eBay Inc. (EBAY: chart) of San Jose, California, announced Wednesday a 44% rise in its quarterly income, boosted by stronger sales. The online auction giant turned in a fourth-quarter net profit of $205.4 million, or 30 cents a share, in contrast to a net profit of $142.5 million, or 21 cents a share, last year. Excluding items, earnings totaled 33 cents a share, which was a penny short of the mean analysts’ estimate, partly due to rising advertising and marketing costs. Sales for the quarter soared 44% to $935.8 million from $648.4 million, for the prior-year period. Analysts had predicted sales of $934.4 million, on average.

Looking ahead, eBay forecast first-quarter earnings excluding items of 34 cents to 35 cents a share, on revenue of $1.01 billion to $1.03 billion. Analysts expect a profit of 40 cents a share for the current quarter. For fiscal 2005 eBay projected earnings of $1.48 to $1.52 per share on revenues of $4.25 billion to $4.35 billion, down from the analyst estimate of $1.61 in earnings for the year on $4.37 billion in revenues.

The stock closed Wednesday down $3.32, or 3.12%, at $103.05. eBay shares plummeted 11.68% to $91.01 in after-market trade.

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. (JPM: chart) posted Wednesday an 11% decrease in its quarterly earnings, weighed down by merger-related charges. The New York-based U.S. second-largest bank reported net income of $1.67 billion, or 46 cents a share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, down from income of $1.86 billion, or 89 cents per share, for the prior-year period. Excluding the costs related to its merger with Bank One last year, JPMorgan had a profit of $2.3 billion, or 64 cents a share, for the quarter ended December 31, falling short of the average analysts’ estimate of 68 cents a share. Total net revenue for the quarter surged 60% to $12.95 billion from $8.1 billion, in 2003. Total assets were up 50% from last year to $1.157 trillion. The bank said investment banking earnings plunged 18% to $660 million, citing a decline in the home finance production and servicing business. For all of 2004, JPMorgan announced a profit of $4.47 billion, or $1.55 a share, against a profit of $6.72 billion, or $3.24 a share, a year earlier. Annual revenues came to $43.1 billion, compared with $33.38 billion, for fiscal 2003.

Company shares slipped 1.46% to close Wednesday at $37.84. The stock dropped 6 cents to $37.78 in the extended session.

Wachovia Corporation (WB: chart), the U.S. No.4 bank, said Wednesday that its fiscal 2004 fourth-quarter net earnings jumped 32% to $1.45 billion, or 95 cents per share, from $1.1 billion, or 83 cents per share, generated a year ago. Excluding costs related to its acquisition of SouthTrust and other one-time items, the company reported a profit of $1.5 billion, or 99 cents per share, topping by a penny a share Wall Street’s consensus forecast. Charlotte, North Carolina-based Wachovia cited strength in general banking and wealth management as well as its purchase of SouthTrust as main factors for the improvement. For the quarter ended December 31, the company recorded revenue of $6.16 billion, an 11% growth year-over-year. The general bank delivered record quarterly profits of $868 million, up 54% from last year. Wealth management boosted segment earnings by 32% to a record $54 million. For the year, profits rose to $5.21 billion, or $3.81 per share, from $4.26 billion, or $3.18 per share, in 2003.

The stock inched up 4 cents to $53.02 at market close Wednesday.

Washington Mutual, Inc. (WM: chart) reported Wednesday that its quarterly profits dropped from a year ago, when results were fuelled by one-time gains. The Seattle, Washington-based U.S. top savings and loan posted net earnings of $668 million, or 76 cents per share, for its fourth quarter, compared with net earnings of $842 million, or 93 cents per share, for the 2003 equivalent. Results met analysts’ expectations. Quarterly revenue slid to $3.07 billion from $3.21 billion, as rising interest rates had a negative impact on demand for new and refinanced home loans.

WaMu shares dropped a penny on Wednesday to $41.60.

General Motors Corporation (GM: chart) posted Wednesday fourth-quarter net income of $630 million, or $1.11 a share, a 37% drop compared with income of $1 billion, or $2.13 a share, for the 2003 corresponding period. The Detroit, Michigan-based automaker blamed the results on higher health-care costs and increased losses from its European automotive operations. On a pro forma basis, GM earned $569 million, or $1.01 per share, in the fourth quarter, surpassing the average analysts’ estimate of 92 cents per share. Sales were up to $51.3 billion from $48.8 billion.

GM shares were down 6 cents on Wednesday to close at $36.71. The stock shed 11 cents to $36.60 in after-hours trading.

QUALCOMM Incorporated (QCOM: chart) of San Diego, California, on Wednesday rolled out quarterly profits that leapt 46% from a year ago, aided by strong demand for its chips. The developer of wireless telecommunications products said it earned $513 million, or 30 cents a share, in its fiscal first quarter, compared with $352 million, or 21 cents a share, for the same period a year earlier. Revenue for the quarter advanced 15% to $1.39 billion from $1.21 billion.

The stock shed $1.55 to close Wednesday at $41.07. Company shares dived 6.50% to $38.40 in extended trade.

Symantec Corporation (SYMC: chart) said Wednesday that its third-quarter net income surged 48% to $164 million, or 22 cents a share, from $111 million, or 16 cents a share, for the 2004 comparable period. The Cupertino, California-based developer of security software attributed the results solid revenue growth. Excluding items, earnings came to 24 cents a share, beating by 2 cents analysts’ projections. Quarterly revenue was $695 million, a 41% increase year-over-year.

Symantec shares closed Wednesday at $24.91, down 5 cents, or 0.20%. The stock dipped 2.05% to $24.40 in after-hours trading.

Pfizer Inc (PFE: chart) reported Wednesday a huge rise in its quarterly earnings, helped by robust drug sales. The New York-based world’s leading drug company rolled out net income of $2.83 billion, or 38 cents per share, for its fourth quarter, in contrast to income of $602 million, or 8 cents per share, for the 2003 equivalent. Earnings before items totaled 58 cents per share, a penny shy of Wall Street’s consensus forecast. Revenue for the quarter edged up 7% to $14.92 billion, boosted by higher sales of cholesterol drug Lipitor and arthritis drug Celebrex.

The stock dropped 42 cents to $24.88 at market close Wednesday. Pfizer shares lost a penny to $24.87 in after-market trade.