Boeing Co. (BA: chart), airplane maker, reported fourth-quarter earnings of $989 million, or $1.29 a share, up from a year-ago profit of $460 million, or 58 cents per share. On a continuing operations basis, the Dow component earned $980 million, or $1.28 per share, in the latest quarter. On an adjusted basis, excluding tax benefits as well as discontinued operations the company earned $1.16 per share, in the latest quarter, compared to 74 cents per share last year. Revenue rose to $17.54 billion from $13.9 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Hess Corp. (HES: chart), oil and gas producer, reported a 21% fourth-quarter profit decline to $359 million, or $1.13 per share from $440 million, or $1.44 per share, a year ago, hurt by a downturn in refining product margins and marketing margins. Revenue rose 1% to $7.21 billion from $7.15 billion in the same period a year ago. Production rose to 366,000 barrels per day in the fourth quarter of 2006 compared with 316,000 barrels a day in the year-ago quarter.

Xcel Energy (XEL: chart), electric and natural gas energy company, said that its fourth-quarter earnings fell to $97.7 million, or 23 cents per share, compared with a year-ago profit of $112.1 million, or 27 cents per share. Total operating revenue slipped to $2.47 billion against $2.88 billion in the same period a year earlier.

PepsiAmericas Inc. (PAS: chart), Pepsi bottler, said that its fourth-quarter net income fell to $26.1 million, or 20 cents per share compared with $37.6 million, or 28 cents per share in the same period a year earlier. Results for the quarter included 9 cents per share in charges. Net sales climbed to $994.5 million versus $894.3 million in the same period a year ago.

Nymex Inc. (NMX: chart), parent of the New York Mercantile Exchange commodities market, said that its fourth-quarter net income rose 105% to $42.3 million, or 48 cents per share, compared to $20.7 million, or 28 cents per share in the year-ago period. Revenue increased 40% to $124.8 million from $88.9 million a year ago. Excluding a gain of $2.9 million for the sale of marketable securities, the company earned 46 cents per share.

Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT: chart), engages in the manufacture and sale of packaged foods, said that its fourth-quarter net earnings fell to $624 million, or 38 cents per share compared with $773 million, or 46 cents per share, during the year-ago period. Excluding asset impairment, exit and implementation costs, among other items, per-share earnings were 51 cents compared with 56 cents. Revenue was $9.27 billion versus $9.66 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Altria Group Inc. (MO: chart), the food and tobacco conglomerate, said that its fourth-quarter net earnings increased to $2.96 billion, or $1.40 per share, compared with $2.29 billion, or $1.09 per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding certain items, Altria posted a per-share profit of $1.27 compared with $1.17 last year. Revenue rose 3.7% to $25.4 billion from $24.59 billion in the same period a year ago.

Media General (MEG: chart), publisher and TV stations owner, said fourth-quarter net income rose 27% to $31.6 million, or $1.33 per share, from $25 million, or $1.05 per share in the year-ago period. Income from continuing operations rose to $1.35 a share from $1 a share. Revenue climbed 26% to $294.7 million. Excluding the results of four new NBC affiliate stations purchased in June, sales rose 10.7%.

L-3 Communications (LLL: chart), defense contractor, reported fourth-quarter net income rose 15% on 17% higher revenue. Earnings reached $173.6 million, or $1.37 per share, from $151.4 million, or $1.24 per share, in the year-earlier period. Revenue rose to $3.39 billion from $2.9 billion in the same period a year earlier.

Dominion Resources (D: chart), energy producer, said that its fourth-quarter net income dropped to $31 million, or 9 cents per share compared with $257 million, or 73 cents per share, on a $244 million loss from discontinued operations of three merchange generation plants it sold in December. Operating earnings fell to $275 million, or 78 cents per share, against $357 million, or $1.02 per share, after milder-than-normal weather in the electric and gas utility service areas, lower average realized prices for natural gas and oil sales and the absence of a benefit from hedges.