Health and Healthcare

BRL: Barr the Windows

By William Trent, CFA of Stock Market Beat

Large Cap Watch List member Barr Pharmaceuticals (BRL) reported a GAAP Loss:

For the three months ended December 31, 2006, the Company recorded a loss of $390.9 million, or $3.67 per share, compared to net earnings of $94.9 million, or $0.88 per share, for the same period last year. Revenues in the period were $584 million, compared to $326 million for the same period last year.For the six months ended December 31, 2006, the Company recorded a loss of $338.2 million, or $3.18 per share, compared to net earnings of $178.1 million, or $1.66 per share, in the prior year period. Revenues in the period totaled $916 million, up from $636 million for the same period last year.

Adjusted earnings per fully diluted share for the three and six months ended December 31, 2006 would have been $0.83 and $1.70, respectively, after excluding certain charges that are primarily related to the PLIVA acquisition. For comparison purposes, in the prior year periods, adjusted earnings per fully diluted share for the three and six months ended December 31, 2005 would have been $0.92 and $1.77, respectively, excluding certain one-time items.

Consensus estimates, presumably excluding the charges, were for $0.73. But the guidance for the rest of 2007 was disappointing relative to consensus (which was for $3.23 on $2.57 billion in sales):

The Company expects its adjusted earnings per fully diluted share for the year ending December 31, 2007 to be in the range of approximately $3.00 – $3.30. The adjustments are discussed in the paragraph immediately below. The Company expects total revenues for that period to be in the range of $2.3-$2.4 billion. R&D investment for 2007 is expected to be approximately $240-$250 million. SG&A expenses for 2007 are expected to be approximately $775-$800 million.

The Company’s adjusted guidance for 2007 excludes amortization costs associated with acquired products, charges related to the step-up of inventory acquired from PLIVA, contributions from operations that the Company anticipates divesting during 2007 and stock-based compensation costs. The Company’s adjusted guidance for 2007 also excludes the impact of potential patent challenge outcomes or other business development activities that may be completed by December 31, 2007.

That’s a lot of things to be excluding and still miss the estimates out there.

The author may hold a position in the securities discussed. The author’s current holdings are as follows: Long: Union Pacific (UNP) put options; Air Products (APD) put options; Bookham (BKHM; Ballard Power (BLDP); Syntax Brillian (BRLC); CMGI (CMGI); Genentech (DNA); Ion Media Networks (ION); Three Five Systems (TFS); IShares Japan (EWJ); StreetTracks Gold (GLD); Starbucks (SBUX); U.S. Oil Fund (USO); Plantronics (PLT) call options; Short: Landstar (LSTR) put options; Plantronics (PLT) put options;

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