Dividend.com: Agilent Adjusts Up

Agilent Posts $101 Million Second-Quarter Loss, but Adjusted EPS Is in Line

Measuring and testing company Agilent(A Quote) said Thursday that it lost $101 million in the latest quarter, hurt by a big drop in its semiconductor testing unit.

The Santa Clara, Calif., company reported a fiscal second-quarter net loss of $101 million or 29 cents per share, compared with a profit of $173 million or 47 cents in the year-ago period. Excluding special one-time charges, the company posted adjusted profits of $44 million or 13 cents per share.

Overall revenue in the quarter fell to $1.09 billion, down 25% from $1.46 billion in the same quarter last year. On average, Wall Street analysts were expecting profits of 13 cents per share, excluding items, on revenue of $1.07 billion.

Agilent said it sees fiscal 2009 revenue receding by 25% from 2008 to $4.33 billion. On average, analysts expect $4.48 billion. Agilent shares fell 59 cents or 3.2%, in morning trading Friday.

Shares of Agilent are way off of 52-week highs of $38 a share. The stock has technical support in the $12 to $15 price area. If the shares can firm up, we see overhead resistance around the $20 to $25 price levels. We do not currently rate this non-dividend paying stock, but we do follow the company closely.

J.C. Penney First-Quarter Net Falls 79%, Guides Below Street View

Famous department store retail chain J.C. Penney(JCP Quote) said Friday that its first-quarter profit fell significantly from last year, hurt by a big one-time pension expense.

The Plano, Texas, company reported first-quarter net profits of $25 million or 11 cents per share, compared to earnings of $120 million or 54 cents per share in the year-ago period. Sales fell 6% to $3.88 billion from $4.13 billion in the same period last year. These results were enough to beat estimates. On average, Wall Street analysts expected a profit of 10 cents per share.