Continental Airlines, (CAL: chart), stated that net loss was narrowed by a gain on sale of stock but hurt by almost 58% higher costs of fuel and related taxes as well as sharp competitive challenges. In the latest quarter, if not for a $106 million gain on the sale of Copa stock and charges of $21 million, the loss was $1.58 per share, topping on that basis analysts’ estimates of a loss of $1.68 per share.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc., (FCX: chart), copper and gold mining company, reported Q4 earnings of $2.19 a share, up 118% $1.08 a share in the same period the previous year on operating performance and favorable copper and gold markets, topping analyst estimate of $1.78 a share.

Forest Laboratories, (FRX: chart), drug maker, reported Q3 earnings of 57 cents a share, down from 70 cents a share in the year-ago period, missing analyst estimate of 62 cents a share. The latest results incorporate a payment of 5 cents a share to Gedeon Richter Ltd. for the U.S. and Canadian rights to a developmental compound. Revenue dropped 9% in Q3.

Fifth Third Bancorp, (FITB: chart), banking services, reported Q4 earnings per share were 60 cents, up from 31 cents per share for the year-ago period. Return on average assets (ROA) and return on average equity (ROE) were 1.27 % and 13.9 %, respectively, compared to 0.72 %and 7.6 % in 2004''s Q4. Earnings and balance sheet comparisons to the prior year were also impacted by the Q1 of 2005 acquisition of First National Bankshares of Florida, Inc.

M.D.C. Holdings Inc., (MDC: chart), home builder, reported that Q4 net income advanced to $4.29 a share, up from $3.17 a share in the same period previous year on more homes sold at greater prices, beating analysts expectations of $3.98 a share. Total revenue, which reflects orders taken months ago, rose 29 % to $1.7 billion.

Texas Regional Bancshares, (TRBS: chart), reported Q4 net income of 46 cents a share, up from 42 cents a share in the year-earlier period, topping analyst estimate of 44 cents a share. The company recorded about $898,000 in Q4 charge-offs due to the impact of Hurricane Rita, less than the provision of $2.5 million.

National City Corp., (NCC: chart), banking services, reported that Q4 net income dropped to 64 cents a share, down from $1.46 a share in the same period the previous year, missing analyst estimate of 67 cents a share. The bank took $75 million in after-tax charges during the quarter. It took $132 million provision for credit losses compared to $81 million in the year-ago quarter, on higher commercial and consumer net charge-offs, as well as a $20 million provision for bankruptcy losses that haven''t yet been realized.

U.S. Bancorp, (USB: chart), banking services, reported an 8% increase in quarterly net income to 62 cents a share, compared to 56 cents a share in the year-ago period on growth in its fee-based businesses, matching analyst estimate.

AmSouth Bancorporation, (ASO: chart), banking services, reported Q4 net income of 52 cents a share, up 2.9% from 49 cents a share in the year-ago period, beating analysts’s expectations of 50 cents a share.

Monro Muffler Brake Inc., (MNRO: chart), repair services for passenger cars company, reported Q3 net income increased 15.4% to 27 cents a share, up from 24 cents a share in the same period the previous year, beating analysts forecasts by a penny. Q3 sales rose 12% to $90.2 million.

Wells Fargo & Co, (WFC: chart), banking services, reported that its Q4 net income rose 8% to $1.14 a share, up from $1.04 a share a year ago but a spike in personal bankruptcies in the quarter weighed on results and the company came up a penny shy of analyst expectations.