Sherwin-Williams sees rosy figures

Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams Co., the largest U.S. paint maker, will have fourth-quarter earnings of about 34 cents to 40 cents a share, as sales to homeowners increase.

The company hasn't changed its October forecast for the year of $2 to $2.06 a share, excluding the cost for amortizing goodwill, said John Ault, company controller.

Sherwin-Williams expects revenue to rise 2.4 percent to 2.8 percent this year from $5.07 billion in 2001, helped by sales of house paints and stains to do-it-yourself homebuyers and contractors.

RxMadeSimple teams with RACO

RxMadeSimple, Over-the-Rhine supplier of a Web-based system for physicians to prescribe medications, has teamed up with a RACO Wireless, Blue Ash-based T-Mobile wireless telephone provider.

RACO Wireless is a national dealer for T-Mobile and a division of software firm RACO Industries Inc. Financial terms weren't disclosed.

"T-Mobile's recent launch of their GPRS (General Pocket Radio Service) network, in conjunction with the introduction of the PocketPC Phone, broadly expands the reach of our application," said Rohit Nayak, CEO and co-founder of RxMadeSimple.

American reports surge in earnings

Cleveland-based American Greetings Corp., the nation's largest publicly held maker of greeting cards, this week reported sharply improved earnings over a 2001 third quarter marked by a major restructuring.

The company earned $46.9 million, or 62 cents a share, on sales of $589 million for the three months that ended Nov. 30, up from third-quarter 2001 earnings of $6.6 million, or 10 cents a share, on sales of $576 million.

- Staff and wire reports