General Mills
(GIS) - Get Report
is turning a neat trick for its fiscal third quarter. The food giant said it expects to beat the 14-broker
First Call/Thomson Financial
estimate for earnings of 36 cents a share. How? Most estimates take into account costs stemming from the company's planned acquisition of Pillsbury.
Well, the Pillsbury acquisition hasn't closed, and therefore, "third quarter diluted
earnings per share will be significantly above that consensus estimate," the company said. The quarter ends Feb. 25.
General Mills is buying Pillsbury from
Diageo
(DEO) - Get Report
.
