Aegerion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AEGR) Curbs Losses in Quarter

Aegerion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ:AEGR) is lower after it reported a Q4 loss that was smaller than analysts had expected and set a FY14 sales guidance that straddled estimates.

Shares are down 11.48% at $58.73 with a 52-week range of $28.33 – $101.00.

In the quarter, the biopharmaceutical company had a non-GAAP loss of $0.14 per share, down from a loss of $0.71 the year earlier and compared to the $0.32 average loss expected by analysts polled by Capital IQ. Sales in the quarter were $24.5 million. No sales were recorded the same quarter a year ago and there was no analyst estimate available for comparison. The GAAP loss in the quarter nearly halved to $0.47 from $0.86 per share.

In the full year, Aegerion said it had sales of $48.5 million, just shy of the $48.7 million analyst estimate. For FY2014, the company expects sales between $190 million and $210 million, straddling the $203 million consensus. Aegerion also expects becoming cash-flow positive in the second half of this year.

In Other Watchlist News

Parker Drilling Company (NYSE:PKD) is weaker Wednesday after the company reported financial results for Q4 that fell short of analysts’ expectations.

Shares are down 3.3% at $7.93 near midday, within a 52-week range of $3.75 – $8.67.

The provider of contract drilling reported Q4 earnings of $0.10 per share, excluding non-recurring items, compared with the prior-year period’s $0.17 loss per share. Revenue was $243.3 million, up 54.8% from $2157.17 million in the same quarter last year.

Analysts polled by Capital IQ were expecting EPS of $0.11 on revenues of $243.5 million.

Gary Rich, president and chief executive officer, said, “We are encouraged by industry forecasts calling for expanded drilling activity in the U.S. and international markets, and we believe the projected growth, if realized, should benefit us broadly. However, we expect a sequential decline in first quarter results due to continuing competitive conditions in the U.S. land drilling market, reduced demand in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico barge drilling market, and higher rig start-up costs and lower realized dayrates in certain international drilling markets.”

He does expect improvements during the remainder of the year, as the U.S. land drilling market strengthens, activity in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico barge drilling market increases, and the company’s international drilling operations work through rig start-up and standby conditions.