Boeing Co.: The aerospace company offered an upbeat forecast Wednesday for its quest to retake the world’s top spot in commercial aviation from European rival Airbus SAS, citing a “very strong” outlook for airplane sales while upping its profit expectations for 2006. Boeing said its fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled as its resurgent commercial-airplane division boosted revenue and profit margins. Boeing reported fourth-quarter net income of $460 million, or 58 cents per share, up from $186 million, or 23 cents per share, a year earlier. Analysts were expecting 44 cents a share, based on the consensus estimate by Thomson Financial.
Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc.: The nation’s biggest brewer said Wed nesday its fourth-quarter profit fell 39.5 percent on flat sales, which one analyst said reflected the increasing popularity of cocktails and wine. The maker of Budweiser, Bud Light and other beers earned $201 million, or 26 cents per share, for the period ending Dec. 31, compared with $332 million, or 42 cents per share, during the same quarter of 2004. Gross revenue rose to $3.882 billion from $3.880 billion a year earlier.
Starbucks Corp.: The coffee retailer said Wednesday its fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 20 percent over last year, driven by strong holiday sales. For the 13 weeks ended Jan. 1, Starbucks said it earned $174 million, or 22 cents per share, up from $145 million, or 17 cents per share, in the comparable period a year earlier. Revenue for the latest quarter increased 22 percent to $1.93 billion, up from $1.59 billion the previous year.
HCA Inc.: The nation’s largest for-profit hospital operator on Wednesday reported a slight increase in fourth-quarter earnings, aided by gains from facility sales, as revenue rose 4 percent. For the latest quarter, earnings were $325 million, or 74 cents per share, up from $322 million, or 70 cents per share, in the year-ago period.
