Medtronic, Inc. (MDT: chart) reported after market close Monday a 17% improvement in its quarterly profits, citing strong sales across all of its major product lines. The world’s No.1 medical device maker rolled out net earnings of $568.9 million, or 47 cents per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, compared with net earnings of $487.1 million, or 40 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding items, earnings came in at 48 cents a share. Results topped by 2 cents a share the consensus estimate of analysts. Medtronic said revenue for the quarter ended April 30 rose to a record of $2.67 billion, up 24% from $2.15 billion, in the 2003 equivalent. Revenue at the company’s Cardiac Rhythm Management business jumped 22% to $1.25 billion, as sales of implantable defibrillators surged 34% from last year. For the full year, Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Medtronic posted net income of $1.96 billion, or $1.60 per share, up 22.5% from net income of $1.6 billion, or $1.30 per share, in fiscal year 2003. Sales for 2004 advanced to $9 billion from $7.7 billion, in the prior year.

Medtronic shares shed 31 cents on Monday to $47.35. The stock rose 1.58% to $48.10 in after-hours trading.

Novell, Inc. (NOVL: chart) of Waltham, Massachusetts, said after the bell Monday that it narrowed its quarterly loss, boosted by revenue growth. The developer of networking software posted a net loss of $15.4 million, or 4 cents per share, for its fiscal second quarter, in contrast to a net loss of $29 million, or 8 cents per share, in the 2003 comparable period. Excluding items, Novell recorded earnings of $14 million, or 3 cents per share, in the second quarter, compared to a loss of $7 million, or 2 cents per share, in the same period of 2003. On that basis, results matched analysts’ projections. Quarterly revenue climbed 6.5% to $294 million, from $276 million a year ago.

The stock inched down 3 cents to close Monday at $9.97. Novell shares plunged 6.22% to $9.35 in the extended session.

Campbell Soup Company (CPB: chart) announced before market open Monday that its third-quarter income rose 10% to $142 million, or 34 cents a share, from $129 million, or 31 cents a share, generated in the 2003 equivalent. The Camden, New Jersey-based world’s top soup maker attributed the results to favorable currency exchange rates and higher prices. Excluding a one-time gain, earnings were 32 cents a share, in line with Wall Street’s forecasts.

Campbell shares dived 4.85% to $25.12 at market close Monday.

HEICO Corporation (HEI: chart) of Hollywood, Florida, reported Monday second-quarter net income of $4.1 million, or 16 cents per share, a 58% increase from net income of $2.6 million, or 11 cents per share, in the second quarter of 2003. The maker of aerospace, defense and electronics-related products delivered net sales of $52.8 million in the second quarter, up 27% from $41.6 million, a year ago. The company credited its acquisition of Sierra Microwave Technology in December 2003 for the profit rise.

The stock closed Monday up 14 cents, or 0.94%, at $15.00. HEICO shares added 5 cents to $15.05 in after-market trade.

Thor Industries, Inc. (THO: chart) posted Monday a sharp rise in its quarterly earnings, driven by strong sales. The Jackson Center, Ohio-based maker of recreational vehicles said that it earned $32.8 million, or 57 cents a share, in its fiscal third quarter, a 63% jump from net income of $20.2 million, or 35 cents a share, in the year-earlier quarter. Results powered past analysts’ estimates for a profit of 48 cents a share, on average. Revenue in the third quarter soared to $645.7 million from $412.8 million.

Thor shares were up 2.16% on Monday to $26.97. The stock gained 6 cents to $27.03 in the extended trading.

C&D Technologies, Inc. (CHP: chart) of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, announced Monday a drop in its first-quarter profits, hurt by an increase in expenses. The supplier of electrical power storage and conversion products posted net earnings of $2.0 million, or 8 cents per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2005, against net earnings of $2.8 million, or 11 cents per share, a year ago. Earnings were in line with analysts’ expectations.

The stock rose 2.13% to close Monday at $14.86. Company shares dropped 7 cents to $14.79 in after-hours trading.

AXT, Inc. (AXTI: chart) reported Monday a net loss of $2.6 million, or 11 cents per share, for its fiscal first quarter, compared with a net loss of $4.3 million, or 19 cents per share, in the same period of the previous year, when results included a loss from discontinued operations. The Fremont, California-based provider of semiconductor substrates recorded revenue of $9.8 million in the quarter, compared with $8.5 million, in 2003.

AXT shares inched up 4 cents on Monday to $2.16. The stock plummeted 11.11% to $1.92 in after-market trade.

Dycom Industries, Inc. (DY: chart) of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, on Monday turned in a net profit of $11.2 million, or 23 cents a share, for its third quarter, in contrast to a year-earlier net profit of $2.8 million, or 6 cents a share. The construction and engineering services company said profit increase was due to solid revenue growth, which surged 57% to $219.6 million, from $139.7 million a year ago. Third-quarter profit before items came to 26 cents a share, 3 cents above the mean estimate of analysts.

The stock gained 44 cents to $23.08 at market close Monday. Dycom shares surged 3.94% to $23.99 in after-hours trading.

Hastings Entertainment, Inc. (HAST: chart) said Monday that it swung to a quarterly profit from a prior-year loss, on the back of strong results at its stores open at least a year. The Amarillo, Texas-based multimedia store operator said that it had first-quarter net income of $1.8 million, or 15 cents per share, rebounding from a net loss of $1.1 million, or 9 cents per share, a year ago. Analysts had forecast a loss of 5 cents a share, on average.

Company shares were catapulted up 20.61% to close Monday at $7.96.

EMI Group plc (EMIPY: chart) announced Monday a net loss of £71.6 million ($127.4 million) for fiscal year 2004, in contrast to a profit of £234.2 million, in fiscal 2003. Excluding items, the United Kingdom-based music company posted earnings of £163.3 million, down 8.7% from last year. EMI blamed weaker sales for the results.

The stock tumbled 12.71% to $7.90 at market close Monday.