Piedmont Natural Gas (PNY) Reports Profit in First Fiscal Quarter
Piedmont Natural Gas reported net income of $113.7 million, or $1.55 per share, for its first fiscal quarter ending 1/31/2010. The company earned $80.9 million, or $1.10 per share, in the same quarter last year. Piedmont Natural Gas said that its net income for the quarter was artificially boosted by a one-time gain from the sale of a 15% ownership stake in SouthStar Energy Services. The company sold this stake for $57.5 million in early January 2010, and booked a $30.2 million, or $0.41 per share, gain on the sale. Piedmont Natural Gas still retains a 15% stake in SouthStar…