The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (GT: chart) announced before market open Wednesday that it narrowed its quarterly loss, citing higher sales and fewer charges. The Akron, Ohio-based tire maker reported a loss of $434.4 million, or $2.49 a share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, against a loss of $1.19 billion, or $6.96 a share, in the 2002 corresponding period. The company’s report was delayed by two months due to an investigation of accounting irregularities at its European operations. Operating loss at the company’s North American Tire division decreased to $15.6 million, from $48.5 million, a year earlier. Goodyear said that its total segments operating income more than doubled in the fourth quarter to $172.8 million from $79.4 million, in 2002. For the quarter ended December 31, sales improved 11.6% to $3.91 billion, from $3.51 billion. For the full year, loss narrowed to $802.1 million, or $4.58 per share, from a loss of $1.21 billion, or $7.35 per share, in fiscal 2002.

Goodyear shares soared 4.90% to $8.56 at market close Wednesday.

Intuit Inc. (INTU: chart) of Mountain View, California, reported Wednesday that its third-quarter net profits dropped to $264 million, or $1.33 per share, from $294 million, or $1.40 per share, in the same quarter of fiscal 2003, when results were fuelled by a one-time gain from the sale of its Japanese subsidiary. The provider of personal finance and small business accounting software delivered record third-quarter revenue of $713 million, a 12% rise from $635 million, last year. Excluding items, Intuit posted record earnings of $239 million, or $1.20 per share, for the quarter ended April 30, compared with earnings of $220 million, or $1.05 per share, a year ago. Analysts had called for a profit before items of $1.16 per share.

Intuit shares closed Wednesday unchanged at $42.77. The stock plunged 9.05% to $38.90 in after-hours trading.

Foot Locker, Inc. (FL: chart) said after the bell Wednesday that its quarterly profit increased 26% from last year, helped by new store openings. The New York-based U.S. top athletic footwear retailer posted net income of $48 million, or 31 cents per share, for the fiscal first quarter of 2004, compared with net income of $38 million, or 26 cents per share, in the year-ago equivalent. Earnings were in line with Wall Street’s views. Quarterly sales climbed 5.1% to $1.19 billion, from 2003 first-quarter sales of $1.13 billion.

The stock slipped 1.85% on Wednesday to $21.20. Company shares gained 20 cents to $21.40 in after-market trade.

Eaton Vance Corp. (EV: chart) of Boston, Massachusetts, posted Wednesday a 41% jump in its quarterly earnings, driven by an increase in assets under management. The investment company turned in a second-quarter net profit of $35.2 million, or 50 cents a share, up from a year-earlier net profit of $25.0 million, or 36 cents a share. Earnings matched analysts’ projections. Total assets under management surged 47% to $85.1 billion.

Company shares closed Wednesday up 63 cents, or 1.84%, at $34.81.

ADC Telecommunications, Inc. (ADCT: chart) announced Wednesday a smaller second-quarter net loss of $26.6 million, or 3 cents a share, in contrast to a loss of $29.4 million, or 4 cents a share, in the same period of 2003. Excluding items, the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based communications equipment maker reported break-even results on a per-share basis, meeting analysts' expectations. Quarterly sales eased 2% from a year ago to $182.2 million.

The stock surged 6.33% on Wednesday to $2.35. ADC shares shed 14 cents to $2.21 in extended trading.

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (AAP: chart) of Roanoke, Virginia, reported Wednesday higher quarterly earnings, helped by strong results at its stores open at least one year. The U.S. No.2 auto parts retailer said that it earned $51.3 million, or 68 cents per share, in the first quarter of fiscal 2004, compared with a net profit of $5.0 million, or 7 cents per share, last year, when results reflected one-time items. The average analysts’ estimate was for a first-quarter profit of 66 cents per share. Total sales in the quarter advanced 11.6% to $1.12 billion, with same-store sales rising nearly 7%.

Company shares edged up 69 cents to close Wednesday at $42.70. The stock dipped 2.48% to $41.64 in after-hours trading.

Brown Shoe Company, Inc. (BWS: chart) posted Wednesday net earnings of $8.6 million, or 45 cents a share, for its first quarter, down from net earnings of $9 million, or 49 cents a share, in the comparable quarter a year ago. The St. Louis, Missouri-based shoe retailer said the decrease in profit was mainly due to costs related to the Bass footwear license that it acquired in February. Quarterly sales were up 10.2% to $491.8 million.

The stock rose 1.47% to $38.62 at market close Wednesday.

Ross Stores, Inc. (ROST: chart) of Newark, California, said Wednesday that its quarterly profit slipped 1.6%, on increased distribution expenses. The discount retailer reported first-quarter net income of $48.5 million, or 32 cents a share, against prior-year net income of $49.3 million, or 32 cents a share. Results were in line with the consensus forecast of analysts. Ross Stores recorded sales of $992 million in the quarter, up 13% from year-ago sales of $879 million.

Company shares dived 4.48% on Wednesday to $24.50.

The Talbots, Inc. (TLB: chart) announced Wednesday quarterly income that rose 13% from last year, driven by strong performance at its women's business. The Hingham, Massachusetts-based clothing retailer rolled out net earnings of $33.3 million, or 58 cents a share, for its first quarter, compared with net earnings of $29.4 million, or 51 cents a share, in the first quarter of 2003. The company beat by a penny a share the mean estimate of analysts.

The stock slid 1.09% to close Wednesday at $32.64.

Synopsys, Inc. (SNPS: chart) of Mountain View, California, said Wednesday that it had net income of $28.7 million, or 18 cents per share, in its second quarter, up from net income of $22.3 million, or 15 cents per share, in the 2003 comparable quarter. The developer of semiconductor design software attributed the results to stronger sales. Excluding items, earnings came to 35 cents per share, down from 40 cents per share, a year earlier, but 2 cents per share ahead of analysts’ expectations.

Synopsys shares inched up 2 cents on Wednesday to $25.32. The stock soared 6.20% to $26.89 in after-market trade.