Stocks to Watch: CarMax Guides Up, Anthem Beats Estimates

Claire's Stores (CLE) said January same-store sales fell 3%, while total sales for the month slid 5%. For the fourth quarter, total sales slipped 1% to $280.2 million, while same-store sales declined 2%. Based on the results, the company expects to post earnings of 57 cents to 58 cents a share for the quarter. Analysts are looking for earnings of 50 cents.

Earnings Reports & Outlooks

Health benefits provider Anthem (ATH) reported fourth-quarter earnings of $87.7 million, or 85 cents a share. Excluding items, the company earned $99 million, or 95 cents a share. Analysts were looking for a profit of 89 cents. Anthem expects to earn 80 cents to 85 cents in the first quarter and $3.65 to $3.75 a share for 2002. Wall Street is expecting 83 cents for the quarter and $3.63 for the year. Additionally, the company's board approved a $400 million stock buyback.

CarMax Group (KMX), part of Circuit City Stores, expects to report earnings of 16 cents to 17 cents a share in the fourth quarter, up from 7 cents in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Analysts expect the company to earn 14 cents, according to First Call.

Harrah's Entertainment (HET) posted fourth-quarter earnings of 46 cents a share, before items. Analysts were calling for 47 cents. According to generally accepted accounting principles, the company earned 49 cents in the quarter. Revenue rose 16.9% to $960.6 million from $822 million in the same quarter the prior year.

Jones Apparel (JNY) earned 25 cents a share in the fourth quarter, down from 52 cents in the year-ago period. Analysts were expecting a profit of 21 cents. Revenue fell to $887 million from $962 million. For 2002, the company projected a profit of $2.50 a share, in line with estimates, and said revenue will likely stay flat with last year at $4.1 billion.

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