The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB: chart) said before market open Thursday it swung to a profit for its fiscal 2003 third quarter, citing improved results at its energy trading division and cost cutting efforts. For the quarter ended September 30, the energy company posted unaudited net earnings of $106.3 million, or 20 cents per share. For the same period last year, Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Williams reported a loss of $294.1 million, or 58 cents a share, largely due to a loss at its energy trading segment amid Enron Corporation's collapse. This year’s third-quarter net profit from continuing operations came in at $22.8 million, or 4 cents a share, reversing a year-ago loss from continuing operations of $171.2 million, or 34 cents a share, and matching the average analysts’ estimate. The company said revenue jumped to $4.8 billion from $719.2 million on a change in accounting.

For the full-year, the company said it expects a loss of $1.15 to 60 cents per share, including extraordinary items.

Williams shares plunged 3.62% on Thursday to $9.85. The stock shed 4 cents to $9.81 in after-hours trading.

Devon Energy Corporation (DVN: chart) of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, said Thursday its third-quarter net earnings rose more than six-fold to $412 million, or $1.71 a fully diluted share, from $62 million, or 37 cents a share, a year earlier. The energy company attributed the results to higher energy prices and record production helped by acquisitions. Revenue for the quarter was up to $1.95 billion from $1.03 billion a year ago.

The stock gained 82 cents to $49.08 at market close Thursday.

KeySpan Corporation (KSE: chart), the Brooklyn, New York-based gas and power utility, reported Thursday that its third-quarter net earnings more than tripled to $11.1 million, or 7 cents a share, from $3.6 million, or 2 cents a share, in the same period last year. The company said it benefited from a gain for a property sale and higher natural gas prices. Excluding gains, profit was 2 cents a share, in contrast to analysts’ forecasts for a loss of 1 cent a share.

Company shares added 56 cents on Thursday to $35.34. The stock inched down a penny in after-hours trading.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (ROK: chart) posted Thursday a higher fourth-quarter profit of $67 million, or 35 cents a share, compared with $49 million, or 26 cents, a year ago, on the back of cost cuts and higher sales of its control systems. The Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based provider of automation equipment said sales climbed up to $1.06 billion from $1.02 billion, in the prior year.

Rockwell’s stock surged 4.36% to close Thursday at $33.03.

Due to cost controls, Citizens Communications Company (CZN: chart) of Stamford, Connecticut, said Thursday it earned $11.4 million, or 4 cents per share, for its fiscal third quarter, rebounding from a loss of $700.1 million, or $2.49 a share a year ago. Excluding items, the telephone company posted earnings of 11 cents a share, topping by a penny analysts’ projections.

Company shares rose 1.60% to $12.08 on Thursday.

AEGON N.V. (AEG: chart), one of the world's top 10 insurers, reported Thursday a net profit of ˆ464 million ($531.1 million), for its third quarter, up 8% from ˆ429 million, in the 2002 equivalent. Sales were down to ˆ572 million ($654.7 million) from ˆ574 million. The Netherlands-based company said stronger investment portfolio boosted the results.

AEGON American shares dipped 0.97% on Thursday to $13.34.

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC: chart) posted Thursday a smaller second-quarter net loss of $7.3 million, or 34 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $10.2 million, or 50 cents per share, for the same period last year, helped by surging revenues. The Westborough, Massachusetts-based electricity solutions company said second-quarter net revenues rocketed up 115% to $9.6 million, from $4.5 million, last year.

The stock jumped 4.64% on Thursday to $10.15. Company shares gained 0.20% to $10.17 in after-hours trading.

Pixar Animation Studios (PIXR: chart) posted after market close Thursday a third-quarter net profit of $13.1 million, or 23 cents per share, down from $46.9 million, or 87 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter, but ahead of analysts’ expectations of 13 cents per share. The Emeryville, California-based studio said results were better-than-expected as its box office hit 'Finding Nemo' started breaking records.

Pixar shares closed Thursday up 20 cents, or 0.29%, at $70.16. The stock rose 1.43% to $71.16 in after-market trade.

Boosted by strong sales, Flowers Foods, Inc. (FLO: chart) of Thomasville, Georgia, posted Thursday third-quarter net income of $12.5 million, or 27 cents a share, up 52% from $8.2 million, or 18 cents a share, last year. The company, which is one of the largest bakeries in the U.S., said sales increased 7.1% to $333.2 million, above the analysts’ expectations of $327.1 million.

Company shares closed Thursday at $25.63, up $1.16, or 4.74%.

BMW Group AG ((BMW.F)), the Munich, Germany-based automaker, reported third-quarter profit of ˆ445 million ($512 million), up 2.8% from ˆ433 million in the 2002 same period, boosted by sales of its redone 5-series model. The company said revenue dropped to ˆ9.95 billion ($11.4 billion) from ˆ9.97 billion.