Earnings roundup: Valmont, Idenix Pharmaceuticals

Among the earnings stories for Wednesday, Feb. 18, from AP Financial News:

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) _ Diversified manufacturer Valmont Industries Inc. posted a 23 percent rise in fourth-quarter profit late Tuesday, beating Wall Street estimates as it credited strong demand for electric transmission line construction.

NEW YORK (AP) _ Shares of Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc. fell Wednesday after the biotechnology company reported a wider-than-expected fourth-quarter loss on lower revenue from partnerships.

SAN DIEGO (AP) _ Shares of Volcano Corp. jumped Wednesday after the medical device maker reported fourth-quarter profit above Wall Street expectations.

MALIBU, Calif. (AP) _ Toy maker Jakks Pacific Inc. said Wednesday fourth-quarter profit dropped 49 percent, hurt by a difficult holiday season and weak sales of Hannah Montana and Care Bears toys.

BALTIMORE (AP) _ Utility company Constellation Energy Group Inc. on Wednesday posted a fourth-quarter loss mainly on charges related to a canceled merger with Warren Buffett's MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. and its recent decision to sell half of its nuclear business to France's Electricite de France SA for $4.5 billion.

DALLAS (AP) _ ExpressJet Holdings Inc., which operates regional flights for Continental Airlines, said Wednesday its fourth-quarter loss narrowed slightly but revenue plummeted nearly two-thirds compared with a year earlier, when the company also operated flights for Delta.

PITTSBURGH (AP) _ Deere & Co.'s quarterly profit tumbled 45 percent as the global economic slowdown undermined demand for its mowers and construction machinery.

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) _ Medical diagnostic products company Inverness Medical Innovations Inc. said Wednesday it moved to a profit in the fourth quarter on a boost in sales and less severe charges.