
HII [HII] on Thursday posted first quarter declines in its top and bottom-lines driven by lower sales across the company’s operating segments, and higher interest expense and taxes. Net income fell nearly 3 percent to $149 million, $3.79 earnings per share (EPS), from $153 million $3.87 EPS) a year ago. The results handily topped consensus estimates of $2.88 EPS. Higher interest expense and taxes more than offset higher operating income, which was up on work at the Mission Technologies and…