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Cummins shares slide on job cuts, lower forecast

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Shares in Cummins Inc. fell to the lowest level in three months Wednesday after the Columbus-based engine maker lowered its forecasts for revenue and profit and said it expects to cut as many as 1,500 jobs by the end of the year.

Its stock was trading at about $88 at noon, down almost 3 percent from Tuesday's $90.84 close. Earlier, they dropped to $86.50, the biggest intraday decline since July 10. The shares had gained 3.2 percent this year through Tuesday.

Cummins on Tuesday cut its forecast for full-year revenue to about $17 billion from $18 billion and reduced expectations for earnings before interest and taxes to about 13.5 percent from a range of 14.25 percent to 14.75 percent. That doesn’t include the cost or benefits of the job cuts.

“In my view this is worse than feared,” said Kristine Kubacki, a St. Louis-based analyst at Avondale Partners LLC. “My sense is the Street thought there would be a guide down, but this is sizable.”

Cummins, which has about 8,000 employees in Indiana, produces engines for trucks and power-generation equipment. The company had second-quarter earnings of $2.45 a share, excluding gains from divestitures. That exceeded the average of 18 estimates compiled by Bloomberg of $2.27.

“We continued to see weak economic data in a number of regions during the third quarter, increasing the level of uncertainty regarding the direction of the global economy,” Chief Executive Officer Tom Linebarger said in a statement. “As a result of the heightened uncertainty, end customers are delaying capital expenditures in a number of markets, lowering demand for our products.”

Class 8 truck orders fell 35 percent in North America last month to 15,205, according to FTR Associates.

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  • Touche
    But its kind of hard for the working poor and most middle class families to do that these days. Some of us have health problems, had to pay for college ourselves and pay a tax rate higher than 14%.
  • @HOOSIERLIB
    Maybe this be a good "teaching moment" for Democrats. Always prepare for the worst. Keep at least 6 months of income in a liquid savings account, save save save, because it's your own responsibility to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
    • Safety Net
      Hopefully, this doesn't ruin anyone's life or hurt's their family. That being said, this will provide a good "teaching moment" for Republicans, perhaps they will understand the need for a good social safety net and that executives care more about their bonuses, than they do about the lives employees. Unfortunately, their nominees for governor and President reflect the latter philosophy. People before profits!

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      1. Saw the Indy Men's Chorus "Music of Gilbert & Sullivan" at the Indiana Historical Society on Sunday evening.

      2. Temporary workers are not "tools" they are people and companies that keep large amounts of temp staff are cheating.

      3. I miss having them around. I hope one of their stores is in the general Meridian/86th Street area. I will make good use of it.

      4. The Fringe! Plus, the simple fact that there are so many local faves in such close proximity to each other.

      5. I remenber, watching the toll road, being built, through South Bend, when I was 10 years old. I believe, back then that it was estimated, that the toll road, would be paid for in 20 years and then it would be free. I am now 71, what happened? Since the power is in the people, by that, I mean that, we the people are in total control of everything. I, suggest that no one ever use the toll road again, let it go broke. We the people can control the price of everything, from groceries to gas, if we would just do it. If we don't pay the asking price, the sellers will lower the price and if we wait awhile, they will lower the price to what we accept as reasonable. I would like to know why a highway like interstate 94, is so well maintained, a much better highway, than the toll road, but has no tolls. I would also like to know why, a sitting governor, with a term limit, maximum of eight years, can lease, public property, for 75 years. Even though I have transponders in both of my trucks and will not be affected by the increase, I have been and will contine to avoid using the toll road. I make many trips from northern Indiana to Chicago, every year, and I prefer the better highway, I94!

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