Hormel Foods Corp, (HRL: chart), said that the latest results included a charge of 2 cents a share, related to executive retirements and a gain of 3 cents a share from a litigation settlement. Sales rose 3.8% to $1.41 billion from $1.36 billion in the same period a year earlier. Looking ahead, company forecast earnings of 57 to 63 cents a share for Q4, and it tightened its outlook for the full year to a profit of $1.98 to $2.04 a share from a prior view of $1.94 to $2.04 a share.

Fred''s Inc., (FRED: chart), general merchandise retailer, reported Q2 earnings of 11 cents a share, up from a profit of 9 cents a share a year-ago. The latest results include stock option expensing of a penny per share. Total sales rose 9% to $406.9 million from $373.3 million in the same period a year earlier. Same-store sales increased 3.1% in the quarter. The company met analysts’ estimate for a profit of 9 cents a share.

Genesco Inc., (GCO: chart), specialty retailer, reported Q2 earnings fell to 24 cents a share, from 27 cents a share a year earlier on 11% revenue growth boosted by 15% growth in Journeys Group sales. The company beat analysts forecasts for earnings of 21 cents a share. The company said it now expects fiscal 2007 earnings of $2.50 to $2.54 a share and revenue of $1.45 billion.

Gerber Scientific Inc., (GRB: chart), producer of manufacturing equipment for sign making, swung to Q1 net income from a year-earlier loss on 6.8% higher revenue. For Q1, earnings were 9 cents a share, compared with a loss of 5 cents in the year-earlier period. The year-earlier figure reflects an income-tax charge of 10 cents a share. The company beat analysts’ estimate for a profit of 7 cents a share. Revenue reached $137.5 million from $128.8 million, driven by new-products sales and our resurgence in China, the company added.

Tarragon Corp., (TARR: chart), builder of urban residential communities, posted Q2 earnings rise to 34 cents a share, from 28 cents a share a year earlier. Excluding discontinued operations, earnings would have increased to 27 cents a share from 25 cents a share. Revenue increased to $146.7 million from last year''s $91.4 million, due primarily to growth in homebuilding sales. The company said it expects 2006 ongoing earnings of $2.10 to $2.40 a share. The company said it received a delisting notice from Nasdaq for the late filing of its quarterly report.