DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Below is a synopsis of Thursday's major earnings releases:
IBM Beats Street, Lifts Year EPS View But Shares Fall
International Business Machines Corp.'s (IBM) profit jumped 14%
as better margins more than offset lower revenue. While the tech
giant again lifted its full-year profit target as results topped
analysts' estimates, shares fell 3.7% after-hours to $123.11.
Google's Profit, Paid Clicks Surge
Google Inc.'s (GOOG) earnings rose 27% to top Wall Street
expectations as the Internet company recorded a return to
sequential growth in traffic to its advertisers. Google's U.S. paid
clicks - a measure of how frequently consumers clicked on its ads -
surged 14% from a year earlier. In after-hours trading, the
company's shares were up 2.1% at $540.89.
AMD Posts Narrower-Than-Expected Loss, Issues Rosy View
Advanced Micro Devices Inc. (AMD) completed three straight years
of losses in the third quarter, but the chip maker was profitable
excluding impacts from its spun-off manufacturing operations and
sales topped expectations. The semiconductor maker also it expected
fourth-quarter revenue to be "up modestly" from the third quarter.
Still, shares were down 4.2% to $5.93 in after-hours trading.
Citi Posts Profit Amid Securities-Swap Gain
Citigroup Inc. (C) posted a narrow third-quarter profit, which
suggests that the struggling bank has not yet reached solid ground.
Revenue was virtually flat from the previous quarter, even
excluding one-time charges, as was investment banking revenue. And
throughout the company's vast global empire, revenue remained
choppy. Shares fell 5% Thursday are off another 1.1% to $4.70 in
the after-market.
Goldman's Profit More Than Triples Amid Trading Ops
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS), which just a year ago used
federal aid to weather the financial crisis, churned out another
blockbuster quarter, while bonuses remain on track to set a Wall
Street record. Earnings more than tripled as the nimble investment
banking giant parlayed increased risk-taking to cash in on trading
and investments with its own money. Results, while not
record-setting, demonstrate how the firm continues to distance
itself from still-weakened competitors. But shares closed down
1.9%, are off slightly in late trading to $188.40.
Schwab Falls As Revenue Slides Due To Low Interest Rates
Charles Schwab Corp.'s (SCHW) profit fell one-third as
money-market fund fee-waivers and low interest rates weighed on
results at the granddaddy of discount brokerages. Shares closed
down 4.8% at $18.36 as revenue missed analysts' expectations, even
while total client assets rose 5% from a year earlier.
Southwest Posts Another Loss, Expresses Pessimism
Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) kicked off the reporting season for
U.S. carriers with a narrow loss, its fourth in five quarters after
17 years of uninterrupted profitability, as hedging losses again
impacted the bottom line. But the latest quarter was also hit with
buyout costs as the carrier encouraged some employees to leave.
Shares fell 5.7% to $9.47 as the company isn't optimistic amid the
specter of potentially higher energy costs and the likelihood that
business travel will remain depressed. Capacity is expected to
remain flat again next year.
Baxter Intl's Earnings Rise 12% But Revenue Falls Short
Baxter International Inc. (BAX) posted a 12% profit gain, helped
by lower costs this year and a bigger tally of charges a year ago.
Sales were flat due to the effects of currency rates and delays in
its business for plasma-based medical products. Shares dropped 4.4%
as revenue missed analysts' expectations but in recent late trading
shares are up by 0.5% to $54.77.
McClatchy Posts Profit Surge On Items; Ad Woes Persist
McClatchy Co.'s (MNI) profit surged on one-time items while
advertising revenue dropped slightly less sharply than earlier this
year. The publisher of 30 daily newspapers anticipates the ad woes
continuing this quarter, with October so far in line with the third
quarter's 28% decline. Shares closed 13% lower to $3.50, but that
is far about the level - below 50 cents - that the stock was at in
July before rocketing like other newspaper publishers amid hopes
the worst for the industry is behind them. In recent late trading
shares are up 1.1% to $3.54.
Winnebago Loss Widens, But Worst May Be Over
Winnebago Industries Inc.'s (WGO) fiscal fourth-quarter loss
widened from writing down the value of credits it could have used
to offset future income taxes as motor-home deliveries continue to
slump. But shares closed up 4.2% to $14.96 as Chief Executive
Robert Olson said the mobile-home sales slump may be over.
Safeway Inc.'s Earnings Drop Amid Falling Gasoline Sales
Safeway Inc.'s (SWY) fiscal third-quarter earnings fell 35% as
reduced overhead costs weren't enough to offset falling fuel sales,
lower prices and the effects of the Canadian dollar. But its stock
closed up 6.5% at $22.83 as earnings edged analysts' expectations
and CEO Steve Burd noted that transaction counts rose and "volume
trends continue to improve."
PPG Earnings Up 36% On 2008 Restructuring Charges
PPG Industries Inc.'s (PPG) third-quarter profit rose 36% on
prior-year restructuring charges, but the paint, glass and chemical
maker continued to report weak demand. Results, however, topped
analysts' expectations on cost cuts and higher margins. Shares
closed up 0.9% at $62.08.
Knoll Tops Downbeat Estimates, But Stock Still Falls
Office-furniture maker Knoll Inc. (KNL) posted a
less-than-expected 76% drop in third-quarter profit amid continuing
demand woes and plunging orders. Shares closed down 5.2% to $10.32
following a one-third climb the past three months.
Polaris Beats Expectations, Raises Outlook; Stock Pops
Polaris Industries Inc.'s (PII) earnings fell a
less-than-expected 17%, as the company said it cut operating costs
amid a 25% drop in sales. The outdoor-recreation vehicle maker also
boosted its earnings outlook for the year, helping send its stock
up 11% to close at $48.71.