Motorola, Inc. (MOT: chart) announced after the bell Tuesday quarterly profits that more than quadrupled from last year, bolstered by strong sales of new phones. The Schaumburg, Illinois-based world’s No.2 manufacturer of wireless handsets turned in net income of $479 million, or 20 cents per share, for the third quarter of fiscal 2004, in contrast to net income of $116 million, or 5 cents per share, in 2003. The earnings topped by a penny a share the mean analysts’ estimate. For the quarter ended October 2, revenue advanced 26% to $8.62 billion from $6.83 billion a year earlier, but missed analysts’ expectations of $8.67 billion, on average. Sales in the company’s wireless division jumped 34% to $3.9 billion. Semiconductor sales increased 17% to $1.4 billion. For the first nine months, net earnings amounted to $885 million, or 37 cents per share, on sales of $25.9 billion. That compares to earnings of $404 million, or 17 cents per share, on sales of $19 billion, for the 2003 comparable period.

Looking ahead, Motorola projected fourth-quarter earnings of 23 cents to 26 cents a share, on revenue between $9.3 billion and $9.6 billion.

Company shares shed 22 cents on Tuesday to $18.50. The stock dived 4.59% to $17.65 in after-hours trading.

AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. (AWE: chart) reported after market close Tuesday a 25% drop in its quarterly income, hurt by severe competition. The Redmond, Washington-based mobile phone service provider announced a profit of $117 million, or 4 cents a share, for its third quarter, down from a profit of $156 million, or 6 cents a share, for the 2003 equivalent. Quarterly revenue dipped 3.7% to $4.21 billion, as the percent of customers who left for competitors rose to 3.7% from 2.7% a year ago. Analysts were looking for a profit of 2 cents per share on revenue of $4.27 billion.

The stock closed Tuesday at $14.80, down 3 cents, or 0.20%.

Applied Micro Circuits Corporation (AMCC: chart) of San Diego, California, said Tuesday that it narrowed its second-quarter loss to $18.3 million, or 6 cents a share, from a year-earlier loss of $22.9 million, or 8 cents a share. Excluding items, the chip maker posted a loss of $4.1 million, or a penny a share, matching the average analysts’ forecast. Applied Micro attributed the results to higher revenue, which jumped to $61.1 million in the quarter from $25.1 million.

Company shares edged up 8 cents to $3.36 at market close Tuesday. The stock plunged 4.46% to $3.21 in the extended session.

Seagate Technology (STX: chart) posted Tuesday quarterly earnings that tumbled 73% from a year ago, due to pricing pressures from competitors. The Scotts Valley, California-based maker of computer disk drives reported net income of $54 million, or 11 cents a share, for its fiscal first quarter, compared with net income of $198 million, or 40 cents a share, last year. Revenue for the quarter slid to $1.56 billion from $1.74 billion. For its second quarter, Seagate forecast a profit of 11 cents to 14 cents a share, excluding items.

The stock gained 23 cents to close Tuesday at $14.23. Company shares rose 1.55% to $14.45 in after-market trade.

Ford Motor Company (F: chart) on Tuesday rolled out third-quarter net earnings of $266 million, or 15 cents a share, rebounding from a prior-year net loss of $25 million, or 1 cent a share. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker credited the turnaround to strong performance at its financial services arm, which offset the widened loss at its worldwide automotive operations. Excluding items, profit was $537 million, or 28 cents a share, in the third quarter, up from a profit of $278 million, or 15 cents a share, in 2003. The results powered past the mean analysts’ estimate of 14 cents a share. Quarterly revenue grew to $39 billion from $36.7 billion.

Ford shares slipped 3.44% on Tuesday to $12.93. The stock gained 11 cents to $13.04 in extended-hours trading.

Electronic Arts Inc. (ERTS: chart) of Redwood City, California, reported Tuesday that its second-quarter income rose to $97 million, or 31 cents per share, from $77 million, or 25 cents per share, generated in the 2004 corresponding quarter. The U.S. leading video game maker said strong demand drove the results. Revenue in the quarter improved to $716 million from $530 million, a year earlier. For the third quarter, EA projected earnings of $1.16 to $1.26 a share, on revenue of $1.4 billion to $1.475 billion. Analysts expect earnings of $1.28 per share and revenue of $1.5 billion, on average.

The stock inched up 14 cents to $46.66 at market close Tuesday. EA shares were down 5.70% to $44.00 in after-market trade.

Monster Worldwide, Inc. (MNST: chart) announced Tuesday an increase in its quarterly profits, boosted by strong results at its job search Web site, Monster.com. The New York-based company said it earned $20 million, or 17 cents a share, in the third quarter, compared with earnings of $12.2 million, or 11 cents a share, for the same quarter in 2003. The results were a penny a share ahead of the consensus estimate of analysts. Quarterly revenue jumped to $227.1 million from $170.8 million, last year.

Company shares closed Tuesday up 44 cents, or 1.74%, at $25.80. The stock dropped 15 cents to $25.65 in the extended session.

Safeway Inc. (SWY: chart) of Pleasanton, California, posted Tuesday a third-quarter profit of $159.2 million, or 35 cents a share, in contrast to a prior-year profit of $202.5 million, or 45 cents a share. The grocer blamed the profit drop on costs associated with a labor strike in Southern California. Excluding unusual items, earnings totaled 48 cents per share in the quarter. Sales inched up to $8.30 billion from $8.28 billion, in 2003.

The stock eased 2.18% to close Tuesday at $18.37.