Stanley Black & Decker Q4 Profit Slumps - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Tool maker Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. (SWK) posted a plunge in fourth-quarter net income attributable to common shareholders to $56.1 million, or $0.35 a share, from $492.1 million, or $2.99 a share, last year. Excluding charges, quarterly earnings per share amounted to $1.32. On average, 16 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings per share of $1.30 for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude one-time items.

On the other hand, the firm clocked net sales of $2.91 billion in the quarter, up 9%, compared with the prior-year figure of $2.66 billion, attributable to volume and acquisitions, partially offset by currency; while price was flat for the period. Fourteen analysts estimated revenues of $2.87 billion for the fourth quarter.

For 2014, per share earnings are likely to be in the range of $5.30 - $5.50 on an adjusted basis, and between $5.18 and $5.38 on a GAAP basis, as M&A charges would shrink dramatically in 2014 resulting in convergence of GAAP and adjusted income. Also, the company believes that its 2014 organic growth would approximate 4%, including the benefits from its organic growth initiatives. Nineteen analysts project earnings of $5.43 a share in 2014.