BUZZ-Pitney Bowes leaps on early paydown of Oaktree notes, upbeat earnings signal

** Shares of Pitney Bowes PBI.N leap 12.4% to $8.23, a nearly two-month high, on Thurs after co announced early paydown of notes issued to Oaktree Capital, and expects to top full-yr earnings guidance

** PBI shares tracking biggest one-day pct advance since Jul 1, 2024, when co boosted cost-savings target amid activist shareholder pressure

** Stamford, Connecticutt-based shipping and mailing firm said early Thurs it is paying off remaining balance of $97 mln in 2028 notes issued to Oaktree in Jul 2023

** Repayment being funded by cash as part of efforts to deleverage balance sheet, co said

** Also, it expects to report 2024 rev within prior forecast range and beat adj EBIT guidance, which it raised to $355-$360 mln in Nov

** Anticipated EBIT beat driven by better-than-expected business performance and non-essential cost cuts "that had been conservatively forecasted to materialize in fiscal year 2025," co said in statement

** PBI slated to release financial results on Feb 11, after the bell

** With move on the session, PBI shares have gained about 90% over the past 12 months