On the Street

Springfield-based O'Reilly Automotive ranked No. 122 in Forbes' Platinum 400, published earlier this month. The list, also known as America's Best Big Companies, holds “potential stock market stars,” the magazine says. According to the report, O'Reilly shares (Nasdaq: ORLY) recorded earnings of $1.29 in the latest 12 months and are projected to earn $1.59 in 2006. Company sales in the last 12 months were $1.9 billion and net income was $147 million for a 7.5 percent profit margin. The company's debt-to-capital ratio is 2.2 percent. The annual list has outperformed the stock market during the 12 months following it in six of the past seven years, Forbes said.

Unemployment overpay

The Division of Unemployment Security of the Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations is using a new programming method to help detect possible overpayment of unemployment insurance benefits. According to an Associated Industries of Missouri newsletter, the programming was made possible by a $128,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor last year. The system enables the DOL to match data with the National Directory of New Hires of the federal Office of Child Support Enforcement, helping employers properly pay unemployment benefits and see that system abusers are caught and penalized. Under the National Directory of New Hires, employers report new hires to the state child support agency, along with wage and unemployment insurance records. The directory is a centralized repository of employment information. Cross-matching detects if a person has gone to work nearly anywhere in the United States and continues to claim Missouri unemployment benefits.

Slice of Nice

CoxHealth, which this year celebrates 100 years of serving the Ozarks, is selling a commemorative 2006 calendar through CoxHealth Foundation to benefit The Good Samaritan Fund. The fund is used to help CoxHealth patients who are severely underinsured or who do not have any type of private insurance. The $5 calendars feature historical photos, including those of the early “iron lung” machine and the crippled children's wing at Cox North. Famous patients, including Mickey Mantle and Ronald Reagan, also are featured in pictures. To purchase a calendar, or for more information about the CoxHealth Foundation, call (417) 269-7150.

Twice of Nice

American Cancer Society is seeking local companies to serve as sponsors for Relay For Life. Relay For Life is a nationwide program that celebrates cancer survivors and raises money for American Cancer Society. Thousands of participants are expected for 31 Relay for Life events in the Ozarks; there will be more than 4,000 Relay for Life events across the United States. For information about events and sponsorship opportunities, call (417) 881-4668.

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