3 Stocks Active Among Investors After Earnings

James River Coal Company (NASDAQ:JRCC) swung to a loss in the fourth quarter, missing analysts’ forecast. Reported a loss of $28.5 million (82 cents per diluted share) in the quarter. The industrial metals and minerals company had net income of $25.9 million or 93 cents per share in the year-earlier quarter. James River Coal Company fell short of the mean analyst estimate of 4 cents per share.

eter T. Socha, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “2011 was a year of transformation for James River Coal Company. We continued the process to grow and diversify our company. We expanded our presence in both the metallurgical coal segment and the international coal markets. In the operations area, we achieved industry-leading performance in both safety and regulatory compliance. In the financial area, we strengthened our balance sheet by refinancing all of our funded debt and substantially improving our liquidity position. While we are cautious and realistic about the current soft market conditions, we are also optimistic that James River will be well positioned for improving markets in the future.”

Competitors to Watch: Alliance Holdings GP, L.P. (NASDAQ:AHGP), Intl. Coal Group, Inc. (NYSE:ICO), Peabody Energy Corporation (NYSE:BTU), Natural Resource Partners LP (NYSE:NRP), Arch Coal, Inc. (NYSE:ACI), Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ:ARLP), Patriot Coal Corporation (NYSE:PCX), CONSOL Energy Inc. (NYSE:CNX), and Walter Energy, Inc. (NYSE:WLT).

Petroleum Development Corporation’s (NASDAQ:PETD) fourth quarter loss narrowed due mainly to positive revenue growth. Loss narrowed to $8.4 million (loss of 35 cents per diluted share) from $18.1 million (loss of 86 cents per share) in the same quarter a year earlier. Revenue rose 79% to $99.41 billion from the year-earlier quarter. Petroleum Development Corporation reported an adjusted net loss of 25 cents per share. By that measure, the company fell short of mean estimate of 19 cents per share. It beat the average revenue estimate of $117.1 million.

James Trimble, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “PDC turned in a very solid performance in 2011. We exceeded our production guidance and delivered cash flow at the high end of our guidance range. Additionally, we successfully de-risked our horizontal Niobrara position in the core Wattenberg Field and increased our liquid-rich mix of proved reserves to 34%. We reached an agreement for the 2012 divestiture of our Permian assets for a premium valuation. The proceeds from this divestiture will contribute to the funding of our 2012 capital expenditures and enable us to maintain our balance sheet and liquidity strength. Additionally in 2012, we will be focused on accelerating our liquid-rich horizontal Niobrara development program, and de-risking our Utica Shale acreage while pursuing a JV partner.”

Competitors to Watch: Pinnacle Gas Resources, Inc. (PINN), Questar Corporation (NYSE:STR), BreitBurn Energy Partners L.P. (NASDAQ:BBEP), Legacy Reserves LP (NASDAQ:LGCY), PostRock Energy Corp. (NASDAQ:PSTR), Marathon Oil Corporation (NYSE:MRO), Hess Corp. (NYSE:HES), Pioneer Southwest Energy Partners L.P. (NYSE:PSE), and NGAS Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:NGAS).

Weingarten Realty Investors (NYSE:WRI) reported its results for the fourth quarter. The company’s funds from operations (FFO) rose 11.6% from the year-earlier quarter to 48 cents. FFO, a measure of performance of a real estate investment trust (REIT), removes the profit-reducing effect that depreciation has on earnings. It came in ahead of the consensus estimate of 46 cents per share.

“Our ability to execute our disposition plan has allowed us to prune certain lower-tier assets and recycle that capital into higher quality investments in our target markets, further elevating the quality of the Company’s already outstanding portfolio. We are especially pleased with the closing of Hilltop Village Shopping Center as our entry into the dynamic D.C. market,” said Drew Alexander, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Competitors to Watch: One Liberty Properties, Inc. (NYSE:OLP), Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. (NYSE:UBA), General Growth Properties, Inc (NYSE:GGP), Inland Real Estate Corp. (NYSE:IRC), The Macerich Company (NYSE:MAC), Cedar Shopping Centers Inc (NYSE:CDR), Alexander’s, Inc. (NYSE:ALX), Roberts Realty Investors, Inc. (AMEX:RPI), Entertainment Properties Trust (NYSE:EPR), and Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust (NYSE:RPT).

To contact the reporter on this story: Derek Hoffman at staff.writers@wallstcheatsheet.com

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Damien Hoffman at editors@wallstcheatsheet.com