The Kroger Co. (KR: chart) reported Tuesday earnings of $142.4 million, or 19 cents a share, for its fiscal 2004 second quarter, a 25% decline from earnings of $190.4 million, or 25 cents a share, for the prior-year period. The U.S. biggest grocery chain said that the results were hurt by the strike in Southern California and costs related to an early debt redemption. Excluding items, the company posted a profit of $181.1 million, or 24 cents per share, for the quarter ended August 14, compared with a profit before items of $232.4 million, or 31 cents per share, in 2003. On an adjusted basis, analysts had predicted earnings of 27 cents a share, for the second quarter. Sales for the quarter climbed 5.1% to $13 billion from $12.4 billion, a year earlier. Same food-store sales, including fuel, were up 2.1%. Excluding fuel, same food-store sales rose 0.6%.

Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (PIR: chart) announced before market open Tuesday that its quarterly earnings tumbled 40% from a year earlier, blaming heavy discounts and weak sales for the results. The Fort Worth, Texas-based home furnishings retailer posted net income of $10.4 million, or 12 cents a share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2005, against net income of $18.4 million, or 20 cents a share, in 2004. Still, the earnings surpassed the average analysts’ forecast by a penny a share. For the quarter ended August 28, the company recorded total sales of $452.3 million, up 5.7% from $427.8 million, for the second quarter last year. Comparable-store sales slipped 3.0% from a year ago. For the first half of the year, net earnings were $22.2 million, or 25 cents per share, in contrast to $37.5 million, or 41 cents per share, generated for the same period in fiscal 2004.

Looking ahead, Pier 1 projected a profit of 28 cents to 35 cents per share for its third quarter.

Vivendi Universal S.A. (V: chart) posted Tuesday a wider quarterly loss, hurt by one-time costs related to the sale of its Vivendi Universal Entertainment subsidiary. The French media titan announced a net loss of €1.85 billion ($2.26 billion) for its second quarter, compared with a loss of €313 million, last year. Revenue for the quarter dropped to €5.42 billion ($6.61 billion) from €6.13 billion.

Palatin Technologies, Inc. (PTN: chart) reported Tuesday that its fourth-quarter net loss widened to $7.0 million, from a net loss of $6.5 million, for the 2003 corresponding period. The Cranbury, New Jersey-based biopharmaceutical company said the results were due to increased expenses. Loss per share was 13 cents in the 2004 fourth quarter, compared with 15 cents, last year. Quarterly revenues shrank to $10,000, from $82,000.

Frequency Electronics, Inc. (FEI: chart) of Mitchel Field, New York, said Monday that it swung to a net profit of $977,000, or 11 cents per share, in its fiscal first quarter, from a prior-year net loss of $742,000, or 9 cents per share. The maker of time and frequency control products beat the mean analysts’ estimate for a profit of 7 cents per share. The company attributed the results to higher revenue, which soared to $17.7 million in the quarter from $8.8 million, for the comparable period in 2004.

The stock closed Monday unchanged at $12.10.

Campbell Soup Company (CPB: chart) announced before market open Monday a 20% drop in its quarterly earnings, hurt by higher marketing costs and a restructuring charge. The world’s largest soup maker reported net income of $59 million, or 14 cents a share, for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2004, down from net income of $74 million, or 18 cents a share, a year ago. Excluding items, earnings came in at 17 cents a share, a penny a share shy of Wall Street’s consensus estimate. For the quarter ended August 1, sales slipped 2% to $1.43 billion from $1.46 billion, for the year-earlier period, when the quarter included an extra week. Camden, New Jersey-based Campbell said that increased promotional spending reduced sales by 2%. Analysts had projected sales of $1.46 billion in the quarter. For all of 2004, net earnings were $647 million, or $1.57 per share, compared with $626 million, or $1.52 per share, in 2003.

CKE Restaurants, Inc. (CKR: chart) reported before the bell Monday that it swung to a quarterly loss from a year-earlier profit, dragged by one-time charges for lawsuits and debt retirement. The Carpinteria, California-based operator of quick-service food chains posted a net loss of $11.4 million, or 20 cents per share, for its fiscal 2005 second quarter, in contrast to a profit of $6.3 million, or 11 cents per share, for the prior-year equivalent. Excluding extraordinary items, the company said that it had earnings of $10.8 million, or 17 cents per share, in the quarter ended August 9. The results fell 3 cents a share short of the average analysts’ estimate. Quarterly revenue climbed 6% to $353.7 million, beating the mean analysts’ forecast of $347.3 million. Same-store sales at company-operated Carl's Jr. and Hardee's restaurants rose 8.1% and 6.2%, respectively.

Alpha Technologies Group, Inc. (ATGI: chart) of Los Angeles, California, posted Monday a loss of $213,000, or 3 cents per share, for its third quarter, against a loss of $13.8 million, or $1.95 per share, a year ago, when results were weighed by one-time charges. The maker of thermal management products recorded revenue of $14.5 million in the quarter, a 25% jump from $11.6 million, last year. Third-quarter gross margin improved to 13% from 10%, in 2003.