Keithley Instruments Reiterates 2001 Guidance

Keithley Instruments(KEI Quote) reiterated its guidance for fiscal 2001 after the market closed today, and the company said it remains comfortable with a sales growth projection in the range of 25% or more.

The company, a maker of electrical measurement systems for the telecom, semiconductor and electronic components industries, also said it still expects earnings growth for fiscal 2001 to exceed the previous year.

In November, using current backlog and business data, the company forecast that sales and pretax earnings from operations for the first quarter would exceed those of the fourth quarter. The company also estimated sales growth for fiscal year 2001 of more than 25%, compared with fiscal 2000, when Keithley reported sales of $151 million. The company earned $20.4 million, or $1.26 a share, for the year.

Keithley earned $6.6 million, or 40 cents a share, on sales of $43 million for the fourth quarter ended Sept. 30.

According to First Call/Thomson Financial, analysts expect the company to earn 42 cents a share in the first quarter and $1.74 in fiscal 2001. Shares of Keithley ended the regular New York Stock Exchange trading session at $43.06, up $5.38, or 14.3%.