Broadridge Tops Forecasts

Article Excerpt

BROADRIDGE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS $22.29 (New York symbol BR: SI Rating: Extra risk) (201-714 3000; www.broadridge.com; Shares outstanding: 140.1 million; Market cap: $3.1 billion) continues to rise in price after reporting earnings per share excluding one-time items of $0.26 in the quarter ended March 31. Although that was down 13.3% from $0.30 a share a year earlier, it beat consensus expectations of $0.24 a share. The company also raised its 2008 earnings per share guidance, excluding one-time items, to $1.35 to $1.45, from $1.30 to $1.40. The stock now trades at 15.9 times the midpoint of the new forecast. Revenues rose 1.1%, to $505 million from $499.4 million a year earlier. Broadridge offers services to the investment industry in three main areas: investor communications; securities processing; and transaction clearing. Broadridge mails and processes 70% of all proxy votes. The company stands to gain from the increasing complexity of securities regulations and increasing levels of share ownership. Broadridge is still a buy. buy…