United Technologies, industrial company, reported that its second-quarter earnings advanced to $1.1 billion or $1.09 a share, from $971 million, or 95 cents a share a year ago. The latest quarter results include gains in excess of restructuring of 7 cents a share. Revenue rose to $12.26 billion from $11.15 billion a year ago, while growing demand in aerospace segment and better margin overshadowed the weakness at the company’s Carrier business. United Technologies boosted its 2006 earnings outlook to $3.55 to $3.65 a share on revenue of $46 billion to $47 billion.

Blackrock’s second-quarter net income jumped 19% to $63.4 million, or 95 cents a share, from $53.3 million, or 80 cents a share a year ago. Adjusted earnings were $1.19 a share, while revenue increased 33% to $360.7 million. Assets under management totaled $464.1 billion at the end of the most recent quarter, $49.7 billion more that a year ago and above the previous quarter by $1 billion. BlackRock expects adjusted 2007 earnings of $6.45-$7.05 a share.

U.S. Bancorp, bank holding company, posted second-quarter earnings of $1.2 billion, up 7.1% from $1.12 billion a year earlier. Net income applicable to common shares totaled $1.18 billion, or 66 cents a share, up from $1.12 billion, or 60 cents a share last year. The strong performance was attributed to the growth in most of the company’s fee-based products as the latest period included a gain of $35 million tied to the company’s proportionate share of MasterCard’s IPO. Total net revenue on a taxable-equivalent basis for the quarter increased 4.5% from a year ago to $3.45 billion.

Johnson & Johnson reported second-quarter earnings of $2.82 billion, or 95 cents a share, vs. $2.59 billion, or 86 cents a share a year earlier. On an adjusted basis, excluding a charge of $87 million tied to Vascular Control Systems acquisition, earnings were $2.91 billion, or 98 cents a share in the second quarter. Sales advanced 4.7% from a year ago to $13.36 billion. Domestic sales grew 4.4% while international sales jumped 5.1%.

Jefferies Group second-quarter earnings increased to $45.6 million or 32 cents a share, from $35.4 million, or 26 cents a share a year ago. Revenue advanced 33% to $457.1 million as investment banking revenue grew 20% and trading revenue jumped 16% from last year.

The Coca-Cola Co., the world’s biggest beverage maker, reported a 7% increase in Q2 profit on a modest rise in sales, beating expectations. The beverage maker said it earned $1.84 billion, or 78 cents a share, up from $1.72 billion, or 72 cents a share a year ago. Revenue rose 3% to $6.48 billion, compared to $6.31 billion recorded in the same period last year.

Merrill Lynch posted 42% profit growth in Q2 as the company managed a strong performance in its proprietary stock trading. The company reported a profit of $1.63 per diluted share, compared with $1.14 per share last year on 29% revenue increase to $8.2 billion. The results surpassed projections for earnings of $1.52 per share on revenue of $7.53 billion.