PacifiCare Health Systems (PHSY Quote - Cramer on PHSY - Stock Picks) on Thursday reaffirmed its earnings expectations for the first quarter and full year, offering projections that would easily exceed Wall Street's consensus forecast for both periods.
The managed health care services company said it still expects to make 35 cents a share in the first quarter and $2.94 for the year.
Analysts polled by
Thomson Financial/First Call are expecting the company to earn 27 cents in the quarter and $2.28 for the year. The company earned $1.94 in the year-ago first quarter and $4.51 for last year. PacifiCare also said its membership enrollment guidance hasn't changed.
Shares of PacifiCare, which is based in Santa Ana, Calif., gained $1.50, or 6.3%, to $25.44 in recent
Nasdaq trading. The company plans to report first-quarter earnings May 2.
Chris Frankie
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