Stocks in Motion: Regis

Shares fall 9% on a reduced earnings outlook.

Author:: Mark Martinez
Publish date:: Apr 14, 2005 11:49 AM EDT

Shares of

Regis

(RGS) - Get Report

were among the

NYSE's

losers Thursday, falling 9% after the company cut its third-quarter earnings outlook.

The company now expects earnings of 47 cents a share, down from previous guidance of 53 cents to 57 cents a share. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call are expecting earnings of 56 cents a share on sales of $554.9 million. Regis said that it was hurt by the donation of certain retail product lines, professional fees associated with Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and a previously disclosed Fair Labor Standards Act matter. What's more, international operating results fell below expectations because of lower sales and higher payroll costs. Shares were trading down $3.82 to $38.03.

Eaton

(ETN) - Get Report

fell 4% after the industrial manufacturer posted in-line first-quarter earnings but warned that second-quarter earnings would fall short of expectations. Excluding items, the company earned $193 million, or $1.23 a share, on sales of $2.65 billion. Analysts were expecting earnings of $1.23 a share on sales of $2.7 billion. Looking ahead, Eaton forecast second-quarter earnings of $1.25 to $1.35 a share, which excludes items. Analysts had been expecting earnings of $1.37 a share on sales of $2.81 billion. Shares were trading down $2.32 to $60.74.

Shares of

Entergy

(ETR) - Get Report

fell 1% after the electric and nuclear power company warned that its first-quarter earnings would fall short of expectations. The company expects earnings of 79 cents a share. Analysts are expecting earnings of 93 cents a share on sales of $2.3 billion. The company said that milder-than-expected weather hurt results. Looking ahead, Entergy said that 2005 earnings would fall to the low range of $4.60 to $4.85 a share. Analysts are expecting earnings of $4.69 a share. Shares were trading down 63 cents to $71.87.

Southwest Airlines

( LU) rose 2% after the company posted first-quarter earnings that were better than expected. The airline posted a profit of $76 million, or 9 cents a share, on sales of $1.66 billion. Analysts were expecting earnings of 5 cents a share on sales of $1.65 billion. The company said that its focus on cost reduction and a successful fuel-hedging program led to the strong first-quarter results. Looking ahead, Southwest said that it is 83% hedged for the second quarter, with crude oil prices capped at $26 a barrel. For the second half of the year, it is hedged 85% at $26 a barrel. Shares were trading up 36 cents to $15.08.

Shares of

PepsiCo

(PEP) - Get Report

rose 2% after the soft drink company posted first-quarter earnings and sales that topped expectations. The company earned $912 million, or 53 cents a share, on sales of $6.59 billion. Analysts were expecting earnings of 50 cents a share on sales of $6.47 billion. A year ago the company earned $804 million, or 46 cents a share, on sales of $6.13 billion.

NYSE volume leaders included

Pfizer

(PFE) - Get Report

, up 19 cents to $27.47;

Kerr-McGee

(KMG)

, up $5.60 to $79.57;

Advanced Micro Devices

(AMD) - Get Report

, down 37 cents to $16.69;

Lucent Technologies

(LU)