Earnings Roundup

Hormel Foods Corp HRL reported a 15% rise in its fiscal third-quarter net income and raised its full-year earnings forecast. Hormel reported its quarterly earnings at $98.5 million, or $0.36 per share, up from $85.4 million, or $0.32 per share, in the year-ago period. Its revenue climbed 10% to $1.91 billion from $1.73 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.35 per share on revenue of $1.87 billion. Hormel now projects 2011 earnings of $1.70 to $1.75 per share, versus $1.67 to $1.73 per share. However, analysts expected earnings of $1.71 per share for the year. Signet Jewelers Ltd SIG reported a rise in its Q2 profit. Signet reported its quarterly net income at $66.3 million, or $0.76 per share, up from $38.7 million, or $0.45 per share, in the year-ago period. Signet's sales at stores open at least a year surged 12.2% in the US and 1.4% in Britain. Overall company sales climbed 10.8% to $797.6 million. Regis Corp RGS reported an upbeat quarterly profit. Regis posted a Q4 net loss of $16.4 million, or $0.29 per share, versus a profit of $18.3 million, or $0.30 per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding items, Regis earned $0.37 per share, up from analysts' estimates of $0.30 per share. Regis' revenue climbed 0.3% to $592 million, versus analysts' estimates of $591.1 million. Regis projects full-year 2012 operational earnings of $1.16 to $1.32 per share, versus analysts' estimates of $1.25 per share. Brown Shoe Co Inc BWS swung to a Q2 loss and lowered its full-year profit outlook. Brown Shoe posted a quarterly net loss of $4.6 million, or $0.11 per share, versus a profit of $5.3 million, or $0.12 per share, in the year-ago period. Its revenue climbed 7.2% to $628.1 million. Brown Shoe now projects a full-year adjusted profit of $0.85 to $0.97 per share, up from its earlier forecast of $1.25 to $1.32 per share. Big Lots Inc BIG released its results for the fiscal second-quarter on Thursday. Big Lots' net profit for the period came in at $35.7 million, or $0.50 per share, versus $38.9 million, or $0.48 per share, in the year-ago period. Its net sales climbed 2.2% to $1.17 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $0.44 per share on revenue of $1.16 billion. Energy Conversion Devices Inc ENER reported a wider Q4 loss. Energy Conversion posted a quarterly net loss of $42.1 million, or $0.84 per share, versus a loss of $20.9 million, or $0.49 per share, in the year-ago period. Its revenue dropped 15% to $73.1 million. Sanderson Farms Inc SAFM reported a loss for the third-quarter on Thursday. Sanderson Farms posted a quarterly loss of $56 million, or $2.51 per share, versus a profit of $36 million, in the same year-ago period. Analysts were expecting a loss of $0.96 per share. Its revenue surged 4.5% to $511 million, versus analysts' estimates of $515 million. Diageo PLC DEO reported a 17% rise in its full-year profit. Diageo's profit for the period surged to 1.9 billion pounds ($3.1 billion), from 1.63 billion pounds, in the year-ago period. Its sales climbed 2% to 9.94 billion pounds. The tax rate dropped from 21% to 14.5%. Toll Holdings Ltd THKUY reported a 1% rise in its annual net profit. Toll's net profit for the period climbed to A$281 million, from A$279 million, in the year-ago period. Its revenue surged 18% to A$8.23 billion from A$6.94 billion. Woolworths Ltd WOLWF reported a 5.1% rise in its annual net profit. Woolworths' net profit for the period rose to A$2.12 billion, from the previous year's A$2.02 billion, versus analysts' estimates of A$2.14 billion. Woolworths' revenue from ordinary activities climbed 4.9% to A$54.51 billion from A$51.96 billion. Credit Agricole CRARY reported a 1.8% drop in its second-quarter net income. Credit Agricole's net income for the period declined to 881 million euros ($1.27 billion). Its revenue climbed 2% to 9.14 billion euros. Wheelock & Co WHLKY reported a 56% surge in its net profit for the first half. Wheelock's net profit for the period rose to HK$10.22 billion, from HK$6.53 billion, in the year-ago period. Its revenue climbed 9.9% to HK$13.76 billion from HK$12.52 billion. Massmart Holdings Ltd MMRTY reported a rise in its full-year profit. Massmart's total sales in the year ending June 30 climbed 11.6% to 52.95 billion rand. Its trading profit surged 10.3% to ZAR2.059 billion. Wharf (Holdings) Ltd WARFY reported a 31% rise in its first-half net profit. Wharf's net profit for the period rose to HK$14.30 billion, from HK$10.89 billion. Excluding revaluation gains and related taxes, Wharf's underlying net profit climbed 11% to HK$3.28 billion from HK$2.96 billion. Wharf's revenue surged 13% to HK$9.75 billion from HK$8.62 billion. Ahold NV AHONY reported a rise in its market share for the second quarter. Ahold's net profit for the period fell 1.5% to EUR199 million. Its sales dropped 3.5% to EUR6.9 billion. At constant exchange rates, net sales climbed 5.4%. Ahold's earnings before interest and taxes dipped 20.7% to EUR275 million. Sime Darby Bhd SMEBF swung to a net profit in the fourth quarter. Sime Darby reported a net profit of MYR1.31 billion in the three months ended June 30, versus a net loss of MYR77.4 million, in the year-ago period. Glencore International PLC GLCNF reported a strong rise in its first-half net income per share. Glencore reported its earnings at $0.57 per share, up from $0.29 per share, in the year-ago period. Its adjusted earnings came in at $0.56 per share. Glencore's revenue surged to $92.12 billion from $70.01 billion.