Business Briefing

Home Depot profit exceeds expectations

Home Depot Inc. reported a fourth-quarter profit that topped analysts’ estimates and raised its dividend for the first time since 2006.

Net income totaled $342 million, or 20 cents a share, compared with a loss of $54 million, or 3 cents, a year earlier, the Atlanta company said. Sales fell 0.3% to $14.57 billion.

Animation firm’s profit declines

DreamWorks Animation’s net income fell in the holiday quarter but a couple of TV specials, including “Merry Madagascar,” helped the company beat Wall Street forecasts.

Net income fell 16% to $43.6 million, or 50 cents per share, down from $51.6 million, or 58 cents, a year earlier. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of 37 cents per share.

Revenue fell 3% to $194 million -- much higher than the $177 million that analysts expected.

Drug company beats forecasts

Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc., the maker of generic drugs, beat analysts’ estimates for quarterly revenue and profit after making an acquisition and adding a heart medicine.

The Corona company reported adjusted profit of 85 cents a share in the fourth quarter, exceeding by 12 cents the average estimate of analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Revenue rose 22% to $785.7 million.

AVIATION

Lease firm seeks $750 million

American International Group Inc.’s plane unit is seeking a $750-million loan arranged by Bank of America Corp. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. in the subsidiary’s first debt issuance through capital markets since AIG’s 2008 bailout, said a person with knowledge of the matter.

The loan will be secured against International Lease Finance Corp.’s aircraft and related leases, the firm said.

AUTOMOBILES

GM completes sale of Saab

General Motors Co. reached a final agreement to sell Saab Automobile to Spyker Cars for cash and preferred shares.

Spyker Chief Executive Victor Muller signed the final accord in Stockholm.

-- times wire reports