Filed under: Earnings

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Wal-Mart profit up despite sales decline

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported a 9.3 percent increase in third-quarter net income as the world’s largest retailer benefited from cost controls and a robust international business. The company also raised its full-year profit outlook.

The improvements come despite weakness at its U.S. business. Total revenue at U.S. Walmart stores fell as fewer customers visited and spent less when they did. Revenue at stores open at least a year also fell, for the sixth quarter in a row, underscoring the challenges of its U.S. business as many customers struggle economically.

Lifeway Foods says net income down in 3Q

Lifeway Foods Inc. reported Monday that its net income fell in the third quarter as the food maker’s costs rose. Get the full story »

Illinois Tool Works affirms full-year outlook‎

Illinois Tool Works Inc. said on Monday its operating revenue rose in the previous three months and stood by its forecasts for fourth-quarter and full-year earnings. Get the full story »

Postal Service reports $8.5B loss for fiscal 2010

The U.S. Postal Service reported a net loss of $8.5 billion during the previous fiscal year as falling mail volumes continued to outpace operating cost savings.

The Postal Service has been trying to reform its business practices after the recent economic downturn, increased use of e-mail and competition from FedEx, United Parcel Service and other delivery services have hurt volumes. Get the full story »

Discounting lifts Penney in 3Q, raises questions

Discounting boosted quarterly sales at J.C. Penney Co.’s department stores but ate into margins, raising concerns about the company’s approach to win market share from rivals.

The retailer is under pressure to show it can grow after activist investor William Ackman took a 16.5 percent stake last month and said he would discuss how to improve the company’s performance. Penney adopted an anti-takeover “poison pill” soon after. Get the full story »

Kohl’s misses estimates with steady 3Q earnings

Kohl’s Corp. said Wednesday that it earned almost the same amount in this year’s third quarter as last year’s, though its revenue rose, because its costs rose faster.

The department store operator said after the market closed that it earned $194 million, or 63 cents per share, in the period ended Oct. 30, about even with the $193 million, or 63 cents per share, a year earlier. Get the full story »

Cisco revenue up, but some on Street want more

Cisco Systems served up a 19 percent jump in quarterly revenue as a revived economy encouraged more spending on networks to route Internet traffic, but some investors had hoped for stronger proof of a technology sector recovery. Get the full story »

As IPO approaches, GM posts $2 billion profit

General Motors posted a $2 billion third-quarter profit Wednesday, driven by an accelerating turnaround in North America as it rushes to complete an initial public offering of stock set for next week. The quarterly profit was the largest for GM since it emerged from bankruptcy in July 2009 and provides the last piece of financial data for investors evaluating the automaker’s $13 billion IPO.

GM said it expected to post solidly profitable results for 2010, its first full-year profit since 2004. Get the full story »

Macy’s returns to profit amid local push

Macy’s Inc. said Wednesday it turned a profit in the third quarter after a loss a year ago, boosted by tailoring merchandise to local markets and higher spending from wealthier customers at its Bloomingdale’s chain. Get the full story »

Allscripts 3Q profit falls on costs, charges

Health care information technology company Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions Inc. said Monday that its third-quarter net income plunged on a boost in costs and charges. Get the full story »

Playboy posts loss, but says magazine ads will rise

Playboy Enterprises Inc. reported a wider-than-expected quarterly loss as revenue from its entertainment, and print and digital businesses continued to decline, but said it expects Playboy magazine advertising pages to rise about 7 percent in the current quarter. Get the full story »

New Jeep helps Chrysler narrow loss

A 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee at the Jefferson North Assembly in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Chrysler cut its losses in half between the second and third quarters as a new version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee notched strong sales.

The automaker raised its full-year profit forecast, its confidence boosted by the arrival of nearly a dozen new or revamped vehicles in the next few months.

Berkshire-Hathaway profit falls on derivative losses

Billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway said on Friday that its third-quarter profit fell as it lost money on a portfolio of stock index derivatives, despite strong market gains in the quarter. Get the full story »

A.M. Castle profit misses as material costs jump

Specialty metals and plastics distribution company A.M. Castle & Co. posted a quarterly profit, below market estimates, on higher cost of materials and said it expects to report a small net loss for the fourth quarter. Get the full story »

Kraft shares fall 2.4% on outlook, Starbucks spat

Kraft Foods Inc. shares fell 2.4 percent on Friday, a day after the packaged foods company said its 2011 forecast included an extra week.

The maker of Maxwell House coffee, Cadbury chocolate and Velveeta cheese also said that Starbucks wants to end the companies’ 12-year-old deal whereby Kraft sells packaged Starbucks coffee. Get the full story »