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VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (AP) -- AmerisourceBergen Corp., one the nation's largest drug distributors, said Tuesday it plans to reaffirm its fiscal first-quarter and 2008 guidance at its investor meeting in New York. AmerisourceBergen said it still expects first-quarter earnings per share similar to prior-year earnings of 62 cents per share, excluding the impact of special items and the contribution from PharMerica Long-Term Care, a business spun off July 31. Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial, on average, estimate first-quarter earnings of 64 cents per share. The company expects earnings per share for 2008 to be in the range of $2.77 to $2.95. Analysts are looking for earnings of $2.87 per share. AmerisourceBergen sees operating revenue growth between 5 and 7 percent. In the first quarter, however, operating revenue growth is expected to be below that range, due to lower sales of anemia drugs and the loss of a large retail customer in January. The company also said its large specialty customer was bought by a competitor. Shares of AmerisourceBergen fell 78 cents to $45.02 in afternoon trading.
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