Oracle Corporation (ORCL: chart) posted after market close Thursday higher quarterly earnings, driven by strong results at its database business. The world's second largest software maker announced net income of $635 million, or 12 cents a share, for its fiscal 2004 third quarter, an 11% improvement from net income of $571 million, or 11 cents a share, in the prior-year equivalent. Results were in line with Wall Street’s expectations. Redwood City, California-based Oracle recorded revenue of $2.51 billion in the quarter ended February 29, up 9% from $2.31 billion, a year earlier. New-software-license revenue advanced 12% to $847 million. The principal contribution to the increase came from sales of new database software, which jumped to $700 million in the third quarter from $603 million, in the same period a year earlier. Sales of applications software were unchanged at $140 million. Oracle said software-license updates and product support revenues rose 17% to $1.18 billion from a year ago.

Oracle shares slipped 1.29% on Thursday to $12.25. The stock dropped 13 cents to $12.12 in after-market trade.

National Semiconductor Corporation (NSM: chart) of Santa Clara, California, said Thursday that it swung to a quarterly profit from a prior-year loss, bolstered by rising sales. The chipmaker posted third-quarter net earnings of $93.1 million, or 48 cents a share, rebounding from a year-earlier net loss of $36.4 million, or 20 cents a share. Excluding items, profit was 47 cents a share, beating analysts’ projections for a profit of 41 cents a share. The company said that net sales increased to $513.6 million in the quarter, from $404.3 million a year ago, driven by strong demand for personal computers and wireless handsets.

The stock closed Thursday up 88 cents, or 2.30%, at $39.08.

Verity, Inc. (VRTY: chart) reported after the bell Thursday that its third-quarter profit jumped 31% to $4.8 million, or 12 cents a share, from a profit of $3.7 million, or 10 cents a share, generated in the corresponding period last year. The Sunnyvale, California-based software company attributed the results to stronger sales, which rose 10% to $30.5 million, from $27.8 million a year earlier.

Verity shares shed 17 cents on Thursday to $15.78. The stock plummeted 11.91% to $13.90 in after-hours trading.

Allegheny Energy, Inc. (AYE: chart) of Hagerstown, Maryland, announced Thursday a narrower loss of $13.7 million, or 11 cents a share, for its fourth quarter, compared with a loss of $281.8 million, or $2.23 a share, in the comparable period a year ago. The power company said the improvement was due to fewer charges. Analysts had expected Allegheny to report a loss of 4 cents a share, on average.

The stock edged up 32 cents to $12.35 at market close Thursday.

Boosted by solid revenue growth, Borders Group, Inc. (BGP: chart) posted Thursday a net profit of $119.8 million, or $1.50 per share, for its fiscal fourth quarter, up 13% from a net profit of $106.2 million, or $1.32 per share, in the same period a year ago. The Ann Arbor, Michigan-based U.S. No.2 bookseller said quarterly revenue climbed 7.5% to $1.32 billion from $1.23 billion, in the previous year. Same-store sales at the company’s namesake stores were up 2.5% from a year ago.

Borders shares closed Thursday down 18 cents, or 0.77%, at $23.17.

Elizabeth Arden, Inc. (RDEN: chart), the Miami Lakes, Florida-based cosmetics maker, reported Thursday a wider quarterly loss, hurt by charges. The company said it had a loss of $11.6 million, or 48 cents a share, in its fourth quarter, in contrast to a loss of $400,000 million, or 2 cents a share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003. Excluding items, Elizabeth Arden posted a profit of 39 cents a share in the quarter, 4 cents a share ahead of the mean estimate of analysts.

The stock rose 2.78% on Thursday to $22.20. Company shares added 37 cents to $22.57 in after-market trade.

99 Cents Only Stores (NDN: chart) of Commerce, California, said Thursday that its fourth-quarter earnings slid 24% from prior year to $15 million, or 21 cents a share, citing an increase to the company's compensation reserve. The discount retailer recorded sales of $247.5 million in the quarter, up 17% from a year ago. For the same period last year, 99 Cents Only had a profit of $19.7 million, or 28 cents a share, on sales of $210.7 million.

Company shares shed 40 cents to close Thursday at $26.90.

Hudson's Bay Company ((HBC.TO)) announced Thursday that its quarterly profit dipped 15%, dragged by higher Ontario tax rates and weaker holiday sales. The Toronto-based Canada’s No.1 department store chain turned in earnings of C$89 million ($67 million), or C$1.10 a share, for its fourth quarter, compared with earnings of C$105 million, or C$1.30 a share, in the year-ago equivalent. Revenue was up 0.7% to C$2.5 billion from C$2.4 billion.

The stock gained 12 Canadian cents on Thursday to C$12.80 on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

BMW Group AG ((BMW.F)) posted Thursday a net profit of €1.94 billion ($2.41 billion) for fiscal 2003, down 3.6% from a net profit of €2.02 billion, in the previous year. The Munich, Germany-based automaker said revenue eased 2.1% to €41.52 billion ($51.49 billion) in 2003. BMW attributed the results to one-time items caused by tax and retirement changes.

California Micro Devices Corporation (CAMD: chart) of Milpitas, California, forecast Thursday earnings of 4 cents to 6 cents a share, for its fiscal fourth quarter, on revenue between $14.7 million and $15.5 million. Analysts currently expect the semiconductor company to earn 6 cents a share, on revenue of $15 million.

Company shares dropped 12 cents to close Thursday at $13.03. The stock tumbled 13.81% to $11.23 in after-hours trading.