The Sunnyvale, California Internet company Yahoo Inc. (YHOO: chart) said 1Q net income more than doubled on big growth in online advertising, international operations and fee-based businesses.

Net income climbed to $205 million, or 14 cents a share vs. $101 million, or seven cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue jumped 55% to $1.17 billion. Excluding commissions paid to marketing partners, Yahoo had revenue of $821 million, well above its projection of $765 million to $805 million. Yahoo boosted its full-year projection.

Janus Capital Group Inc. (JNS: chart) swung to a profit in 1Q but stayed cautious about 2005 guidance.

1Q net income at the Denver fund shop was $19.6 million, compared with a drop of $22.1 million last year. Janus reported quarterly earnings were 9 cents a share, compared with a loss of 10 cents a share last year, falling short of estimated 12 cents a share. Revenue was $216 million, compared with $249.9 million during the same period a year earlier.

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT: chart) reported a 38% jump in first-quarter earnings as the industrial equipment maker successfully passed along higher prices to its customers and added an extra $1.44 billion in machinery and engine volume over the same period the previous year.

In the first quarter, Caterpillar's net income climbed to $581 million, or $1.63 a share, compared to $420 million, or $1.19 a share. Analysts expected earnings of $1.36 a share. Revenue rose 29% to $8.34 billion from $6.48 billion, well above analysts' estimates of $7.3 billion.

Caterpillar forecast a 2005 sales growth of 16% to 18% and earnings growth of 35% to 40% from 2004.

Merrill Lynch & Co. (MER: chart) said first-quarter earnings fell 3.1% to $1.21 billion.

The investment bank's earnings per share of $1.21 topped Wall Street expectations by 3 cents a share.
Merrill announced its net revenue rose 2.6% to $6.22 billion from 1Q of 2004 when Merrill had net income of $1.25 billion on net revenue of $6.06 billion.

Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX: chart) reported 1Q net jumped 85% as sales of its cardiovascular stent fueled a 49% increase in revenue. Boston Scientific said that net income rose to $358 million, or 42 cents a share, from $194 million, or 23 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Special charges for purchased in-process research, related to the acquisition of Advanced Stent Technologies Inc., held down net income.

Revenue was $1.62 billion, up from $1.08 billion in the prior year's quarter.

Viacom Inc. (VIA: chart) reported its net income dropped 18% in the first quarter on a weak performance at the media conglomerate's CBS television unit.

Net income fell to $585 million, or 36 cents a share, from $710.5 million, or 35 cents a share, a year earlier. The year-earlier quarter was boosted by a tax benefit of $111 million. Revenue rose 5.3% to $5.58 billion, from $5.30 billion.

Juniper Networks Inc. (JNPR: chart) said 1Q net income more than doubled on strong sales of its Internet-switching gear, particularly in North America and Asia. Juniper also boosted financial forecasts for the current quarter.

Juniper reported net income of $75.4 million, or 13 cents a share, in the first quarter, compared with $33.5 million, or eight cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue more than doubled to $449.1 million from $224.1 million.

D.R. Horton Inc. (DHI: chart) one of the country's biggest home builders, posted a 56% rise in fiscal 2Q profit. The Fort Worth, Texas, company said net income in the quarter ended March 31 hit $294 million, or 92 cents a share, compared with $188.6 million, or 60 cents, a year earlier. Analysts had been expecting 2Q earnings of 80 cents a share. Revenue rose 23% to $2.83 billion.

EMC Corp. (EMC: chart) reported a leap in net income in the first quarter on higher sales of its data-storage equipment and related software. EMC's net income surged 93% to $270 million, or 11 cents a share, from $140 million, or six cents a share, a year earlier. The numbers, which included small gains from some acquisitions, were in line with Wall Street's expectations.

EMC said its gross profit margin -- sales less the cost of goods sold, expressed as a percentage of sales -- for the quarter was 52.3%, against 50.1% in the first quarter last year.

Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT: chart) said its first-quarter profit rose 27% on lower restructuring costs and a tax benefit.

Kraft said profit rose to $713 million, or 42 cents a share, from $560 million, or 33 cents a share, a year earlier. Revenue grew 6.4% to $8.06 billion, in part due to favorable exchange rates.
Kraft is 85%-owned by Altria Group Inc. but Kraft has been making preparations for a potential spinoff from Altria.