Legg Mason announced that its board had approved a three-for-two stock split, payable Sept. 24 to shareholders of record as of Sept. 8. The move came a day after the company reported quarterly earnings that missed analysts expectations. The Baltimore financial services company on Monday reported a 48% profit increase for its fiscal first quarter ended June 30, attributing the earnings hike to an increase in investment advisory fees. Legg Mason said it had net income of $86.4 million, or $1.14 a share 9 cents less than the average of analysts estimates in the quarter ended June 30, compared with $58.4 million, or 83 cents a share, a year earlier. The companys board also approved a 50% increase in its quarterly dividend, to 15 cents a share, on a split-adjusted basis. The dividend is payable Oct. 25 to shareholders of record as of Oct. 7. |
Legg to Split Stock After Profit Increase
July 22, 2004, 1:00 a.m. EDT 1 Min Read