Investing.com -- Shares in AAR Corp (NYSE:AIR) plunged by more than 10% in after-hours trading in spite of steady fourth quarter results, as investors placed a greater focus on the aviation service company's downbeat forward guidance on Tuesday evening.
During AAR Corp.'s fourth quarter of Fiscal Year 2016, the Illinois-based Aerospace & Defense company finished with revenues of $458.2 million, up by more than 10% from the same period a year ago. At the same time, AAR Corp. reported net profit of $12 million or 0.34 per share, down from $15.1 million or 0.36 per share over the fourth quarter of 2015. It came as earnings from continuing operations rose to 0.32 per share, from per share losses of 2.12 a year earlier, which stemmed from the costs related to the company's restructuring plan.
Analysts expected to see fourth quarter revenue of $452.4 million on earnings per share from continuing operations of 0.47.
"Fourth quarter performance was in line with our expectations as the Company benefitted from recent investments and strong execution," said David P. Storch, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of AAR Corp. "In Aviation Services, fourth quarter sales grew 11.2% from last year to $400.4 million due to strength across the segment, while in Expeditionary Services, sales grew 4.0% to $57.8 million, which included the successful launch of our Falkland Islands search and rescue program.
Within the report, AAR Corp. said its aviation services' net profit rose to $63.1 million, amid increased gross margin profit of 15.8%. In addition, the company finished with operating cash flow of $46 million, nearly four times its net profit of $12 million.
Moving forward, AAR Corp. expects full-year earnings per share in 2017 between 1.30 and 1.40 on revenue between $1.7 and $1.8 billion. Analysts expect earnings per share of 1.97 on sales of $1.78 billion.
Shares in AAR Corp. slid 2.59 or 10.34% to 22.45 in after-hours trading.