General Electric Company (GE: chart) delivered before market open Friday an 18% increase in its 2004 fourth-quarter earnings, driven by strong results in most of its businesses. The diversified technology, media and financial services company turned in record fourth-quarter net income of $5.38 billion, or 51 cents per share, which compares to net income of $4.56 billion, or 45 cents per share, for the 2003 corresponding period. The earnings topped by a penny a share the average analysts’ forecast. Revenue rose 18% to a record $43.71 billion, for the quarter ended December 31, from $36.96 billion, last year. Fairfield, Connecticut-based GE said 9 of its 11 businesses recorded double-digit earnings growth in the quarter. Industrial sales improved 19% to $24.6 billion, boosted by acquisitions and solid core growth. Revenues from financial services increased 16% to $19.2 billion. GE added that earnings of the insurance segment declined as a result of increased loss reserves for policies written in prior years and the disposition of several businesses. For the full fiscal year, profits were a record $16.59 billion, or $1.59 per share, compared with $15 billion, or $1.49 per share, for 2003. Annual revenues rose 14% to $152.36 billion.

Citigroup Inc. (C: chart) announced Thursday record quarterly profits, boosted by strong performance at its consumer and investment banking businesses. The world’s largest financial services firm turned in net earnings of $5.32 billion, or $1.02 per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, compared with earnings of $4.76 billion, or 91 cents per share, for the prior-year equivalent. Results were in line with Wall Street’s expectations. For the quarter ended December 31, the New York-based company recorded revenue of $21.88 billion, a 9% increase from year-ago revenue of $20.2 billion. Analysts had predicted revenue of $21.5 billion, on average. Citigroup said that consumer income edged up 7% from last year to $3.1 billion and corporate and investment banking income jumped 32% to $1.69 billion. However, operating expenses increased 19% to $12 billion, due to higher investment banker bonuses, legal bills, currency fluctuations and acquisitions. For all of 2004, profits totaled $17.05 billion, or $3.26 per share, on revenue of $86.2 billion. That compares to profits of $17.85 billion, or $3.42 per share, on revenue of $77.4 billion, in 2003.

For the fiscal 2005, Citigroup said it expects earnings to be near the low end of analysts’ forecast range of $4.20 to $4.57 per share.

Company shares dropped 27 cents on Thursday to $47.77.

SunTrust Banks, Inc. (STI: chart) of Atlanta, Georgia, said Thursday that its quarterly income advanced 33%, aided by stronger revenue and cost cutting initiatives. The bank reported a fourth-quarter profit of $455.7 million, or $1.26 a share, up from $342.5 million, or $1.21 a share, last year. On a pro forma basis, earnings came to $1.31 a share, outpacing by 4 cents the average analysts’ estimate. Quarterly revenue rose to $1.86 billion from $1.46 billion. SunTrust said its acquisition of National Commerce Financial Corp. also helped boost its results.

The stock rose 1.73% to $71.59 at market close Thursday. Company shares added 10 cents to $71.69 in after-hours trading.

Providian Financial Corporation (PVN: chart) on Thursday rolled out net income of $138.1 million, or 42 cents a share, for its fiscal fourth quarter, in contrast to net income of $67.1 million, or 22 cents per share, for the 2003 corresponding period. The San Francisco, California-based credit card company cited tax benefits and lower loan losses as main factors for the results. Total net revenue for the quarter inched up 3% to $518.4 million.

Providian shares were down 5 cents to close Thursday at $15.74. The stock gained a penny to $15.75 in after-market trade.

KLA-Tencor Corporation (KLAC: chart) of San Jose, California, reported after the bell Thursday a huge rise in its quarterly income, driven by surging sales. The maker of semiconductor production equipment announced net earnings of $122 million, or 61 cents per share, for its second quarter, against earnings of $45 million, or 22 cents per share, for the 2004 comparable period. The results were 2 cents a share ahead of the mean analysts’ estimate. Revenue in the quarter soared 57% to $533 million from $339 million, last year.

The stock shed 54 cents on Thursday to $43.31. Company shares rose 2.52% to $44.40 in the extended session.

Ford Motor Company (F: chart) posted Thursday a net profit of $104 million, or 6 cents a share, for its fourth quarter, bouncing back from a year-ago loss of $793 million, or 43 cents a share. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker attributed the turnaround to strong results at its finance arm which offset losses at its automotive operations. Excluding items, the company earned 28 cents a share, down from 31 cents a share, a year ago, but a penny above analysts’ projections. Quarterly revenue slipped to $44.7 billion from $45.9 billion.

Ford shares closed Thursday at $13.46, down 47 cents, or 3.37%. The stock dropped 1 cent in after-hours trading.

Delphi Corporation (DPH: chart) of Troy, Michigan, said Thursday that it swung to a quarterly loss from a year-earlier profit, hurt by restructuring charges, higher costs for raw materials and lower vehicle production. The world’s top maker of auto parts posted a fourth-quarter net loss of $102 million, or 18 cents per share, compared with a profit of $82 million, or 15 cents a share, for the 2003 equivalent. Loss before items was $51 million, or 9 cents a share, while analysts had expected a loss of 15 cents a share. Revenue for the quarter dipped 3% to $7 billion.

The stock slid 1.64% to close Thursday at $7.81.