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After the bell yesterday, two more of our Buy List stocks reported earnings results, AFLAC (AFL) and Fiserv (FISV). AFLAC said that it made 73 cents a share which is a big drop from last year’s 90 cents. With insurance stocks, however, operating earnings are usually a better gauge of how well the company is performing. On that score, AFLAC’s operating earnings came in at 72 cents a share which was in line with Wall Street’s forecast. The company expects fourth-quarter operating earnings of 65 cents to 66 cents a share, which is less than the Street’s view of 71 cents a share.

Fiserv had an interesting report. The company’s net earnings fell, but its per-share earnings increased. The company earned 63 cents a share, one penny more than forecasts. Sales rose 14% which was also ahead of expectations. The company also raised the low-end of its full year forecast to $2.51 to $2.54 a share.

Varian Medical (VAR) is slated to report later today. The Street seems nervous since the stock took a big tumble yesterday. Also, Respironics (RESP) will report on Thursday.

Posted by edelfenbein at October 25, 2006 10:05 AM