Stock Segment: Area companies' quarterly results

Empire District Electric Co. reported that third-quarter revenues increased 9 percent compared to the same period last year.

Quarterly revenues were $142.5 million, up from $130.9 million in third-quarter 2006.

Consolidated net income for the quarter was $23.3 million, or 76 cents per share, compared to $22.4 million, or 74 cents per share, in the same period last year.

New electric rates that took effect Jan. 1 were responsible for part of that growth, increasing revenues by $9.9 million for the third quarter, according to an Empire release. Off-system sales, new customers and weather conditions also contributed, officials said.

For the 12 months ended Sept. 30, consolidated net income was $41.8 million, or $1.38 per share, up from $32.3 million, or $1.19 per share, last year.

Empire also declared a quarterly dividend of 32 cents per share of common stock, payable Dec. 15 to shareholders of record as of Dec. 1.

Shares (NYSE: EDE) closed Oct. 31 at $24.05, compared to a 52-week range of $21.09 to $26.13.

Mueller 3Q sales fuel modest net income growth

Paul Mueller Co. recorded third-quarter net sales growth of 59 percent compared to the same period last year.

The Springfield-based stainless steel equipment manufacturer posted net sales of $58.4 million, compared to $36.7 million in third-quarter 2006. Year-to-date sales as of Sept. 30 were $161.7 million, compared to $96.3 million in the same period last year.

The manufacturer saw a quarterly gross profit of $6.7 million, up from $5.8 million a year ago. Gross profit for the year to date was $24.4 million, compared to $16.6 million last year.

Net income for the quarter was $227,000, up from $198,000 in third-quarter 2006, and was $3.9 million for the year to date, up from $1.02 million last year.

Diluted earnings per share for the quarter were 19 cents, a 2-cent increase from the same quarter last year. Per-share earnings were $3.32 for the year to date, compared to 89 cents last year.

Company shares (OTC: MUEL.PK) closed Oct. 31 at $58.01, compared to a 52-week range of $35.75 to $75.70.

O’Reilly Auto sales climb 11%

Springfield-based O’Reilly Automotive Inc. reported net income of $53.1 million, up 10.9 percent compared to $47.9 million in third-quarter 2006. Diluted earnings per share were 46 cents on 116.3 million shares, compared to 42 cents on 115 million shares in the same period last year.

Sales for the quarter were $662 million, a 10.8 percent increase from $597 million a year ago.

Gross profit increased to $294 million from $263 million last year, while operating, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $211 million from $188 million last year.

Year-to-date net income was $153.4 million, up 11.4 percent from $137.7 million a year ago, and diluted earnings per share for the year to date were $1.32, compared to $1.20 a year ago.

During the quarter, O’Reilly opened 43 new stores, for a total of 134 on the year. As of Sept. 30, the company operated 1,774 stores in 26 states.

Company shares (Nasdaq: ORLY) closed Oct. 31 at $33.02, compared to a 52-week range of $31.12 to $38.84.

Leggett 3Q earnings decline

Leggett & Platt reported a third-quarter sales slide of 3 percent compared to a year ago, consistent with the Carthage-based manufacturer’s guidance issued in July.

Diluted earnings per share were 37 cents, down from 45 cents in third-quarter 2006, which at the time included 2 cents per share from net nonrecurring items and the company’s discontinued prime foam operation, according to the quarterly earnings report.

Sales for the quarter were $1.33 billion, down from $1.37 billion last year. Officials cited weaknesses in the retail, home products and aluminum markets. Same location sales fell 5 percent but were partially offset by a 2 percent increase in revenue from acquisitions.

During the quarter, Leggett repurchased 5 million shares of stock at an average price of just below $21 each, bringing the 2007 total purchase to 9.6 million shares. The company’s board has authorized the purchase of up to 10 million shares for the year.

Also in the third quarter, Leggett declared an 18-cent dividend, paid on Oct. 15.

2007 earnings are expected to be between $1.29 and $1.37 a share, according to the release. For the fourth quarter, per-share earnings are predicted to be between 18 cents and 26 cents.

Shares (NYSE: LEG) closed Oct. 31 at $19.43, compared to a 52-week range of $18.31 to $24.73.

Jack Henry quarterly revenue grows 16%

Jack Henry & Associates Inc. reported a 16 percent gain in revenue for the first quarter of its 2008 fiscal year.

The Monett-based financial data technology provider had revenue of $175.3 million in the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to $150.6 million in the same period last year.

Gross profit grew 10 percent to $69.5 million, from $63.3 million last year.

Net income was $23.5 million, a 10 percent increase from $21.4 million a year ago. Earnings per diluted share were 26 cents, compared to 23 cents last year.

Growth came in areas such as license revenue, implementation services, in-house support fees, outsourcing and hardware sales. Cost of sales, however, increased 21 percent during the quarter due to labor and product costs, and processing fees, according to the earnings release.

Shares (Nasdaq: JKHY) closed Oct. 31 at $29.22, setting a new 52 week high.