BHP Billiton, Anglo-Australian resources group, reported record full-year net profit of US$6.398 billion, up 89.3 %t from US$3.379 billion a year ago on strong demand from China and high prices for its raw materials.

With total operating earnings of $9.3 billion led by 148% jump in operating earnings in Carbon steel segment to $2.82 billion, base metal segment saw jump of 88% to $2.2 billion and 32% jump in operating earnings in petroleum segment of $1.83 billion.

The company spent $3.8 billion in 2005 compared to $2.6 billion a year ago and raised exploration budget to $533 million from $454 million a year ago.

The company raised its dividend for the full year to 28 cents an increase of 7.7%. The company said that it has three priorities in the following order. First, using the capital for acquisition and exploration, second preserving the balancing sheet leverage between 35% and 40% and third returning capital to shareholders.

The company forecasted the petroleum production will be between 125 million and 135 million in the financial year 2006. In the third quarter the Atlantis project in Gulf of Mexico will come alive and production will increase in ‘significant step up’ manner.

EARNINGS NEWS

John. B. Sanfilippo & Son Inc. (JBSS: chart), nut marketer and distributor, posted 4Q net income of 32 cents a share, unchanged from the same quarter a year ago. Net income for the 12 months ended June 30 declined to $14.5 million vs. $22.6 million. 4Q sales advanced to $144.1 million, and 2005 sales climbed to $581.7 million.

Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. (CNSL: chart) swung to a 2Q net income of $2.7 million vs. a loss of $4.1 million last year. Revenue for the period increased to $78.3 million vs. $72.5 million a year earlier.

Longview Fibre Co. (LFB: chart), paper and container manufacturer, said 3Q profit slid to 11 cents a share vs. 15 cents a share last year, disappointing estimates of 16 cents. Sales rose 2% to $224.9 million.

Regis, hair care producer, reported 4Q net income of 64 cents per share, up vs. 58 cents per share for the same time last year on 17% consolidated revenue growth and a 0.9 % rise in same-store sales.

Telekom Austria, telecommunications provider, reported 2Q earnings of 39 eurocents, compared with 21 eurocents in the comparable period last year on revenue growth in the wireless business segment, mainly due to foreign operations, higher subscribers and strong data business.

Genesco, specialty retailer, announced 2Q earnings increased to 27 cents a share vs. 20 cents a share for the year-ago period on strong sales, beating market expectations of 22 cents per share

Bombardier, aerospace company, posted 2Q earnings of 6 cents a share, up from a the same period last year’s profit of 5 cents per share despite revenue decline. Excluding items, the company earned 2 cents a share in July.

American Woodmark, kitchen cabinet maker and distributor, announced that 1Q profit went down to 45 cents a share, from 58 cents a year earlier, beating analysts forecasts of earnings within the range of 30 to 40 cents a share.

PetroChina announced its first-half net profit increased 36% and revenue went up 42% to 252.5 billion yuan from 178.4 billion yuan in the first half of last year. The said the earnings rise was due to ‘continued high crude-oil prices"". PetroChina has recently reached an agreement to buy a major oil producer in Kazakhstan.

Dollar Tree Stores, discount retailer, reported that 2Q profit was down to 25 cents a share from 26 cents a year earlier despite sales increase, matching analyst estimate. Same-store sales decreased 1.5%.

Brown-Forman, liquor company, posted 1Q earnings of 33 cents per share, down from or 42 cents per share, in the year-ago period despite sales growth on a heavy loss from the sale of its former Lenox Inc. china and crystal business.