Earnings Surprises (NVR, NTRS, PJC, ATI, STJ)

NVR, Inc. (NYSE: NVR) on Wednesday said its third-quarter net income rose to $72.1 million, or $11.59 a share, from $36.6 million, or $6.12 a share, in the third quarter last year. Home-building revenue fell to $792.5 million from $928.3 million. NVR is up 3.61% to $692.90.

Northern Trust Corporation (NASDAQ: NTRS) reported third-quarter profit of $187.9 million, or 77 cents a share, compared to a loss of $148.3 million, or 66 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Total revenue was $927.6 million, down 1.2% from the year-ago period. Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research had expected, on average, earnings of 83 cents a share on revenue of $996.8 million. The stock is down 6.14% to $53.92.

Piper Jaffray Companies (NYSE: PJC) had a third-quarter profit of $9.3 million, or 47 cents a share, compared to a loss of $27.5 million, or $1.75 a share, in the year-ago period. Net revenues were $119.7 million, up from $73.5 million in the third quarter of 2008. Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research had expected, on average, earnings of 37 cents a share on sales of $108.7 million. PJC is up 1.49% at $55.70.

Allegheny Technologies Incorporated (NYSE: ATI) third-quarter profit was $1.4 million, or 1 cent a share, compared to $144.1 million, or $1.45 a share, in the year-ago period. Sales at the Pittsburgh-based metals producer fell 50% to $697.6 million. Analysts surveyed by FactSet Research had estimated, on average, profit of 6 cents a share on sales of $740.6 million. ATI fell 6% to $35.65.

St. Jude Medical, Inc. (NYSE: STJ) reported third-quarter earnings were $167 million, or 48 cents a share, compared to $185 million, or 53 cents a share, in the same period a year ago. Sales rose to $1.16 billion compared to $1.08 billion a year ago. Analysts polled by FactSet Research estimated, on average, earnings per share of 59 cents and sales of $1.16 billion. The medical-device maker sees fourth-quarter earnings per share in the range of 61 cents to 63 cents and full-year 2009 earnings per share in the range of $2.41 to $2.43. STJ is trading up 2.50% to $33.98.