Walgreen Co. (WAG: chart) posted Monday quarterly earnings that rose 18% from a year earlier, topping analysts’ estimates, helped by higher prescription drug sales. The Deerfield, Illinois-based U.S. No.1 drugstore chain announced a net profit of $327.2 million, or 32 cents a share, for its fiscal 2004 fourth quarter, compared with a profit of $277.1 million, or 27 cents a share, for the prior-year period. The earnings were a penny a share above Wall Street consensus forecast. For the quarter ended August 31, sales improved 14.3% to $9.4 billion from $8.3 billion, last year. Comparable-store sales were up 9.7% from a year ago. Walgreen said strength in digital photo processing and general merchandise also helped boost its profits. For all of 2004, net earnings totaled $1.36 billion, or $1.32 a share, on revenue of $37.5 billion. That compares to earnings of $1.18 billion, or $1.14 a share, on revenue of $32.5 billion, in 2003. The company said that it was its 30th consecutive year of record sales and profits.

Walgreen shares gained 22 cents on Monday to $36.48.

Ault Incorporated (AULT: chart) snapped a three-year loss streak as it announced Monday a quarterly profit, aided by strong sales and expense reductions. The Brookland Park, Minnesota-based maker of power-conversion devices reported earnings of $153,000, or 2 cents per share, for its first quarter, a turnaround from a prior-year loss of $924,000, or 21 cents per share. Sales in the quarter jumped 21% to $13.1 million from $10.8 million, last year.

The stock closed Monday unchanged at $2.80.

Financial Federal Corporation (FIF: chart) reported Monday that its fourth-quarter income increased 19% to $8.2 million, or 48 cents per share, from $6.9 million, or 38 cents per share, generated in the 2003 equivalent. The New York-based financial services firm cited reductions in non-performing assets as main factor for the results. Analysts were looking for a profit of 46 cents per share, on average. For the quarter ended July 31, finance receivables outstanding rose $27 million to $1.46 billion.

Company shares dipped 2.09% to close Monday at $35.54. The stock added a penny to $35.55 in extended trade.

Federated Department Stores, Inc. (FD: chart) said Monday that its third-quarter earnings will be reduced by 4 cents to 6 cents a share, due to the effect of Hurricane Jeanne and Hurricane Frances. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based department store retailer estimated that the impact of Hurricane Jeanne on lost sales in its Florida stores will be about $10 million. September sales are expected to be crimped by about $30 million, as a result of the combined effect of the two hurricanes.

The stock slipped 2.51% to $45.38 at market close Monday.

Perot Systems Corporation (PER: chart) of Plano, Texas, lifted Monday its quarterly financial outlook, boosted by an income tax benefit and stronger-than-expected demand. The provider of consulting and information technology services said that it now sees a third-quarter profit of 21 cents to 23 cents per share, on revenue of $448 million to $460 million. The company had earlier projected earnings of 17 cents to 18 cents per share, for the quarter, on revenue of $430 million to $445 million. The average analysts’ estimate was for a profit of 18 cents per share, on revenue of $438.8 million.

Perot shares surged 7.29% on Monday to $14.71. The stock added 18 cents to $14.89 in after-hours trading.

PalmSource, Inc. (PSRC: chart) announced after market close Thursday a smaller quarterly loss, helped by higher revenue and lower expenses. The Sunnyvale, California-based software maker reported a net loss of $165,000, or a penny a share, for its fiscal 2005 first quarter, in contrast to a prior-year net loss of $3.8 million, or 38 cents a share. Excluding unusual items, the company posted a profit of $800,000, or 5 cents a share, for the quarter ended August 27, reversing from a loss before items of $1.5 million, or 15 cents a share, for the 2004 corresponding quarter. Analysts had expected a loss of 2 cents a share, on average. Quarterly revenue climbed to $18.2 million from $17.1 million, beating the mean analysts’ estimate of $17.9 million. PalmSource, which supplies the operating system software for the handheld devices of palmOne Inc. and Sony Corp., said its second-quarter revenue will miss analysts’ estimates, due to Sony's decision to withdraw from the U.S. handheld computer market. PalmSource said it expects second-quarter results, excluding items, to be between break-even and a profit of 13 cents a share, on revenue of about $18 million. Analysts forecast a profit 5 cents a share, on revenue of $19 million.

A.G. Edwards, Inc. (AGE: chart) reported Thursday an 8% increase in its quarterly income, aided by lower expenses. The retail brokerage turned in net earnings of $40.6 million, or 52 cents per share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2005, up from net earnings of $37.5 million, or 47 cents per share, last year. Analysts were looking for a profit of 56 cents per share, on average. Net revenues dipped 4% to $614.3 million, for the quarter ended August 31, compared with prior-year revenues of $639 million. Analysts had forecast revenues of $655.8 million. Revenue from principal transactions declined 14% to $71 million, while investment banking revenue plunged 39% to $57.9 million. St. Louis, Missouri-based A.G. Edwards said commission revenues for the second quarter dropped 12% to $237.1 million, citing decreased investor activity in individual equities. Asset-management and service-fee revenues for the second quarter increased 27% $214.2 million, reflecting ‘greater client interest in fee-based programs and services’.

Rite Aid Corporation (RAD: chart) said Thursday that it swung to a quarterly profit from a year-earlier loss, aided by a decrease in inventory expenses. The Camp Hill, Pennsylvania-based drugstore chain announced a profit of $9.8 million, or nil per share, for its fiscal second quarter, rebounding from a loss of $10.6 million, or 4 cents per share, in the year-ago equivalent. Analysts were looking for a loss of 1 cent a share. Sales for the quarter inched up 1.8% to $4.12 billion. Same-store sales were up 2% from last year.

Boosted by strong sales, The Finish Line, Inc. (FINL: chart) on Thursday turned in second-quarter net income of $20.8 million, or 85 cents per share, up from net income of $17.5 million, or 73 cents per share, for the same period of the prior year. The Indianapolis, Indiana-based athletic shoe retailer recorded net sales of $312.2 million in the quarter, compared with $270.8 million, a year earlier. The consensus analysts’ forecast was for a profit of 87 cents a share, on revenue of $312.1 million.

Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (ESIO: chart) of Portland, Oregon, posted Thursday a profit for its fiscal first quarter, jumping back from a prior-year loss, driven by solid revenue growth. The maker of manufacturing and test equipment said that it swung to a profit of $10.6 million, or 36 cents per share, in the first quarter, from a loss of $9.4 million, or 34 cents per share, for the 2004 corresponding period. Quarterly revenues surged to $72.6 million from $20.9 million, bolstered by strong demand. The earnings, however, fell short of the average analysts’ estimate of 46 cents per share.