Nasdaq Triples Earnings On One-Time Charge; EPS In-Line

Nasdaq Stock Market Inc. announced it tripled 4Q earnings, a result of both high trading volume and a one-time gain. By the numbers, profit rose to $63 million, good for EPS pf $0.43, versus profit of just $17.1 million, or 15 cents per share, a year earlier. Revenue also rose handsomely to $447.3 million, up from $259.5 million in the year earlier period. Excluding the one-time gain, involving an options hedge related to the company's unsuccessful LSE bid, EPS was $0.24. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial were expecting EPS of $0.24 on revenue of $424.8 million. Yesterday shares fell $2.10, or 5.7%, to close at $35.10, on news LSE shareholders had rejected Nasdaq's hostile takeover bid.

• Sources: Press Release, Reuters, AP, Forbes
• Commentary: A Look At Stock Exchange Stocks • Treading Carefully In Exchange Stocks • Nasdaq and LSE Embroiled in Shouting Match
• Stocks and ETFs to watch: NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc. (NDAQ). Competitors: NYSE Group (NYX)

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