American Express Company (AXP: chart) said Monday its 2003 third-quarter net earnings jumped 12% to $770 million, or 59 cents per share as the use of charge cards increased beyond travel and entertainment purchases to day-to-day buying. For the same period last year the New York-based travel and financial services company, best known for its charge cards and travelers checks, reported a net profit of $687 million, or 52 cents per share. This year’s results topped by a penny analysts’ expectations. For the quarter ended September 30, revenue rose to $6.4 billion, up 8.7% from $5.9 billion a year ago. The travel business of the company, which includes its charge-card business, delivered revenue of $4.8 billion, up from $4.4 billion last year. Revenue at American Express Financial Advisors came in at $1.5 billion, from $1.4 billion in the 2002 equivalent.

The company expects its full-year profit to meet the high end of its previous outlook of $2.26 to $2.29 a share.

The stock dropped 1.83% to close Monday at $46.75. Company shares fell 3 cents to $46.72 in after-hours trading.

SYSCO Corporation (SYY: chart) posted before market open Monday a first-quarter net profit of $208.8 million, or 32 cents a share, up 14% from $182.6 million, or 28 cents a share, a year earlier, and above analysts’ estimates of 31 cents a share. The Houston, Texas-based largest food service distributor in North America said it benefited from reductions in operating costs due to technology upgrades.

SYSCO shares surged 3.91% to $33.24 at market close Monday.

The Procter & Gamble Company (PG: chart), the No.1 maker of household products in the U.S., said its 2004 fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 20% on strong sales. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based company posted a profit of $1.76 billion, or $1.26 a share, on sales of $12.2 billion, compared with $1.46 billion, or $1.04 a share, on sales of $10.8 billion, a year ago. Analysts had called for profit of $1.25 a share.

Procter & Gamble shares closed Monday up 74 cents, or 0.77%, at $96.80.

International Paper Company (IP: chart) of Stamford, Connecticut, said Monday its third-quarter net profit dropped 16% to $122 million, or 25 cents per share, from the year-ago earnings of $145 million, or 30 cents per share. The world's largest paper company cited weak demand and high energy and wood costs as main factors for the slump in profit. Revenue was $6.4 billion for the quarter ended September 30, unchanged from a year ago.

The stock dipped 1.14% on Monday to $38.00.

Humana Inc. (HUM: chart) posted Monday higher third-quarter net profit of $62.1 million, or 38 cents a share, a 19% increase from $52.3 million, or 31 cents a share, for the same period a year earlier. The Louisville, Kentucky-based health benefits company attributed the results to improvement in its commercial business. Results were in line with Wall Street expectations.

Humana shares plunged 0.61% to close Monday at $19.64.

Boosted by strong housing market, Standard Pacific Corp. (SPF: chart) said Monday its third-quarter earnings more than doubled to $57.9 million, or $1.72 a share, from $22.6 million, or 68 cents a share, generated a year ago. Analysts had expected the Irvine, California-based home builder to earn $1.48 a share.

The stock soared 5.69% to $46.40 on Monday.

The Chubb Corporation (CB: chart) said Monday it swung to a profit of $259.8 million, or $1.37 per share, in its fiscal third quarter. For the same period last year the Warren, New Jersey-based insurer reported a net loss of $242.1 million, or $1.42 per share, on a charge to boost its reserves.

Company shares rose 2.16% to close Monday at $67.70. The stock added 2 cents to $67.72 in after-hours trading.

Barrick Gold Corporation (ABX: chart), the Toronto, Canada-based second largest gold producer in North America, posted Monday a third-quarter net income of $35 million, or 7 cents a share, up from $34 million or 6 cents, a year earlier, on higher gold prices. Analysts had called for earnings of 6 cents a share.

Barrick’s stock closed Monday unchanged at $19.56. Company shares gained 2 cents, or 0.10%, to $19.58 in after-hours trading.

Adaptec, Inc. (ADPT: chart) of Milpitas, California, posted Monday a second-quarter net profit of $261,000, or nil per share, including an after-tax gain from a legal settlement. The data storage company reversed a year-ago net loss of $10.8 million, or 10 cents a share, as revenue rose 27% to $109.2 million from $85.7 million in the prior year.

Company shares closed Monday at $8.45, up 25 cents, or 3.05%. The stock jumped 1.78% to $8.60 in after-hours trading.

Adobe Systems, Inc. (ADBE: chart), the maker of digital imaging and document software, confirmed Monday that it expects its fourth-quarter earnings to be between 30 cents and 32 cents a share, on revenue of between $330 million and $350 million. San Jose, California-based Adobe said it will post full-year sales of about $1.43 billion, above average analysts’ estimates of $1.37 billion, on strong demand for its software.