Prudential Financial, Inc. (PRU: chart) said after the bell Tuesday that it swung to a profit in its fiscal 2003 fourth quarter, citing gains from the acquisition of the annuity business American Skandia and fewer investment losses. The U.S. No.2 life insurer said it had fourth-quarter net income of $481 million, or 92 cents per share, a turnaround from a net loss of $71 million, or 10 cents per share, in the 2002 corresponding period. Earnings before items were $331 million, or 64 cents per share, in contrast to operating earnings of $248 million, or 46 cents per share, last year. On that basis, analysts had forecast a profit of 61 cents a share, on average. Newark, New Jersey-based Prudential said total revenue eased about 2% in the quarter ended December 31 to $4.54 billion from $4.62 billion, a year earlier. For the full year, Prudential reported net income of $1.02 billion, a 51% jump from $679 million in 2002.

The stock gained 13 cents on Tuesday to $45.00. Company shares rose 1.11% to $45.50 in after-hours trading.

MetLife, Inc. (MET: chart) posted after market close Tuesday a 25% rise in its quarterly earnings, helped by improving credit markets. The New York-based U.S. largest life insurer turned in net earnings of $701 million, or 92 cents per share, for its fiscal 2003 fourth quarter, compared with net earnings of $561 million, or 78 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. Last year’s results included an asbestos-related charge of $169 million. Excluding items, operating earnings came in at $565 million, or 74 cents a share, up from $338 million, or 47 cents a share last year, and in line with the mean estimate of analysts. For the quarter ended December 31, revenue increased 11% to $9.75 billion from $8.8 billion, a year earlier, with premiums rising 8.8% to $5.68 billion from $5.22 billion. For all of 2003, MetLife posted net income of $2.22 billion, or $2.94 per share, up from $1.61 billion, or $2.20 per share, in fiscal 2002.

MetLife shares closed Tuesday up 62 cents, or 1.78%, at $35.50.

XL Capital Ltd. (XL: chart) reported Tuesday a fourth-quarter net loss of $314.8 million, or $2.29 per share, in contrast to a net profit of $214.1 million, or $1.56 per share, in the year-ago period. The Bermuda-based insurer said results were due to charges to cover reinsurance losses in North America. The company recorded revenue of $2.36 billion in the quarter, up 22% from $1.94 billion, in the fourth quarter of 2002.

Company shares inched up a penny to close Tuesday at $81.54.

UBS AG (UBS: chart), the Zurich, Switzerland-based bank, announced Tuesday that it returned to profit in its fourth quarter, boosted by gains in its investment banking and securities unit. UBS said it earned 1.86 billion Swiss francs ($1.5 billion) in the fourth quarter of 2003, reversing from a prior-year loss of 101 million francs. Operating earnings came in at 8.6 billion francs ($6.9 billion), a 14% improvement from 7.52 billion francs, generated a year ago.

UBS shares rose 3.07% to $77.33 at market close Tuesday.

La-Z-Boy Incorporated (LZB: chart) said Tuesday that its third-quarter profit slumped 34% to $15.3 million, or 29 cents a share, from a profit of $23.2 million, or 41 cents a share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2003. The Monroe, Michigan-based furniture maker said earnings were hurt by price competition and weak sales at its casegoods unit. Total sales dropped 3.6% to $492.2 million, from $510.5 million a year ago.

The stock closed Tuesday at $22.05, up 28 cents, or 1.29%. Company shares fell 0.10% to $22.03 in after-market trade.

Marriott International, Inc. (MAR: chart) of Bethesda, Maryland, reported Tuesday that it swung to a quarterly profit, citing recovery in business travel. The world's largest hotel operator rolled out net income of $169 million, or 69 cents per share, for the fiscal fourth quarter, rebounding from a loss of $37 million, or 15 cents per share, a year earlier. Results outpaced analysts’ projections for a profit of 61 cents a share, on average.

Marriott shares shed 89 cents on Tuesday to close at $44.67.

Boosted by revenue growth, Monster Worldwide, Inc. (MNST: chart), the owner of the world’s No.1 Web site for job seekers, Monster.com, posted Tuesday a net profit of $12.1 million, or 11 cents a share, for its fourth quarter. The New York-based company had a net loss of $51.1 million, or 46 cents a share, in the 2002 comparable period. Excluding items, earnings were 8 cents a share, falling 2 cents short of the mean estimate of analysts.

The stock gained $1.10 to close Tuesday at $25.63. Company shares plunged 3.47% to $24.74 in after-hours trading.

The Clorox Company (CLX: chart) of Oakland, California, announced Tuesday that its second-quarter net earnings increased 22% to $109 million, or 51 cents a share, from net earnings of $89 million, or 40 cents a share, for the fiscal 2003 equivalent, when results were weighed down by a charge. The household products maker said quarterly sales climbed 2.3% to $947 million, from $926 million last year.

Clorox shares closed Tuesday at $47.52, down $2.63, or 5.24%.

Aon Corporation (AOC: chart) reported Tuesday higher quarterly income, on the back of foreign exchange gains and World Trade Center credits. The Chicago, Illinois-based world’s No.2 insurance broker said it earned $215 million, or 67 cents a share, in the fourth quarter, in contrast to net income of $178 million, or 59 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue rose 10% to $2.6 billion in the fourth quarter, from $2.36 billion a year earlier.

The stock edged up 12 cents to $24.92 at market close Tuesday.

Despite revenue decline, Sycamore Networks, Inc. (SCMR: chart) of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, posted Tuesday a smaller second-quarter loss of $13 million, or 5 cents a share, compared with a loss of $16 million, or 6 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. The maker of optical switches said quarterly revenue tumbled 36% to $6.9 million, from $10.8 million last year.

Company shares dropped 5 cents on Tuesday to $5.35. The stock dived 8.04% to $4.92 in after-market trade.