from operations for the period rose to 80 cents a share from 76
cents. The real estate investment trust’s revenue from continuing operations
increased to $261.4 million from $256.4 million. Duke lowered its estimate of
2008 funds from operations to a range of $2.60 to $2.90 a share from $2.80 to $3.

DynCorp International Inc.’s (DCP) shares tumbled 15%. Fiscal third-quarter
earnings increased to $12 million, or 21 cents a share, from $11.6 million, or 20
cents a share, a year earlier. The technical-services provider’s revenue rose to
$523.1 million from $517.5 million. Analysts had expected 28 cents a share on
revenue of $602 million. DynCorp now expects fiscal 2008 earnings of $1 to $1.05
a share, cutting the top end of the range by a nickel.

Goodrich Corp.’s (GR) shares lost 4.5%. Fourth-quarter profit grew 34% to $132.3
million, or $1.04 a share, from $98.9 million, or 78 cents a share, in the
year-earlier period. Sales increased 12% to $1.67 billion from $1.5 billion.
Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected earnings of 91 cents on revenue of
$1.69 billion. The Charlotte, N.C., aircraft products and services company
expects full 2008 full-year sales between $7.1 billion and $7.2 billion.

Media General Inc.’s (MEG) shares lost 4.2%. Fourth-quarter net income slid 70%
to $9.6 million, or 43 cents a share, from $31.6 million, or $1.33 a share, a
year earlier. The Richmond, Va., communications company said revenue fell 16% to
$243.8 million.

Newell Rubbermaid (NWL) shares lost 4.9%. It trimmed its 2008 sales outlook after
reporting a 26% profit rise for the fourth quarter to $131.2 million, or 47 cents
a share. Sales rose to $1.64 billion, up 0.3%. The Thomson Financial-compiled
analyst estimate was earnings of 45 cents a share. It trimmed its 2008 sales
outlook, seeing growth of 2% to 3% compared to a previous estimate of 3% to 5%
growth, citing worsening economic conditions in North America. It still expects
adjusted earnings of $1.95 to $2 a share, with margins expected to widen more
than one percentage point.

Pantry Inc. (PTRY) shares lost 5%. The Sanford, N.C., convenience-store chain
reported fiscal first-quarter jumped on 43% higher revenue. Earnings reached $3.2
million, or 15 cents a share, from $125,000, or 1 cent, in the year-earlier
period. Shares outstanding fell 3.3% to 22.2 million. Revenue reached $1.98
billion from $1.38 billion. A survey of analysts by Thomson Financial produced
consensus estimates of 13 cents of profit on $1.99 billion of revenue.

E.W. Scripps Co. (SSP) shares fell. It reported preliminary fourth-quarter
earnings of $123.3 million, or 75 cents a share, compared with $133.9 million, or
81 cents, in the year-ago period. The Cincinnati media company’s revenue slipped
to $679.2 million from $683 million. Preliminary results don’t include an
expected non-cash charge related to “losses and challenging business conditions”
at the U.K subsidiary, uSwitch. Analysts were expecting earnings of 70 cents a
share.

Starbucks (SBUX) shares lost 4%. It reported fiscal first-quarter net income of
$208.1 million, or 28 cents a share, compared with $205 million, or 26 cents, a
year ago. Sales rose 17% to $2.8 billion. Starbucks also said it will close 100
under-performing U.S stores and expects “low double-digit” earnings-per-share
growth in 2008.

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