D.R. Horton, Inc. (DHI: chart) of Arlington, Texas, said after the bell Wednesday its fourth-quarter profit jumped 69% due to revenue growth. The U.S. second-largest homebuilder posted earnings of $230.7 million, or $1.46 a share, compared with the prior-year profit of $136.4 million, or 92 cents a share. Results glided past analysts’ projections for earnings of $1.29 a share. For the quarter ended September 30, revenue rose 32% to $2.86 billion from $2.15 billion, a year ago.

For the fiscal 2003 full year ended September 30, Horton posted net income of $626 million, or $4.10 a share, on revenue of $8.73 billion, up 55% from $404.7 million, or $2.87 a share on revenue of $6.74 billion, generated last year.

The company raised its outlook for the first quarter of 2004 and now expects to post earnings of 90 cents to 95 cents a share.

Horton shares rose 3.53% to $41.39 at market close Wednesday. The stock was up $1.05 to $42.44 in after-hours trading.

Whole Foods Market, Inc. (WFMI: chart) reported Wednesday an 8% rise in its fourth-quarter earnings, on the back of strong sales. The Austin, Texas-based world's No.1 natural foods chain said it earned $23.8 million, or 38 cents a share, for the quarter ended September 28, up from $22 million, or 36 cents a share, in the year-ago period, but a penny shy of analysts’ expectations. Total sales were up 18% to $751 million from $638 million last year.

Company shares dipped 2.10% to close Wednesday at $58.73. The stock soared 5.14% to $61.75 in after-market trade.

Applied Materials, Inc. (AMAT: chart), the world's largest maker of semiconductor production equipment., said Wednesday its fourth-quarter earnings tumbled 90%, hurt by restructuring costs and lower revenue. The Santa Clara, California-based company posted a profit of $15.5 million, or 1 cent a share, compared with $147.2 million, or 9 cents a share, in the 2002 comparable period. Excluding items, profit per share was 6 cents, a penny above Wall Street consensus.

The stock closed Wednesday up 54 cents, or 2.17%, at $25.44. Company shares gained 75 cents to $26.19 in after-hours trading.

Loews Corporation (LTR: chart) said Wednesday it swung to a loss in its third quarter, on charges to increase bad debt reserves at its insurance unit. The New York-based diversified holding company reported a loss of $1.38 billion, or $7.90 a share, reversing from a year-ago profit of $239.1 million, or $1.05 a share. Revenue, including gains, dropped 3.2% to $3.94 billion from $4.07 billion.

Company shares rose 3.87% on Wednesday to $42.95.

PG&E Corporation (PCG: chart) of San Francisco, California, posted Wednesday third-quarter net earnings of $510 million, or $1.24 a share, up 9% from $466 million, or $1.19 a share, in the same quarter a year ago. The utility holding company said it benefited from increase in surplus revenues. Excluding items, earnings from operations came in at 42 cents a share, below the average analysts’ estimate of 53 cents a share.

The stock shed 4 cents to close Wednesday at $24.08.

Federated Department Stores, Inc. (FD: chart) posted Wednesday a net profit, including charges for store closings, of $67 million, or 36 cents per share, for its third quarter, down from $106 million, or 54 cents per share, in the year-ago quarter. Last year’s results included income from discontinued operations of $31 million, or 16 cents per share. The Cincinnati, Ohio-based department store operator topped by a penny analysts’ expectations.

Company shares slipped 1.04% to $49.65 at market close Wednesday.

Bolstered by strong sales, Medtronic, Inc. (MDT: chart), the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based world's No.1 medical device maker, said after market close Wednesday its second-quarter net profit surged 58% to $476.1 million, or 39 cents per share, from $301.7. million, or 25 cents a share, a year ago. For the quarter ended October 24, total sales leapt to $2.16 billion from $1.89 billion a year earlier.

Medtronic shares were up 1.19% on Wednesday to $44.37. The stock gained 90 cents to $45.27 in after-market trade.

ImClone Systems, Inc. (IMCL: chart) said Wednesday it narrowed its third-quarter loss to $16.5 million, or 22 cents per share, from a loss of $42.0 million, or 57 cents per share, in the 2002 equivalent. The New York-based biotechnology company said the payments it received for the development of its cancer drug Erbitux boosted the results. Quarterly revenue rose 57% to $23.6 million.

The stock rose 2.37% to close Wednesday at $35.42. Company shares added $1.04 to $36.46 in after-hours trading.

The Warnaco Group, Inc. (WRNC: chart) posted Wednesday a smaller third-quarter loss of $6.7 million, or 15 cents per share, in contrast to a loss of $15.6 million, or 30 cents per share, in the same period last year. The New York-based apparel designer and manufacturer said its loss from continuing operations was a penny a share, excluding restructuring costs.

Company shares plummeted 9.93% on Wednesday to $15.23.

Porsche AG (PSEPF: chart) said Wednesday its full-year earnings soared 22% to a record €565 million ($650 million) from €462 million, a year ago. The Stuttgart, Germany-based carmaker attributed the results to its new Cayenne sport model. Sales for the year ended July 31 increased to €5.58 billion ($6.44 billion) from €4.86 billion a year earlier.