Abbott Laboratories (ABT: chart) reported before market open Friday that its quarterly net profits more than doubled from last year, boosted by higher pharmaceutical sales. The Abbott Park, Illinois-based drug maker, which also produces diagnostic tests, rolled out net earnings of $634.3 million, or 40 cents a share, for its fiscal 2004 second quarter, in contrast to net earnings of $246.6 million, or 16 cents a share, in the year-ago quarter, when results included a big settlement charge. Excluding charges and results from discontinued operations, earnings came to $854.5 million, or 54 cents a share, in the quarter ended June 30, a 14% increase from $752.3 million, or 47 cents a share, a year ago. On that basis, the results matched Wall Street’s projections. Sales in the quarter advanced 14% to $4.7 billion from $4.13 billion, for the same period in 2003, aided by strong demand for the company’s rheumatoid arthritis drug Humira and cholesterol drug TriCor.

For its fiscal third quarter, Abbott forecast a net profit of 48 cents to 50 cents a share. Excluding items, the company said it sees earnings of 51 cents to 53 cents a share in the quarter.

Abbott shares dropped 38 cents on Friday to $39.90.

General Electric Company (GE: chart) said before the bell Friday that its second-quarter earnings inched up 3%, helped by strong performances in its industrial, finance and health-care businesses. The Fairfield, Connecticut-based conglomerate reported net income of $3.92 billion, or 38 cents a share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2004, compared with net income of $3.79 billion, or 38 cents a share, in the 2003 equivalent. The earnings topped by a penny a share the average analysts’ estimate. For the quarter ended June 30, revenue climbed 11% to $37.0 billion from $33.4 billion, a year earlier, boosted by a 14% growth in sales of goods and services. GE said it also benefited from its recent acquisition of British medical device maker Amersham and the NBC merger with Universal. For the first half of 2004, GE posted a net profit of $7.16 billion, or 69 cents per share, up from a net profit of $6.79 billion, or 68 cents per share, for the first six months of 2003.

The stock rose 1.48% to close Friday at $32.17. GE shares added 3 cents to $32.20 in after-hours trading.

Genworth Financial, Inc. (GNW: chart) of Richmond, Virginia, posted Friday second-quarter net income of $268 million, or 55 cents a share, a 26% drop from prior-year net income of $364 million, or 74 cents a share, when results included income from discontinued operations of $99 million, or 20 cents a share. The former General Electric insurance unit said that earnings from continuing operations, excluding items, were up 9% to $279 million, or 57 cents a share, in its first time as a public company, from $256 million, or 52 cents a share, last year. Revenue in the quarter rose to $2.92 billion from $2.86 billion.

Genworth shares closed Friday up 4 cents, or 0.18%, at $21.89.

Crucell N.V. (CRXL: chart) announced Friday a narrower second-quarter net loss of €2.0 million ($2.5 million), compared with a net loss of €6.2 million ($7.5 million) in the 2003 corresponding period. The Netherlands-based biotechnology company attributed the results to the solid growth in revenues, which surged to €8.0 million ($9.7 million) in the quarter, from €1.1 million ($ 1.3 million), a year earlier.

The stock slipped 0.47% to $8.48 at market close Friday.

Delta and Pine Land Company (DLP: chart), the Scott, Mississippi-based cotton seed company, said Friday that its third-quarter net income improved 10% to $31.4 million, or 79 cents a share, compared with net income of $28.5 million, or 72 cents a share, in the 2003 comparable quarter. Net sales and licensing fees in the quarter increased 10% to $185.1 million. The company said that results were due to a shift in domestic cotton seed sales to the third quarter from the second.

Company shares shed 27 cents on Friday to $20.90.

Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. (FRS: chart) posted Friday a drop in its quarterly earnings, hurt by weaker-than-expected revenues and higher commodity prices. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based restaurant chain reported a fourth-quarter profit of $2.6 million, or 51 cents per share, against a profit of $3.1 million, or 61 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. The company said higher gasoline prices had a negative impact on quarterly sales.

The stock plunged 9.09% to close Friday at $26.00.

Schmitt Industries, Inc. (SMIT: chart) of Portland, Oregon, reported Friday a huge rise in its quarterly profits, bolstered by surging sales in both its Balancer and Measurement segments. The maker of industrial capital equipment turned in net income of $535,950, or 21 cents per share, for its fiscal fourth quarter, in contrast to $139,656, or 6 cents per share, generated a year earlier. Quarterly sales jumped to $2.8 million from $2 million, last year.

Schmitt shares rocketed up 77.40% to $6.83 at market close Friday. The stock added 64 cents to $7.47 in after-market trade.

Quidel Corporation (QDEL: chart) said Friday that its quarterly results will come in below expectations, citing litigation expenses. The San Diego, California-based provider of rapid diagnostic tests forecast a net loss of 12 cents a share for its fiscal second quarter, on revenue of about $14.3 million. Analysts expected the company to earn 1 cent a share in the quarter, on revenue of about $19.9 million.

The stock plummeted 33.84% on Friday to $3.46. Quidel shares inched up 2 cents to $3.48 in the extended session.

Unisys Corporation (UIS: chart) of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, on Friday lowered its second-quarter profit target to a range of 10 cents to 11 cents a share before items, from an earlier outlook of 14 cents to 17 cents a share, excluding items. The information technology consulting firm blamed delays in service projects and computer sales contracts for the reduced forecast. Quarterly revenue is expected to be between $1.38 billion and $1.39 billion.

Unisys shares dived 15.47% to close Friday at $10.87. The stock lost 2 cents to $10.85 in after-hours trading.

Arch Coal, Inc. (ACI: chart) announced Friday that its quarterly earnings will be at the lower end of its previous estimates, due to rail service disruptions. The St. Louis, Missouri-based U.S. second-largest coal producer said that it expects earnings of 20 cents a share in its second quarter, compared with its prior guidance of 20 cents to 30 cents a share. On average, analysts are looking for a profit of 26 cents a share in the quarter.