J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP: chart) reported before market open Thursday that it swung to a loss in its fiscal 2003 fourth quarter, citing charges for the impending sale of its Eckerd drugstore chain and the sale of department stores in Mexico. The department-store and drugstore operator said it had a net loss of $1.07 billion, or $3.42 a share, in the fourth quarter, in contrast to net income of $202 million, or 68 cents a share, in the same period a year earlier. Excluding results from discontinued operations, Plano, Texas-based Penney announced earnings of $253 million, or 83 cents per share, for the quarter ended January 31, up from $174 million, or 58 cents per share, last year. Analysts had called for earnings before charges of 80 cents per share. Fourth-quarter sales were $6.1 billion, up 6.2% from $5.74 billion, a year ago. For the full year, Penney posted a loss of $928 million, or $3.13 per share, compared to a profit of $405 million, or $1.36 per share, in fiscal 2002.

Penney shares rose 4.17% on Thursday to $31.00. The stock shed 5 cents to $30.95 in after-hours trading.

Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK: chart) of San Rafael, California, posted after the bell Thursday net income of $58 million, or 48 cents a share, for its fourth quarter, compared with net income of $6.4 million, or 6 cents a share, in the year-ago period. The provider of computer-aided design software said quarterly revenue rose to $295.3 million from $195.5 million, a year earlier. Excluding items, Autodesk reported a profit of 45 cents a share, well above the mean estimate of analysts for earnings of 29 cents a share. The company said strong demand for its software drove the results.

The stock inched up 7 cents to close Thursday at $25.97. Company shares rocketed up 12.90% to $29.32 in after-market trade.

Kohl's Corporation (KSS: chart) announced Thursday a 12% drop in its quarterly earnings, hurt in part by weaker same-store sales. The Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based discount department-store chain turned in a net profit of $246.8 million, or 72 cents a share, for the fourth quarter, down from a profit of $279 million, or 81 cents a share, generated last year. Analysts were looking for earnings of 69 cents a share, on average.

Kohl's shares gained 94 cents on Thursday to $50.50. The stock rose 2.00% to $51.51 in after-hours trading.

Gap Inc. (GPS: chart) of San Francisco, California, said Thursday that its fourth-quarter net earnings soared 43% to $355.8 million, or 37 cents a share, from net earnings of $248.7 million, or 27 cents a share, in the corresponding period last year. The fashion retailer attributed the results to higher sales and cost reductions. Results were in line with Wall Street’s expectations. For all of 2003, Gap posted net income of $1.03 billion, or $1.09 a share, up from $477.5 million, or 54 cents a share, a year ago.

The stock closed Thursday at $21.08, up 3 cents, or 0.14%. Gap shares added 22 cents to $21.30 in after-market trade.

Liz Claiborne, Inc. (LIZ: chart) reported Thursday higher quarterly income, boosted by strong sales. The New York-based clothing retailer said it had a profit of $73.1 million, or 66 cents per share, in its fourth quarter, compared with $58.0 million, or 54 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002. Results matched analysts’ projections. Quarterly sales climbed 3.8% to $1.03 billion, helped by the company’s recent acquisitions.

Liz Claiborne shares slipped 2.02% to $36.83 at market close Thursday.

Limited Brands, Inc. (LTD: chart) of Columbus, Ohio, posted Thursday fourth-quarter net income of $387.6 million, or 74 cents a share, a 10% improvement from net income of $352.9 million, or 66 cents a share, in the comparable period a year earlier. The apparel retailer said the 8% rise in its same-store sales helped boost the results. Total sales in the quarter increased 8.9% to $3.23 billion, from $2.97 billion in the prior-year period.

The stock closed Thursday down 9 cents, or 0.45%, at $20.11.

Calpine Corporation (CPN: chart) announced Thursday that it returned to profit in its fourth quarter from a prior-year loss, citing gains from an accounting change and asset sales. The San Jose, California-based independent power producer rolled out net earnings of $119.6 million, or 29 cents per share, for the fourth quarter, reversing from a net loss of $25.2 million, or 7 cents per share, in the year-ago equivalent. Calpine recorded revenue of $1.92 billion in the quarter, up 3% from last year.

Calpine shares dipped 1.62% to $5.47 at market close Thursday. The stock inched up 3 cents to $5.50 in after-hours trading.

Toll Brothers, Inc. (TOL: chart), the Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania-based homebuilder, said Thursday that its quarterly earnings advanced 10%, due to low mortgage rates, which boosted the demand for luxury homes. The company announced a profit of $50.1 million, or 62 cents per share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2004, in contrast to $45.4 million, or 61 cents per share, earned last year. Results topped by 2 cents a share the consensus estimate of analysts.

The stock gained $1.47 to close Thursday at $43.38. Company shares added a penny in after-market trade.

chinadotcom corporation (CHINA: chart) reported Thursday that its fourth-quarter profit more than doubled, aided by strong revenue growth. The Hong Kong-based enterprise software company said it earned $4.05 million, or 4 cents per share, in its fourth quarter, up from net income of $1.2 million, or a penny a share, a year ago. Analysts were looking for earnings of 3 cents a share, on average.

Company shares were up 1.99% on Thursday to $11.80. The stock rose 3.56% to $12.22 in after-hours trading.

McDATA Corporation (MCDTA: chart) of Broomfield, Colorado, posted Thursday a second-quarter net loss of $7.53 million, or 7 cents per share, against a prior-year net profit of $8.60 million, or 8 cents per share. The supplier of data storage equipment cited one-time charges as main factor for the loss. McDATA said quarterly revenue climbed to $114.0 million, from a year-ago revenue of $105.5 million, driven by strong demand by business customers.

The stock closed Thursday at $7.79, up 16 cents, or 2.10%. McDATA shares surged 7.83% to $8.40 in after-market trade.