Windstream Q4 Profit Spikes - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Windstream Holdings Inc.'s (WIN) fourth-quarter 2013 GAAP net income surged significantly to $118.4 million, or $0.20 per share, from $10.1 million, or $0.02 per share, last year. According to the company, GAAP results include a non-cash benefit of 13 cents per share related to an actuarial gain realized on the company's pension plan. Results also include nearly 2 cents in after-tax merger and integration, restructuring and other expense.

Excluding these items, adjusted earnings per share would have been $0.09 for the fourth quarter, Windstream said. On average, 11 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.09 per share for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.

On the other hand, quarterly total revenues and sales were $1.49 billion, a 3% decline from $1.53 billion reported in the prior-year quarter. Ten analysts had consensus revenue estimate of $1.50 billion for the quarter.

In 2014, Windstream expects continued growth in business revenue and improved trends in consumer and wholesale revenues. Also, it sees total revenue for the year within a range of a 2.5 percent decline to a 1 percent increase as compared with 2013 revenue.