Equitable Resources Powers Past Targets

Earnings Scorecard
Actual	Estimated*	Year-Ago
$1.19	$1.102	$0.79

Equitable Resources (EQT Quote) reported fourth-quarter earnings that powered past analysts' expectations and projected 35% to 40% earnings-per-share growth for 2001.

The Pittsburgh-based energy company said that, excluding special items, it earned $39.6 million, or $1.19 a share, compared with $26.4 million, or 79 cents a share, in the same period last year. Analysts, on average, expected fourth-quarter earnings of $1.10 a share, according to First Call/Thomson Financial.

Revenue for the quarter was $152.3 million, compared with $122.3 million last year.

The company also said it was "optimistic" about earnings potential for the year ahead, and targeted 2001 earnings-per-share growth of 35% to 40% over the 2000 full-year figure of $3.44. Ten analysts surveyed by First Call expect 2001 earnings of $4.38 a share, a 27% increase.

Shares of Equitable were lately up 85 cents, or $1.42, to $60.50 in morning trading on the New York Stock Exchange.