Graco Q4 Profit Rises

Graco Inc. (GGG) Wednesday reported fourth-quarter net income of $114.7 million or $0.66 per share, up 35% from $84.8 million or $0.49 per share last year.

Adjusted earnings improved to $0.61 per share from $0.48 per share last year.

Sales for the quarter grew 14% to $470.3 million from $412.3 million last year.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters estimated earnings of $0.51 per share on revenues of $426.52 million.

Dem congresswoman wrongly claims to be only single mother of young kids in Congress

Rep. Katie Porter on lawmakers ramping up aid to help fight coronavirus

California congresswoman Katie Porter joins ‘America’s News HQ.’

Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., got called out on Monday after her office incorrrectly claimed she was the only single mother serving in Congress.

The communications director for Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., who is also a single mom, flagged the claim in what appeared to be a fundraising email.

“I am the only single working mother of young kids serving in Congress,” the email read. “I understand what it’s like to have a million meetings in one day (that I’m probably already late for) while also balancing childcare, school schedules, going to the grocery store, and so much more.”

Mace’s communications director, Natalie Johnson, tweeted a screenshot of the email. “Fact check: 100% false,” Johnson said. She signed the tweet as “the employee of another single working mother of young kids serving in Congress.”

Porter’s office did not immediately respond to Fox News’ request for comment.

Crane Co. Turns To Profit In Q4

Crane Co. (CR) reported that its fourth-quarter net income attributable to common shareholders was $46.8 million or $0.80 per share compared to a loss of $112.6 million or $1.89 per share in the previous year. The prior year net loss included an after-tax net asbestos provision of $181 million or $3.04 per share.

Excluding Special Items, quarterly earnings per share was $1.00, compared to $1.58 in 2019. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $1.10 per share for the fourth-quarter. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

Quarterly sales were $726.4 million, a decline of 13% from last year. The sales decline was comprised of a $178 million, or 21%, decline in core sales, partially offset by a $55 million, or 7%, benefit from acquisitions and $12 million, or 1%, of favorable foreign exchange. The core sales decline was attributable to COVID-19 related macroeconomic factors. Wall Street analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $737.92 million.

Crane Co. announced its regular quarterly dividend of $0.43 per share for the first quarter of 2021. The dividend is payable on March 10, 2021 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 26, 2021.

Looking ahead for full year 2021, the company expects GAAP earnings per share to be in a range of $4.85-$5.05; earnings per share, excluding special items, of $4.90-$5.10. It projects sales to be about $3.05 billion, reflecting core sales growth of about 2%, favorable foreign exchange of 1.5% and a nominal acquisition benefit.

Mainland China reports 82 new Covid-19 cases, down from 124 a day earlier

BEIJING (REUTERS) – Mainland China reported 82 new Covid-19 cases for Jan 25, down from 124 cases a day earlier, the country’s national health authority said on Tuesday (Jan 26).

The National Health Commission said in a statement that 69 of the new cases were local infections. The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, rose to 57 from 45 cases a day earlier.

The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in mainland China now stands at 89,197. The death toll rose by one to 4,636.

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J & J Snack Foods Q1 Profit Drops

J & J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF) reported that its net earnings for the first quarter ended December 26, 2020 dropped to $1.8 million or $0.09 per share from $17.1 million or $0.89 per share last year.

Operating income decreased 97% to $578 thousand in the quarter from $21.7 million last year. Operating income was impacted by approximately $730 thousand of COVID-19 related costs. The latest-quarter benefited from a $420,000 tax benefit related to share based compensation contributing to an effective tax rate of 8%.

Sales decreased 15% to $241 million from $282.9 million in last year’s first quarter.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $0.20 per share and revenues of $228.45 million for the first-quarter. Analysts’ estimates typically exclude special items.

The company continues to be optimistic and remain confident that it is well positioned for future growth.

JJSF closed Monday regular trading at $156.89 up $3.80 or 2.48 percent. But, in the after-hours trading stock down $14.89 or 9.49 percent.

Rep. Liz Cheney’s Office Slams Rep. Matt Gaetz — For Wearing Makeup, Of All Things

It turns out Wyoming GOP Rep. Liz Cheney’s office is still very fundamentally Republican after one of her aides ripped enemy Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) on Monday for wearing makeup.

“In Wyoming, men don’t wear makeup,” an unnamed Cheney spokesperson told The Washington Examiner on Sunday. Gaetz should “leave his beauty bag at home,” the aide added.

The aide was apparently referencing Gaetz’s comment in the recent HBO documentary “The Swamp” that he does his own makeup when he appears on television for interviews. (People who do studio interviews typically wear makeup.)

Gaetz — who is perhaps better known for trying to overturn the election results and baselessly claiming the Capitol insurrection was the work of antifa — has pushed to expel Cheney from the House after she and a handful of other Republicans voted to impeach President Donald Trump.

The Florida Republican is traveling to Wyoming on Thursday to rev up Trump supporters against his colleague.

Of all the issues Gaetz could be slammed for, his use of makeup was a surprising choice. The dig from Cheney’s aide triggered complaints on Twitter that it was remarkably insensitive to the LGBTQ community — and clueless about many Wyoming voters. As one Twitter critic cracked: “Have you been to Jackson Hole?” 

Others pointed out that there were better reasons to take issue with Gaetz.

Cheney hasn’t commented on her aide’s controversial attack on Gaetz.