Cisco Systems, Inc. (CSCO: chart) announced after market close Tuesday quarterly profits that nearly doubled from last year, driven by strong demand for its new products. But revenue growth was less than expected, sending the stock down 20 cents in after-hours trading. The world's top maker of computer networking equipment rolled out net income of $1.4 billion, or 21 cents a share, for its fiscal 2005 second quarter, a 93% jump from net income of $724 million, or 10 cents a share, for the same quarter a year ago, when results included expenses related to an accounting change. Excluding unusual items, Cisco earned $1.48 billion, or 22 cents per share, for the quarter ended January 29, in contrast to a prior-year profit of $1.32 billion, or 18 cents per share. The earnings matched Wall Street’s consensus estimate. Revenues for the three-month period rose to $6.06 billion from $5.4 billion, boosted by rising sales of the company’s new Internet-telephony products and Linksys home-networking products. Analysts were looking for revenue of $6.13 billion, on average. Inventory levels grew slightly in the quarter to $1.2 billion.

For its third quarter, San Jose, California-based Cisco said it expects sales to be flat to up 2% over the second quarter, while analysts project sales growth of about 3%.

Cisco shares edged up 8 cents to $18.24 at market close Tuesday. The stock slipped 1.10% to $18.04 in after-market trade.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU: chart) reported Tuesday a 34% drop in its quarterly income from its financial services businesses, due to higher realized investment losses. The Newark, New Jersey-based U.S. No.2 life insurer posted a fourth-quarter net profit of $317 million, or 64 cents a share, down from $481 million, or 92 cents a share, for the 2003 equivalent. Excluding items, the company announced adjusted operating income of $484 million, or 96 cents a share, which represents a 46% increase from $331 million, or 64 cents a share, for the year-ago period. Analysts had expected a profit before items of 80 cents a share. For the full fiscal year, Prudential earned $1.67 billion, or $3.31 a share, on revenue of nearly $20 billion. That compares to a profit of $1.03 billion, or $1.98 a share, on revenue of $18.1 billion, for 2003.

Company shares closed Tuesday at $55.75, down 18 cents, or 0.32%.

Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC: chart) of El Segundo, California, on Tuesday turned in net earnings of $157.5 million, or 82 cents a share, for its fiscal third quarter, compared with earnings of $128.4 million, or 68 cents a share, last year. The information technology consulting firm said results were helped by solid European revenue growth, which was boosted by the weak dollar. Earnings from continuing operations were $134 million, or 69 cents per share. Analysts had called for a profit of 80 cents per share.

The stock dropped 43 cents to close Tuesday at $52.00. Company shares dipped 2.75% to $50.57 in the extended session.

Aon Corporation (AOC: chart) posted Tuesday lower quarterly earnings, as the insurance brokerage stopped taking contingency commissions and set aside $50 million for any settlements of state investigations into insurance-broker practices. The Chicago, Illinois-based company announced net income of $189 million, or 59 cents per share, for its fourth quarter, against net income of $215 million, or 67 cents per share, for the 2003 comparable period. Quarterly revenue edged up to $2.66 billion from $2.58 billion.

Aon shares closed Tuesday down 1 cent, or 0.04%, at $22.55.

La-Z-Boy Incorporated (LZB: chart) of Monroe, Michigan, said Tuesday that its third-quarter profit declined 27% to $11.1 million, or 21 cents a share, from a year-earlier profit of $15.3 million, or 29 cents a share. The furniture company blamed higher selling, general and administrative expenses for the results. Despite the drop, the earnings beat the mean analysts’ estimate of 16 cents a share, aided by strong sales that advanced to $518 million in the quarter from $492 million, a year ago.

The stock slipped 0.98% on Tuesday to $15.23.

VF Corporation (VFC: chart) announced Tuesday quarterly income that surpassed analysts’ expectations, boosted by higher jeans and outerwear sales. The Greensboro, North Carolina-based apparel company said it earned $125.3 million, or $1.10 per share, in its fourth quarter, up from $105.6 million, or 96 cents per share, generated last year. Sales in the quarter climbed 12% to $1.56 billion. The average analysts’ forecast was for a profit of 97 cents per share, on sales of $1.5 billion.

VF shares surged 7.34% to $59.09 at market close Tuesday.

EarthLink, Inc. (ELNK: chart) on Tuesday rolled out net income of $35.6 million, or 23 cents a share, for its fourth quarter, in contrast to net income of $10.7 million, or 7 cents a share, for the 2003 corresponding period. The Atlanta, Georgia-based Internet service provider cited improved cost controls as principal contributor for the results. Analysts had predicted a profit before items of 22 cents a share. EarthLink said quarterly revenue eased 3% to $338.1 million, missing analysts’ mean forecast of $344.3 million, due to a drop in the company’s dial-up subscriber base.

The stock plummeted 9.04% to close Tuesday at $9.36. Company shares lost 6 cents to $9.30 in after-hours trading.

Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS: chart) said after the bell Monday that it swung to a quarterly profit from a year-earlier loss, aided by cost cutting. However, the stock sank more than 6% in the extended trade, as the world's second-largest technology services provider recorded weak revenues and forecast 2005 earnings below expectations. The Plano, Texas-based company announced net earnings of $53 million, or 10 cents per share, for the fourth quarter of 2004, a turnaround from a loss of $337 million, or 70 cents per share, for the prior-year period. On a pro forma basis, profit came to $130 million, or 25 cents per share, up from a year-ago profit before items of $36 million, or 7 cents per share, and 3 cents per share ahead of the mean analysts’ forecast. For the quarter ended December 31, EDS reported revenue of $5.25 billion, a 5% decrease year-over-year, due to tough competition. New contract signings dropped to $3.8 billion from $4 billion. The company had predicted $5.5 billion in contracts.

EDS forecast 2005 earnings in the range of 50 cents to 60 cents a share, on revenue of $20 billion to $21 billion. The company said the outlook reflects the impact of $1 billion of additional investments for future growth it plans to make during the year. Analysts are looking for a 2005 profit of 73 cents a share, on revenue of $20.16 billion.

EDS shares gained 24 cents on Monday to $21.35. The stock plunged 6.42% to $19.98 in after-market trade.

Biogen Idec Inc. (BIIB: chart) of Cambridge, Massachusetts, posted Monday net income of $48.4 million, or 14 cents a share, for its fiscal fourth quarter, bouncing back from a loss of $990.6 million, or $4.03 a share, for the same period last year, when results included merger-related charges. Excluding items, the drug maker posted a fourth-quarter profit of $121.4 million, or 34 cents a share, compared with a profit of $91.4 million, or 25 cents a share, for the 2003 equivalent. The average analysts’ forecast was for earnings of 36 cents a share. Quarterly revenue surged to $586 million from $299.8 million, beating analysts’ estimate of $563.8 million. Biogen attributed the results to its partnership with Genentech for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma drug Rituxan and higher sales of multiple-sclerosis drug Avonex.

The stock slipped 1.19% to close Monday at $66.15. Company shares dropped 18 cents to $65.97 in the extended session.