Shares of Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG), a global consumer packaged goods company, are up sharply in trading today after the company’s first-quarter earnings beat Street estimates.
For the first quarter, PG reported adjusted earnings of $1.06 per share, up from $1.01 per share reported for the same period in the previous year. The company’s adjusted earnings for the quarter beat Street estimates of $0.96 per share.
PG’s earnings from continuing operations came in at $2.85 billion, or $0.96 per share, compared to $3 billion, or $1.01 per share reported for the same period in the previous year.
Net sales for the quarter were $20.74 billion, down 4% over the same period in the previous year. Net sales for the first quarter fell short of Street estimates of $20.78 billion. Organic sales for the quarter rose 2%.
Bob McDonald, Chairman, President and CEO of Procter & Gamble, said that PG’s first-quarter results put the company on track to deliver its commitments for the fiscal year. McDonald said that the company’s results were at the high end of expectations on the top line and ahead of plan on operating profit, earnings per share and cash. McDonald added that the company is continuing to focus on executing its growth and productivity strategy; maintaining momentum in developing markets, strengthening its core developed market business, building a strong innovation pipeline, and aggressively driving cost savings and productivity improvements.
PG maintained its fiscal 2013 organic sales growth guidance in the range of 2% to 4% for the fiscal year. The company also continues to expect core earnings per share for fiscal 2013 to be between $3.80 and $4. Analysts on average expect the company to report fiscal 2013 core earnings of $3.91 per share.
PG shares hit a 52-week high of $70.83 in early trading today. At last check, the stock was trading 3.67% higher at $70.58 on above average volume of 10.49 million.
Year-to-date, PG shares have gained nearly 6%, underperforming the S&P 500.
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