Level 3
The Broomfield-based network-services company posted a smaller fourth- quarter loss as revenue dipped, but costs also fell and a tax benefit boosted the bottom line.
Level 3 has posted two straight years of quarterly losses as many businesses put on hold their plans to spend on Internet-networking services, though there have been recent signs of business spending on tech picking up. Level 3 reported a loss of $52 million, or 3 cents per share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $182 million, or 11 cents per share. The latest result included a 6-cents-per-share tax benefit. Revenue dipped 0.3 percent to $921 million.
Mattel
Net income during the crucial holiday quarter slipped 1 percent on higher costs even though revenue rose on strong sales of Barbie and Fisher-Price toys.
The toy giant said Wednesday net income edged down to $325.2 million, or 89 cents per share, from $328.4 million, or 89 cents, last year. Revenue rose 9 percent to $2.12 billion.
Whirlpool
Fourth-quarter earnings rose 80 percent mostly on lower costs and an income-tax benefit, but Whirlpool said it is raising prices to help deal with higher raw-material costs.
The appliance maker earned $171 million, or $2.19 per share, in the quarter. That’s up from $95 million, or $1.24 per share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 4 percent to $5.04 billion.
News Corp.
Net income more than doubled in the last three months of the year, as News Corp. booked sharply fewer charges and benefited from advertising growth at its U.S. cable channels and a recovery in its broadcast TV segment.
The conglomerate reported net income for the fiscal second quarter of $642 million, or 24 cents per share. That’s up from $254 million, or 10 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue grew less than a percent to $8.76 billion.
