Shares of United States Steel Corp. (X, Financial) rose in after-hours trading on Thursday after announcing fourth-quarter results. The company posted earnings of $1.82 per share on $3.69 billion in revenue, reflecting 17.9% growth from the prior-year quarter. Earnings fell 1 cent short of estimates and revenue missed expectations by $60 million.
For full-year 2018, the company registered adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $1.76 billion.
The company currently expects first-quarter 2019 adjusted EBITDA to be approximately $225 million.
Shares of Mondelez International Inc. (MDLZ, Financial) jumped more than 5% on Thursday after the company announced fourth-quarter earnings of 63 cents per share on revenue of $6.77 billion, a 2.9% decline year over year. Results were in line with estimates.Â
The gross profit decreased by $104 million and the margin declined 50 basis points to 37.6% due to higher restructuring costs. The adjusted gross profit grew by $147 million and the margin inched up 90 basis points to 40% as a result of higher pricing and productivity savings.
Operating income increased by $40 million and the margin increased 90 basis points to 12.8%, while adjusted operating income increased $79 million and the margin increased 50 basis points to 16.2%.
Shares of Altria Group Inc. (MO, Financial) advanced almost 2% after reporting fourth-quarter earnings of 95 cents per share on revenue of $4.79 billion, reflecting 1.7% year-over-year growth.Â
The company paid $5.4 billion in dividends for the full year, with an actual annualized dividend of $3.20 per share, representing a dividend yield of more than 7%. Moreover, it repurchased 27.9 million shares at an average price of $60 per share, for a total cost of $1.67 billion.
Looking ahead to full-year 2019, the company expects adjusted diluted earnings per share between $4.15 and $4.27, a growth rate of 4% to 7% from 2018 despite a projected decline in the total domestic cigarette industry.
Disclosure:The author holds no position in any stocks mentioned.
