Rogers raises prediction of 2005 earnings

By Liz White, UT staffRogers, Connecticut-Speciality materials producer Rogers Corp. has anounced that it now projects net sales for the fourth quarter 2005 (ending 1 Jan 2006) of about $97 million, compared to its earlier (19 Oct) guidance of $85 to $88 million. Earnings are projected to be $0.52 to $0.54 per diluted share versus previous guidance of $0.40 to $0.44 per diluted share, the group said in a 9 Jan statement. "This increased guidance results from our ability to capitalize on our strong market position, which led to an acceleration of sales during the fourth quarter," commented Robert Wachob, president and ceo, in the Rogers statement. "The High Performance Foams business sales continued at near record levels, driven by the Poron urethane foams product line," Wachob commented, adding that the Printed Circuits business also had strong sales, while he expects the group's Polymer Materials and Components to show the greatest quarterly improvement. Wachob explained that this is due to the success of the DFLX flexible keypad lamp for cell phones. Rogers expects to report fourth quarter and full year results in February, and will provide guidance for the first quarter 2006, at that time.Rogers Corp., makes high-performance specialty materials for diverse markets including: portable communication devices, communication infrastructure, consumer products, computer and office equipment, ground transportation, and aerospace and defense. The group has plants at its Connecticut headquarters, as well as in Arizona, and Illinois in the US, in Gent, Belgium, in Suzhou, China, and in Hwasung City, Korea. The picture shows some Rogers microcellular Poron-brand polyurethane foams for industrial uses. "