Paul Mueller Co. makes tender offer

Shares of Paul Mueller stock (OTC: MUEL.PK) closed at $34 Aug. 3, up from $31.90, the day before the offer was announced.

Company officials say it is a cost-savings move because it would eliminate shareholder account maintenance fees. The offer expires at 5 p.m. Sept. 14.

Meanwhile, Paul Mueller Co.’s financials are turning around from a sluggish 2004. Second-quarter net income reached $345,000 – a marked improvement from the $1.73 million loss suffered during the same period in 2004.

A 29-cent earning per diluted share improves on a loss of $1.48 per share in second-quarter 2004.

The Springfield stainless steel equipment manufacturer also announced a cash dividend of 60 cents per share on its outstanding stock, payable Sept. 9, to shareholders of record Aug. 15.

Jack Henry

Jack Henry & Associates Inc. on Aug. 2 reported year-end revenues up 14.7 percent to $535.9 million. The Monett-based banking software company ended its 2005 fiscal year June 30.

Net income for the year increased 21 percent for the year to $75.5 million, or 81 cents per diluted share of company stock.

For the quarter, revenue totaled $141.4 million, up 12.2 percent from fourth-quarter 2004. Net income was 23 cents per diluted share, up 21 percent.

During the last fiscal year, the company added 49 credit unions and 60 banks to its client roster. The company has more than 7,000 customers nationwide.

Shares of Jack Henry stock (Nasdaq: JKHY) closed Aug. 3 at $19.

Leggett & Platt

Carthage-based furniture and bedding manufacturer Leggett & Platt Inc. on July 21 reported record second-quarter sales and earnings on $1.31 billion in sales and earnings of 41 cents per diluted share.

Sales were up 2.5 percent while earnings were up 5.1 percent compared to the second quarter of last year.

“Sales and earnings per share were the highest we’ve ever attained for the second quarter of any year,” said Felix Wright, chairman and CEO, in a news release. “Earnings were within our guidance, but sales were slightly below the range we originally forecasted.”

Leggett & Platt also announced a third-quarter stock dividend. Shareholders of record Sept. 15 will receive 16 cents per share, 6.7 percent higher than the third-quarter 2004 dividend.

Shares of Leggett & Platt stock (NYSE: LEG) closed Aug. 3 at $25.51.

O’Reilly Automotive

Springfield auto parts supplier O’Reilly Automotive Inc. announced record revenues and earnings for the second quarter of 2005.

Net income was $42.9 million, up 27.3 percent from the $33.7 million in the same quarter of 2004. Diluted earnings per common share for the quarter increased 26.7 percent to 38 cents per share on 113.1 million shares.

Comparable store product sales for stores open at least one year increased 9.6 percent for the quarter.

Shares of O’Reilly Automotive stock (Nasdaq: ORLY) closed Aug. 3 at $32.14.

UMB Bank

UMB Financial Corp., based in Kansas City, July 26 announced second-quarter earnings of $13.6 million, or 63 cents per share. That’s up 62 percent from the same time in 2004. Net interest income for the quarter increased $3.1 million, or 6.9 percent, while total loans increased $347 million or 12.2 percent.

Company assets as of June 30 reached $6.98 billion.

The company also announced that a regular quarterly dividend of 22 cents per share will be paid on Oct. 1 to shareholders of record Sept. 12.

Shares of UMB Financial Corp. stock (Nasdaq: UMBF) closed Aug. 3 at $64.40.[[In-content Ad]]