Today's Winners and Losers: Multimedia Games

The gambling machine maker reports lower-than-expected earnings and gives a weak outlook.

Author:: Mark Martinez
Publish date:: Feb 7, 2006 12:10 PM EST

Shares of

Multimedia Games

(MGAM)

were among the

Nasdaq's

losers Tuesday, falling 8% after the maker of electronic gambling machines posted first-quarter results that missed expectations and also projected second-quarter earnings below Wall Street's forecast.

The company earned $1.5 million, or 5 cents a share, on sales of $34 million. Excluding stock-based compensation costs, the company earned $2.1 million, or 7 cents a share. Analysts polled by Thomson First Call expected earnings of 8 cents a share on sales of $35.4 million. During the year-earlier quarter, the company earned $5 million, or 17 cents a share, on sales of $39.2 million.

Looking ahead, Multimedia Games sees second-quarter earnings of 6 cents to 7 cents a share, including 2 cents a share in stock-based compensation costs. Analysts project earnings of 12 cents a share, including stock-based compensation costs. Shares recently were trading down 84 cents to $9.03.

Emerson Electric

(EMR) - Get Report

rose 6% after the diversified manufacturing company posted better-than-expected first-quarter results and forecast fiscal 2006 earnings ahead of expectations. The company earned $399 million, or 96 cents a share, for the quarter ended Dec. 31. Analysts expected earnings of 83 cents a share. The company posted sales of $4.55 billion, better than analysts' prediction of $4.39 billion. During the year-earlier quarter, the company earned $297 million, or 70 cents a share, on sales of $3.97 billion.

For the full fiscal year, Emerson Electric expects earnings of $4.10 to $4.30 a share. Analysts project earnings of $4.04 a share. Shares were trading up $4.79 to $81.66.

Shares of

Duratek

( DRTK) jumped 23% after the company agreed to be acquired by Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions for $396 million, including an undisclosed amount of debt. Duratek, which handles radioactive materials disposition, said shareholders will receive $22 a share in cash, representing a premium of 26% over Monday's closing price of $17.50. The acquisition is expected to close during the second quarter. Shares were trading up $3.98 to $21.48.

Performance Food Group

(PFGC) - Get Report

rose 7% after the food distributor posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings. The company reported earnings from continuing operations of $12.9 million, or 35 cents a share, on sales of $1.44 billion. Analysts expected earnings of 31 cents a share and sales of $1.45 billion. During the year-earlier quarter, the company earned $3.9 million, or 8 cents a share, on sales of $1.35 billion.

Looking ahead, Performance Food Group sees 2006 earnings of $1.20 to $1.30 a share, including stock-based compensation costs of 9 cents to 10 cents a share. Analysts project earnings of $1.26 a share, including stock-based compensation costs. Shares were trading up $2.06 to $29.60.

Shares of

Building Materials

( BMHC) fell 6% after the construction services company's fourth-quarter profit missed Wall Street's expectation. The company reported earnings of $33.5 million, or $2.25 a share, on sales of $817.9 million. Analysts expected earnings of $2.33 a share and sales of $728.2 million. During the year-earlier quarter, the company earned $19 million, or $1.34 a share, on sales of $539.3 million. Shares were trading down $6.35 to $72.25.

NYSE

volume leaders included

Disney

(DIS) - Get Report

, up $1.05 to $26.01;

Time Warner

(TWX)

, down 12 cents to $18.45;

General Electric

(GE) - Get Report

, down 21 cents to $32.54;

Motorola