Hewlett-Packard Company (HPQ: chart) reported after market close Thursday a 30% increase in its quarterly earnings, on the back of strong demand for its printers and imaging products. The Palo Alto, California-based computer and printer maker announced net income of $936 million, or 30 cents a share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2004, compared with net income of $721 million, or 24 cents a share, generated in the same period a year earlier. Excluding items, HP turned in a profit of $1.08 billion, or 35 cents per share, for the quarter ended January 31, up from a profit before items of $877 million, or 29 cents per share, a year ago. First-quarter earnings were in line with analysts’ projections. HP said quarterly revenue jumped to $19.5 billion from $17.9 billion, last year, topping analysts’ estimate for revenue of $19.4 billion.

For the second quarter, the company said it expects earnings before items of around 34 cents a share, on revenue of $19.2 billion to $19.6 billion.

HP shares gained 35 cents on Thursday to $23.86. The stock slipped 1.55% to $23.49 in after-market trade.

Boosted by January surge in sales, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT: chart) announced before the bell Thursday that its fiscal 2003 fourth-quarter profit climbed 8.4% to $2.72 billion, or 63 cents a share, from $2.51 billion, or 57 cents a share, in the corresponding period a year earlier. Results of the world's biggest retailer matched analysts’ expectations. Bentonville, Arizona-based Wal-Mart said revenue jumped more than 12% to $75.2 billion, in the quarter ended January 31. U.S. same-store sales improved 4.8% from a year ago. For the same period last year, the company recorded revenue of $66.9 billion. For the full year, Wal-Mart posted earnings of $9.05 billion, or $2.07 a share, on revenue of $258.68 billion, compared with $7.96 billion, or $1.79 a share, on revenue of $231.58 billion, in fiscal 2002.

For the current first quarter, Wal-Mart projected a profit in the range of 48 cents to 50 cents a share.

The stock rose 2.06% to close Thursday at $58.38. Company shares added 2 cents to $58.40 in after-hours trading.

Target Corporation (TGT: chart) said Thursday that its quarterly earnings soared 21%, citing a strong performance at its discount chain. The Minneapolis, Minnesota-based retailer reported a profit of $832 million, or 91 cents per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003, in contrast to a profit of $688 million, or 75 cents per share, in the comparable period of 2002. Analysts had called for earnings of 87 cents a share, on average. Target said quarterly revenue was up 10.7% to $15.57 billion, from $14.06 billion last year.

Target shares shed 58 cents on Thursday to $41.71. The stock inched up 2 cents to $41.73 in after-market trade.

Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN: chart) of Seattle, Washington, posted Thursday a fourth-quarter profit of $104.3 million, or 74 cents a share, a 74% rise from a profit of $60 million, or 44 cents a share, generated in the year-ago period. The upscale retailer glided past analysts’ projections for a profit of 66 cents a share. Nordstrom attributed the results to better cost controls and strong sales which rose to $1.93 billion from $1.75 billion.

The stock dipped 2.14% to $39.78 at market close Thursday. Nordstrom shares gained 61 cents to $40.39 in after-hours trading.

CIENA Corporation (CIEN: chart) reported Thursday that it narrowed its quarterly loss from a year ago on cost cutting. The Linthicum, Maryland-based maker of telecommunications equipment said it lost $76.7 million, or 16 cents per share, in its first quarter, compared with a net loss of $107.1 million, or 25 cents a share, in the year-earlier equivalent. Sales eased to $66.4 million from $70.5 million, last year.

CIENA shares closed Thursday down 11 cents, or 1.75%, at $6.17. The stock dropped a penny to $6.16 in after-market trade.

FirstEnergy Corp. (FE: chart) of Akron, Ohio, announced Thursday that it swung to a profit in its fourth quarter from a year-earlier loss, when results were hurt by charges. The utility company reported a fourth-quarter profit of $109.4 million, or 33 cents a share, reversing from a prior-year net loss of $58.2 million, or 20 cents a share. On operating basis, earnings came in at 41 cents a share, 3 cents a share ahead of the mean estimate of analysts.

The stock inched up 4 cents on Thursday to $38.19.

The Williams Companies, Inc. (WMB: chart) posted Thursday a smaller net loss of $66 million, or 13 cents a share, for its fourth quarter, compared with a net loss of $219.2 million, or 44 cents a share, a year earlier, boosted by strong performance at its natural-gas businesses. The Tulsa, Oklahoma-based energy company said quarterly revenue jumped to $3.53 billion from $1.12 billion, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002.

Company shares plunged 5.82% to close Thursday at $9.39.

PG&E Corporation (PCG: chart) of San Francisco, California, said Thursday that it returned to profit in its fourth quarter, rebounding from a loss a year ago, when results reflected charges to write off power plants. The utility holding company said it had net income of $37 million, or 9 cents a share, in the fiscal fourth quarter, a turnaround from a net loss of $2.19 billion, or $5.41 a share, last year. Revenue improved 6% in the quarter to $2.5 billion.

The stock closed Thursday unchanged at $27.73.

Bolstered by strong drug sales, Genzyme Corporation (GENZ: chart) reported Thursday fourth-quarter net earnings of $66.7 million, or 29 cents a share, up from a year-earlier net profit of $44.7 million, or 20 cents a share. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotechnology company turned in a profit before items of 38 cents a share, in line with the consensus estimate of analysts.

Genzyme shares fell 3.68% on Thursday to $53.43. The stock shed 28 cents to $53.15 in after-market trade.