Wachovia Beats Expectations

Wachovia(WB) beat second-quarter earnings expectations by 2 cents as the Southern banking giant's profits rose 76% from the year-ago period.

The Winston-Salem based bank, which has been the subject of a takeover duel between First Union(FTU) and SunTrust(STI), said its operating earnings totaled $252.7 million, or $1.22 a share. Twenty analysts polled by Thomson Financial/First Call had expected $1.20 a share. In the year-earlier period, the company earned $143.3 million, or 70 cents a share.

Wachovia said gains on securities transactions offset increased loan loss provisions. In the second quarter, the bank set aside $215.7 million for bad loans, compared with $121.5 million in the first quarter.

The bank also stood by its decision, in April, to accept a $13.7 billion takeover bid from First Union. In May, SunTrust launched a hostile takeover attempt, offering $14.1 billion for the bank. Wachovia shareholders are slated to vote on First Union's bid on Aug. 3.

Wachovia was recently off 1.3% to $66.71. Its price over the past 52 weeks has ranged from $47.43 to $71.40.

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