The Home Depot, Inc. (HD: chart) said before the bell Tuesday that its quarterly earnings surged nearly 40% from last year, driven by rising sales. The world’s largest home improvement chain reported net income of $951 million, or 42 cents a share, for its fiscal 2003 fourth quarter, up from net income of $686 million, or 30 cents a share, in the comparable period of fiscal 2002. Results for the quarter ended February 1 were 3 cents a share ahead of the consensus estimate of analysts. Atlanta, Georgia-based Home Depot said quarterly sales increased 14% to $15.13 billion, from $13.21 billion a year ago, aided by improved customer service and new merchandise. Same-store sales rose 7.6% in the quarter. For the full year, Home Depot turned in net income of $4.3 billion, or $1.88 a share, a 17% rise from net income of $3.66 billion, or $1.56 a share, for the previous fiscal year. Sales improved 11% to $64.82 billion from $58.25 billion.

Company shares gained 61 cents on Tuesday to $35.99. The stock added a penny in after-hours trading.

H&R Block, Inc. (HRB: chart) of Kansas City, Missouri, announced after market close Tuesday that its fiscal 2004 third-quarter net profit slipped 19% to $106.7 million, or 59 cents a share, due to a smaller gain from mortgage asset sales, which was $17 million in the quarter. For the corresponding period a year ago, the tax preparer and mortgage company had net income of $132.3 million, or 73 cents a share, including a $130.9 million gain on a similar transaction. Excluding the gains, earnings came in at 53 cents a share, beating analysts’ expectations for a profit of 45 cents a share, on average.

The stock shed 45 cents to close Tuesday at $58.50. Company shares dipped 2.89% to $56.81 in after-market trade.

Brown-Forman Corporation (BFB: chart) reported Tuesday that its quarterly earnings climbed 15%, boosted by strong beverage sales. The Louisville, Kentucky-based maker of alcoholic beverage brands said it earned $80.5 million, or 66 cents a share, in its third quarter, compared with a net profit of $70 million, or 51 cents a share, in the prior-year period. Quarterly sales rose to $697 million, up 9.7% from $635.6 million, a year earlier.

Brown-Forman shares edged up 13 cents on Tuesday to $48.95. The stock added 3 cents to $48.98 in after-hours trading.

Clear Channel Communications, Inc. (CCU: chart) of San Antonio, Texas, said Tuesday its fourth-quarter earnings were nearly flat, citing weak demand for advertising on local stations. The U.S. No.1 radio station owner posted a profit of $187 million, or 30 cents per share, for its fourth quarter, compared with $184 million, or 30 cents per share, generated in the year-ago equivalent. Results fell short of analysts’ projections for earnings of 33 cents per share, on average.

The stock closed Tuesday at $42.92, down 92 cents, or 2.10%.

Express Scripts, Inc. (ESRX: chart) announced Tuesday a fourth-quarter net profit of $67.4 million, or 86 cents a share, a 19% improvement from a prior-year net profit of $56.7 million, or 72 cents a share. The Maryland Heights, Missouri-based pharmacy-benefits manager said higher revenue and lower expenses helped boost the results. Revenue was up 3.7% to $3.49 billion, in the quarter, from $3.36 billion a year ago.

Company shares fell 0.54% to $66.83 at market close Tuesday. The stock dropped 58 cents to $66.25 in after-market trade.

Federated Department Stores, Inc. (FD: chart) of Cincinnati, Ohio, posted Tuesday a 35% rise in its quarterly earnings, citing solid holiday-season sales. The department store operator rolled out net income of $460 million, or $2.50 a share, for its fiscal fourth quarter, in contrast to net income of $341 million, or $1.78 a share, a year earlier. Excluding items, earnings were $2.29 a share, 3 cents a share above the mean estimate of analysts. Federated also credited the good inventory management for the improved results.

The stock closed Tuesday up 60 cents, or 1.19%, at $50.95.

Bolstered by strong ketchup sales and new products, H.J. Heinz Company (HNZ: chart) reported Tuesday that its third-quarter net profit jumped more than 33% to $202.2 million, or 57 cents per share. The year-earlier net profit was $151.6 million, or 43 cents per share. Results of the food producer were in line with analysts’ forecasts. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Heinz recorded third-quarter revenue of $2.10 billion, down from $2.11 billion, due to divestitures.

Heinz shares rose 3.35% to close Tuesday at $37.62. The stock added 5 cents to $37.67 in after-hours trading.

Weight Watchers International, Inc. (WTW: chart) of Woodbury, New York, said Tuesday that its quarterly profit surged 34% on the back of strong revenue growth. The weight-loss services provider said it had earnings of $38.1 million, or 35 cents a share, in its fourth quarter, in contrast to $28.4 million, or 26 cents a share, earned in the same quarter of fiscal 2002. Revenue increased 14% to $216.1 million, largely due to higher meeting fees, which climbed 18% to $143.6 million, in the quarter.

The stock closed Tuesday up 97 cents, or 2.66%, at $37.45. Company shares gained 85 cents to $38.30 in after-market trade.

Semtech Corporation (SMTC: chart) posted Tuesday fourth-quarter earnings of $12.5 million, or 16 cents per share, compared with earnings of $62,000, or nil per share, last year. The Camarillo, California-based chipmaker attributed the results to stronger sales, which rose 24% in the quarter to $55.4 million, from $44.5 million a year ago.

Semtech shares edged up 99 cents on Tuesday to $24.45. The stock rose 4.25% to $25.49 in after-hours trading.

Portal Software, Inc. (PRSF: chart) of Cupertino, California, announced Tuesday that it swung to a quarterly profit, helped by a stock option compensation credit. The provider of billing and customer management software reported a fourth-quarter net profit of $12.4 million, or 28 cents a share, reversing from a year-ago net loss of $2.6 million, or 7 cents a share. Portal recorded revenue of $36.8 million in the fourth quarter, up 18% from $31.1 million last year.

The stock soared 5.56% to $7.40 at market close Tuesday. Portal shares added 30 cents to $7.70 in after-market trade.