Williams Cos. (WMB) recently announced an increase in its fourth-quarter earnings compared to the same period in the previous year, surpassing the Wall Street forecasts. The reported net income was at $1.146 billion, translating to $0.94 per share, demonstrating a significant increase from the $668 million, or $0.55 per share, recorded in last year's fourth quarter.
When discounting specific exceptional items, the company's adjusted earnings stood at $588 million or $0.48 per share for the stipulated period. Analysts had predicted an average earning of $0.46 per share, as per the Thomson Reuters compiled data, which generally excludes unusual or non-recurring items.
To put it in perspective, the company's earnings, following the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), reflect:
- Earnings for Q4 stood at $1.146 billion, considerably up from $668 million last year.
- Earnings per share for Q4 tallied up to $0.94, a significant increase over last year's $0.55.
- The analysts' estimate was significantly lower at $0.46.
