Financial information publisher Dun & Bradstreet Corp. (DNB) said Thursday that its fourth quarter profit declined 16% over last year, hurt by the weak performance of its North American segment. Further, the company's board has raised the its quarterly cash dividend by 1 cent.
The Short Hills, New Jersey-based company posted net income attributable to common shareholders of $84.4 million or $1.61 per share for the fourth quarter, down from $100.1 million or $1.85 per share in the prior year quarter.
Before non-core gains and charges, net income attributable to common shareholders dropped to $92.0 million or $1.75 per share from $102.8 million or $1.87 per share in the year-ago quarter. On average, 6 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected the company to report earnings of $1.75 per share for the fourth quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items.
Total revenue for the quarter fell 2% to $463.7 million from $474.7 million in the same quarter last year. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, total revenue dropped 3%. Four analysts had a consensus revenue estimate of $459.01 million for the fourth quarter.
Fourth quarter core revenue remained flat at $463.7 million. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, core revenue fell by 1%.
D&B noted that it has reclassified revenue associated with the domestic portion of its Italian operations as non-core as of the second quarter. Total revenue for the fourth quarter of 2008 included $12.0 million of revenue associated with the domestic portion of Italian operations, with no revenue from those operations in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Revenue from North America, after the effect of foreign exchange, slipped 6% to $357.4 million, while International revenue grew 28% to $106.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2009.
Before the effects of foreign exchange, North American and international revenues dropped 6% and increased 26%, respectively.
Operating income slipped 15% to $147.2 million from the prior year quarter. Before non-core gains and charges, operating income fell 10% to $157.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2009.
Further, D&B said that its board has raised its quarterly cash dividend by 1 cent to $0.35 per share. This quarterly cash dividend is payable on March 18, to shareholders of record at the close of business on March 3.
For fiscal year 2009, D&B reported net income attributable to common shareholders of $319.4 million or $5.99 per share, compared to $310.6 million or $5.58 per share in the previous year.
Before non-core gains and charges, net income fell to $288.7 million or $5.42 per share from $292.5 million or $5.25 per share a year earlier.
Annual revenue decreased 2% to $1.69 billion from $1.73 billion in the prior year. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange, total revenue fell 1% for the year.
Core revenue dropped 1% to $1.67 billion from $1.68 billion in the year-ago.
Analysts expected the company to report earnings of $5.42 per share on revenue of $1.68 billion for the year.
For the full year 2010, D&B anticipates earnings per share growth, before non-core gains and charges, in the range of 1% to 6%, and core revenue growth of 1% to 3%, before the effect of foreign exchange. The Street estimates earnings of $5.82 per share on revenue of $1.73 billion for the year 2010.
Among others in the industry, Equifax Inc. (EFX) reported a drop in fourth quarter profit, hurt by charges related to headcount reductions, notwithstanding increases in quarterly revenues on favorable foreign exchange rates.
D&B closed Thursday's regular trading session at $77.74, down $1.21 or 1.53%. In the after-hours, the shares further lost 74 cents.
For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com
June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.