Littelfuse Q4 Profit Declines - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Littelfuse, Inc. (LFUS) posted fourth-quarter GAAP net income of $19.5 million, or $0.86 per share, compared to $23.7 million, or $1.04 per share, last year.

Excluding special items, earnings for the latest quarter were $1.02 per share, down from $1.08 per share in the prior year period. On average, 6 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to earn $1.10 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

Sales for the latest fourth quarter were $206.62 million, up 4% from $198.13 million in the comparable quarter last year, due primarily to continued strong growth in the automotive business. Excluding acquisitions, sales increased 2% compared to the prior year. Analysts estimated revenues of $204.66 million for the quarter.

Looking ahead, the company expects first quarter earnings to be in the range of $1.00 to $1.14 per share and sales in the range of $202 million - $212 million which represents flat revenue at the midpoint compared to the prior year after currency effects. Analysts currently expect first quarter earnings of $1.26 per share on revenues of $217.51 million.

Further, The company said it will pay a cash dividend of $0.25 per common share on March 5, 2015 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 13, 2015.