Commerce Bancorp Reports Federal ProbeAssociated Press 01.16.07, 3:39 PM ET
The parent of Commerce Bank said Tuesday its officials are under federal investigation, sending its shares down nearly 9 percent despite improved earnings in the fourth quarter.
Commerce Bancorp Inc. (nyse: CBH - news - people ) said the investigation by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency and the Federal Reserve's board of governors "will include but not be limited to transactions with its officers, directors and related parties, including transactions involving bank premises," according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"Commerce is fully cooperating with the OCC and the Federal Reserve with respect to the investigation," the filing said.
A spokesman for the Cherry Hill-based bank, David Flaherty, said a committee consisting only of independent members of the board "has been formed to oversee the company's activities regarding the investigation." He declined to comment beyond the three-sentence notice, which came within the announcement of its quarterly financial results.
The company said fourth-quarter profit climbed 68 percent on deposit and loan growth. Its earnings increased to $78.7 million, or 40 cents per share, compared with $46.9 million, or 26 cents per share, in the year-ago period. The results were in line with the expectations of analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial.
Last year's results included nonrecurring charges of $19.3 million.
Net interest income, which includes the bank's loans and deposits business, increased 9 percent to $325.7 million versus $298.8 million in the previous year. Loans grew 23 percent to $15.5 billion.
Total noninterest income - or what a bank earns from fees and charges - gained 32 percent to $163.9 million compared with $124.2 million last year on increased deposit charges and service fees, which were up 32 percent during 2006. Noninterest expenses increased 13 percent to $363.2 million.
The company's full-year net income rose 11 percent to $315.1 million, or $1.63 per share, from $282.9 million, or $1.61 per share, during the same period last year.
Shares of Commerce fell $3.05, or 8.8 percent, to $31.67 in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has been trading in a 52-week range between $31.20 and $41.20.
Bottlers Seen Pressured In '07
Joshua Lipton, 01.16.07, 12:03 PM ET
Fundamental challenges will temper profit growth of bottlers in 2007, according to one equity analyst, who advised her clients to shed the shares of three companies.
Goldman Sachs analyst Judy Hong told her clients to avoid bottlers during the fourth quarter 2006 earnings season. Hong noted that she expects management’s tone to be conservative overall as companies report 2007 financial guidance.
Two major hurdles will temper growth, said Hong. First, raw material cost inflation could result in margin pressure, with the most acute impact likely on the bottling stocks. Second, she argued, she expects relatively tepid ongoing volume outlooks for core segments like carbonated soft drinks and traditional domestic beer. As traders review those fundamental challenges, Hong pointed out, bottling stocks could trade down.
Looking ahead, the analyst also believes that consensus is too optimistic about 2007 for two reasons. First, Hong argued, Coca-Cola (nyse: KO - news - people ) and Cott Corp. (nyse: COT - news - people ) are likely to talk about 8% -10% cost inflation due to their exposure to a 20% increase in the cost of aluminum cans. Also, Hong expects to see softer volume outlook for Coca-Cola, PepsiAmericas, and Cott Corp., as each of those companies has less exposure to growing noncarb segments than Pepsi Bottling Group (nyse: PBG - news - people ).
“We see downside risk for the bottling stocks generally as companies could issue 2007 guidance that is more conservative than market expectations,” Hong wrote.
She told her clients to sell shares of Cott Corp., Coca-Cola, and PepsiAmericas (nyse: PAS - news - people ).
On Tuesday, shares of Cott increased 1.1%, or 16 cents, to $14.31. Shares of Coca-Cola nudged down 0.1%, or 2 cents, to $21. PepsiAmericas slipped 0.4%, or 9 cents, to $21.55.
Strong Earnings For GM?
R.M. Schneiderman, 01.16.07, 12:05 PM ET
Ailing auto giant General Motors should see solid earnings over the next two quarters, according to a Monday report by Goldman Sachs.
"GM's outlook and strategy update at the Detroit auto show on Jan. 11 reinforced our expectation for positive earnings momentum in the fourth quarter of 2006 and the first quarter of 2007," said Robert Barry, an analyst for the research company.
The reason: cost savings from job and benefit cuts, as well as stronger than expected SUV pricing and sales.
"Anecdotally, GM management seems to have more spring in its step--no doubt in anticipation of what is set to be its strongest lineup in years," said the analyst.
He added that the company's planned fleet sales cuts should also weigh positively on earnings.
Nonetheless, he cautioned that GM (nyse: GM - news - people ) still faces long-term problems and that foreign competition may continue to eat away at its market share.
"We do not think GM's current product cadence, strength and related benefits will drive a sustainable 'turnaround,'" said Barry.
He has a "neutral" rating on the company.
GM shares edged up 15 cents to $30.90. It is set to report earnings on Jan. 30.
mfg J.B.
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Call oder Put?? Tja, so ist das Leben, manche wissen es und viele nicht!!