Profits Pop at Pioneer
Pioneer Natural Resources
(PXD) - Get Report
, a gas and oil exploration and production company, said fourth-quarter earnings surpassed analysts' estimates and total revenue jumped 35.2% from a year ago.
The company earned $141 million, or $1.08 a share, compared with $102 million, or 69 cents a share, the previous year. Income from continuing operations was $140 million, or $1.07 a share, compared with $98 million, or 66 cents a share, last year.
Analysts polled by Thomson First Call were estimating earnings of 97 cents a share in the most recent quarter. Fourth-quarter total revenue was $691.3 million, well above the consensus Wall Street forecast of $591.5 million.
Pioneer repurchased 20 million shares during 2005 and plans to initiate a $350 million share-buyback program if the divestitures of assets in Argentina and the Gulf of Mexico are successful.
Shares of Pioneer were trading at $49.21, down 99 cents, or 2%.
This story was created through a joint venture between TheStreet.com and IRIS.