Intel Corporation (INTC: chart) reported after the bell Wednesday that its quarterly profit doubled, citing improving technology spending. The world’s largest semiconductor maker posted net income of $2.17 billion, or 33 cents a share, for its fiscal 2003 fourth quarter, compared with $1.05 billion, or 16 cents a share, a year earlier. Santa Clara, California-based Intel said latest figures included an impairment charge of 9 cents a share which was offset by tax benefits from divestitures. The company said its microprocessor business had an operating profit of $3.73 billion, up 87% from last year. For the quarter ended December 27, Intel reported its highest-ever revenue of $8.74 billion, a 22% rise from $7.16 billion, in the year-ago period. For all of 2003, Intel posted net earnings of $5.64 billion, or 85 cents a share, up 81% from $3.12 billion, or 46 cents a share, in fiscal 2002. Revenue was up 13% to $30.14 billion from $26.76 billion.

Intel shares dropped 20 cents on Wednesday to $33.39. The stock slid 2.82% to $32.45 in after-market trade.

Apple Computer, Inc. (AAPL: chart), the Cupertino, California-based PC maker, said after market close Wednesday it swung to a quarterly profit, on the back of strong iPod and Macintosh sales. Apple announced fiscal 2004 first-quarter net earnings of $63 million, or 17 cents a share, rebounding from a year-earlier net loss of $8 million, or 2 cents a share. Excluding extraordinary items, earnings came in at 16 cents a share, up from 3 cents a share, last year, and 2 cents ahead of the average analysts’ estimate. For the quarter ended December 27, Apple said sales jumped 36% to $2.01 billion from $1.47 billion, in the comparable period of fiscal 2003. Analysts had forecast quarterly revenue of $1.93 billion. The company said sales of its PowerBook notebook computers rocketed up 70% to $399 million, while iPod digital-music player revenue more than tripled to $256 million.

For the second quarter, Apple sees earnings of 8 cents to 10 cents a share, on revenue of $1.8 billion.

Apple shares inched up 8 cents to close Wednesday at $24.20. The stock plunged 5.58% to $22.85 in after-hours trading.

Genentech, Inc. (DNA: chart) announced Wednesday a fourth-quarter profit of $126.7 million, or 24 cents a share, a 37% improvement from $92.8 million, or 18 cents a share, in the corresponding period of fiscal 2002. Excluding items, the South San Francisco, California-based biotechnology giant had a profit of $145 million, or 27 cents a share, beating Wall Street’s projections for earnings of 25 cents a share. Genentech said it benefited from the solid sales of its cancer-fighting drugs.

The stock gained 42 cents to $90.67 at market close Wednesday. Genentech shares added 33 cents to $91.00 in after-market trade.

Raymond James Financial, Inc. (RJF: chart) of St. Petersburg, Florida, said Wednesday its first-quarter profit jumped 68% to $24.2 million, or 49 cents a diluted share, from $14.4 million, or 29 cents a share, generated last year. The brokerage firm cited growth in investment banking revenue and trading profit as main factors for the results. Revenue increased 23% to $424.7 million from $334.6 million, a year ago.

Company shares closed Wednesday up $1.05, or 2.89%, at $37.40.

Teradyne, Inc. (TER: chart) reported Wednesday that it narrowed its quarterly loss, helped by strong demand for its products. The Boston, Massachusetts-based maker of semiconductor testing equipment said it had a net loss of $11.5 million, or 6 cents a share, in its fourth quarter, compared with a net loss of $424 million, or $2.31 a share, in the same period a year ago. Revenue climbed to $357.6 million from $333.6 million, in fiscal 2002.

Teradyne shares dipped 0.49% to close Wednesday at $26.62. The stock gained 88 cents to $27.50 in after-hours trading.

Yahoo! Inc. (YHOO: chart) of Sunnyvale, California, said Wednesday its fiscal fourth-quarter net income surged 62% to $75 million, or 11 cents a share, from a year-ago net profit of $46.2 million, or 8 cents a share. The Internet portal company saw its revenue more than double to $663.9 million from $285.8 million, a year earlier. Yahoo said its acquisition of Web search advertising provider Overture Services Inc. boosted the results.

The stock shed 41 cents on Wednesday to $48.39. Yahoo shares slipped 3.80% to $46.55 in after-market trade.

Planar Systems, Inc. (PLNR: chart), the Beaverton, Oregon-based maker of flat-panel displays, posted Wednesday higher quarterly income, aided by strong sales in its commercial segment. The company reported first-quarter net earnings of $3.1 million, or 21 cents a share, up 14% from $2.71 million, or 19 cents a share, in the 2003 equivalent. Results were in line with analysts’ expectations.

Planar shares fell 1.08% to $18.30 at market close Wednesday. The stock shed 27 cents to $18.03 in after-hours trading.

QLogic Corporation (QLGC: chart) of Aliso Viejo, California, said Wednesday it had a third-quarter net profit of $35 million, or 36 cents per share, on sales of $137.1 million, compared with a prior-year profit of $27.5 million, or 29 cents per share, on sales of $114.2 million. The storage area equipment maker attributed the results to strong demand for its Fibre Channel storage networking software.

The stock closed Wednesday unchanged at $50.36. QLogic shares plunged 8.52% to $46.07 in after-market trade.

BTU International, Inc. (BTUI: chart) reiterated Wednesday its previous financial outlook for the fourth quarter. The North Billerica, Massachusetts-based provider of advanced thermal processing systems for semiconductor packaging said it expects a net loss of $1.4 million to $1.6 million, on sales in the range of $7.5 million to $8.0 million.

Company shares rose 3.91% on Wednesday to close at $4.78.

Vans, Inc. (VANS: chart) of Santa Fe Springs, California, raised Wednesday its quarterly earnings guidance, on strong same-store sales. The retailer said it now expects third-quarter earnings from continuing operations of 24 cents to 26 cents a share. Net income is expected to be between 21 cents and 23 cents a share, up 4 cents a share from its earlier forecast.