Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), the largest telephone company in the U.S., posted net profit of 12 cents a share in the second quarter, helped by its wireless unit. In the same period last year the company reported a loss of 78 cents a share.

Second-quarter revenues climbed 0.6 percent to $16.8 billion.

SI International Inc. (SINT), an IT company based in Reston, Virginia, swung into profit of $1.6 million in the second quarter due to government demand for updated computer and space systems. Earnings surged to 19 cents a share, compared with a loss of 67 cents in the year-ago quarter.

Revenue grew 15 percent to $40.7 million. More than half of that came from the Defense Department.

MicroStrategy Inc. (MSTR), whose software sifts vast amounts of data for potentially money-making or money-saving trends, had a second-quarter net profit of 15 cents a share. Revenue jumped 19 percent to $43.6 million, boosted by software license revenue.

In the same quarter last year, the McLean, Virginia company posted net income of $2.41 a share - a figure that included gains from a reduction in the estimated cost of a legal settlement and a terminated customer contract.

MicroStrategy expects to earn $1.00 to $1.40 a share in 2003.

McDonald's Corp. (MCD), the world’s largest restaurant company, reported a 5.3 percent profit drop for the second quarter, hurt by higher costs and weak sales in Europe and Asia. Net income fell to 37 cents a share, from 39 cents a share in the year-ago period.

Total revenue rose 10.6 percent to $11.5 billion, boosted by U.S. same-store sales. The latter were up 4.9 percent, their highest level in five years.

Swiss fertilizer company Syngenta AG (SYT) said net income in the first half of the year jumped 42 percent to $468 million due to currency effects. Revenue grew 5 percent to $4.1 billion. The company expects to benefit from progress in Latin America during the second half of 2003.

McGraw-Hill Cos. Inc. (MHP), one of the largest educational book publishers in the world, said it earned 74 cents a share in the second quarter, up from 70 cents a year ago. Revenue was up 1.3 percent to $1.19 billion.

Jones Apparel Group Inc. (JNY), maker of women’s clothing and footwear based in Bristol, Pennsylvania, reported net income of 54 cents a share in the second quarter, up from 49 cents in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 0.8 percent to $980 million.

The company expects to earn $2.75 and $2.80 a share in 2003.

Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. (KCP), a clothing and shoe maker based in New York, said second-quarter profit rose 11 percent with improved merchandising and controlled costs. Earnings reached 30 cents a share, compared with 26 cents a share in the same period a year earlier.

Net revenue dropped 2.5 percent to $96.9 million, as same-store sales dipped 4.4 percent.

Coach Inc. (COH), a New York maker of luxury leather goods, said its net income soared 80 percent in the fiscal fourth quarter ended June 28, helped by new-product sales. The company earned 32 cents a share, up from 18 cents a share in the prior fourth quarter. Revenue climbed 35 percent to $231.5 million, above the First Call projection of $216.9 million.

Coventry Health Care Inc. (CVH), a healthcare company based in Bethesda, Maryland, said its second-quarter profit soared 73 percent due to increased rates and membership in its managed health care plans. Earnings surged to $1.05 a share, compared with 60 cents a share in a year ago. Operating revenue rose 12 percent to $1 billion.

Unocal Corp. (UCL), a producer of natural gas and crude oil based in El Segundo, California, posted a 55 percent increase in second-quarter profit due to higher natural-gas prices. The company earned 68 cents a share, up from 46 cents a year earlier. Revenue rose 18 percent to $1.62 billion.

Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group Inc. (FBR), an investment management firm based in Arlington, Virginia, more than tripled its earnings in its first full quarter since merging with FBR Asst Investment Corp. Profit in the second quarter increased to 43 cents a share from 36 cents a share in the same quarter last year. Revenue climbed 77 percent to $128.7 million.