Speaking at the firms annual meeting, Chairman and President George Roche projected an 80% spike in first-quarter earnings and said the company is well-positioned to weather market jitters brought on by fierce fighting in Iraq and the threat of another terrorist attack. He also told shareholders that revenue for the quarter increased roughly 40 percent
The Baltimore-based asset manager said it expects to post a net profit of 56 cents a share on revenue of $307 million, a penny shy of analysts expectations. That compares to a profit of 31 cents a share on net revenue of $219 million in the year-ago period. Wall Street analysts, on average, were projecting the company to earn 57 cents a share on revenue of $299 million, according to research firm Thomson First Call.
Roche also addressed the mutual fund trading scandal that has roiled the industry the past seven months. He condemned those who have engaged in abusive trading practices and pledged that T. Rowe Price has not entered into any agreements that authorize market timing by any of its customers.
Meanwhile, shareholders approved a reduction in the size of the firms board of directors from 15 members to 11. The reduction was designed to increase the number of independent directors, who now make up more than half the board. Dwight Taylor, president of commercial real estate developer