NIKE, Inc. (NKE: chart) announced Thursday a 24% increase in its quarterly profits, driven by an improving U.S. economy, robust sales gains in Europe and a favorable currency exchange rate. The world’s top athletic shoe and apparel company reported net income of $305 million, or $1.13 per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, against net income of $246.2 million, or 92 cents per share, in the prior-year equivalent. The earnings beat the mean analysts’ estimate by 5 cents per share. For the quarter ended May 31, revenue climbed 17% to $3.5 billion from $3 billion, in the same quarter of 2003. Beaverton, Oregon-based Nike said the end of a dispute with Foot Locker, its largest U.S. retailer, also helped lift its results. For all of 2004, Nike posted net income of $945.6 million, or $3.51 per share, on sales of $12.3 billion, up from net income of $474 million, or $2.77 per share, on sales of $10.7 billion, in fiscal 2003.

Nike shares inched up 11 cents to close Thursday at $72.40. The stock rose 3.31% to $74.80 in after-hours trading.

A.G. Edwards, Inc. (AGE: chart) reported before market open Thursday that its quarterly earnings surged 66%, aided by solid revenue growth. The St. Louis, Missouri-based financial services company posted a net profit of $46.3 million, or 57 cents per share, for its fiscal 2005 first quarter ended May 31, compared with a year-earlier net profit of $27.9 million, or 35 cents per share. Results, however, missed the consensus analysts’ estimate of 66 cents per share, hurt by lower-than-expected retail commissions. Net revenues in the quarter rose to $661 million from $556 million, a year ago.

The stock dipped 2.35% on Thursday to $35.28.

ATI Technologies Inc. (ATYT: chart) of Markham, Ontario, said Thursday that its third-quarter net profit more than tripled to $48.6 million, or 19 cents per share, from a net profit of $15 million, or 6 cents per share, in the 2003 comparable quarter. The supplier of computer graphics chips and boards beat the average analysts’ forecast by 2 cents a share. Quarterly revenue soared to $491.5 million from $355.7 million, bolstered by strong demand for PC chips and consumer product chips.

ATI shares surged 9.17% to $18.33 at market close Thursday. The stock dropped 3 cents to $18.30 in after-market trade.

Del Monte Foods Company (DLM: chart) on Thursday rolled out net income of $56.6 million, or 27 cents a share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, more than a double increase from year-ago net income of $23.5 million, or 11 cents a share. The San Francisco, California-based food company said the results were boosted by its acquisition of certain brands from H.J. Heinz Co. Net sales in the quarter jumped 21% to $915.9 million from $756.8 million, last year.

The stock plunged 8.55% to close Thursday at $10.06.

Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (FDO: chart) of Matthews, North Carolina, posted Thursday higher quarterly income, helped by new store openings. The discount chain said that it earned $73.8 million, or 43 cents a share, in its fiscal third quarter, compared with $69.6 million, or 40 cents a share, generated in the 2003 corresponding period. Results were in line with analysts’ projections. Sales in the third quarter advanced 11.3% to $1.31 billion.

Company shares closed Thursday down 55 cents, or 1.70%, at $31.80.

Boosted by strong sales, The Finish Line, Inc. (FINL: chart) announced Thursday that its first-quarter net earnings jumped 62% to a record $10.6 million, or 43 cents per share, from prior-year earnings of $6.5 million or 28 cents per share. The Indianapolis, Indiana-based athletic shoe retailer recorded a 14% increase in same-store net sales in the first quarter. Total sales improved 24% to $258.0 million.

The stock slipped 0.44% on Thursday to $31.64. Company shares dropped 2 cents to $31.62 in the extended session.

Paychex, Inc. (PAYX: chart) of Rochester, New York, said Thursday that its quarterly profit fell 14% from a year ago, hurt by legal expenses. The payroll accounting company reported fourth-quarter net income of $61.4 million, or 16 cents per share, against net income of $71.3 million, or 19 cents per share, in the 2003 equivalent. Analysts were looking for a profit of 21 cents per share. Quarterly revenue was up 14% to $330.4 million.

Paychex shares shed 25 cents to $36.69 at market close Thursday. The stock slid 3.65% to $35.35 in after-hours trading.

Manugistics Group, Inc. (MANU: chart) reported Thursday that its first-quarter net loss narrowed to $7.7 million, or 9 cents per share, from a net loss of $18.5 million, or 26 cents per share, last year, due to lower operating expenses. The Rockville, Maryland-based developer of supply chain management software said quarterly revenue tumbled 21% to $51.6 million from $65.6 million. The company cited delayed purchasing decisions as main factor for the shortfall in software revenue.

The stock closed Thursday at $3.20, up a penny, or 0.31%. Company shares dipped 3.13% to $3.10 in the extended trade.

Cutter & Buck Inc. (CBUK: chart) of Seattle, Washington, announced Thursday that it swung to a quarterly profit from a year-ago loss, citing improved cost management and higher sales. The sportswear company turned in a net profit of $5.6 million, or 49 cents a share, for its fourth quarter, a turnaround from a net loss of $992,000, or 9 cents a share, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003. Sales in the quarter climbed to $38.4 million from $36.3 million, a year earlier.

Company shares dropped 9 cents on Thursday to $10.32.

Rite Aid Corporation (RAD: chart) posted Thursday net income of $63.3 million, or 10 cents per share, for its fiscal first quarter, rebounding from a net loss of $38.8 million, or 8 cents per share, a year ago, when charges for store closings and debt retirement weighed on the results. The earnings of the Camp Hill, Pennsylvania-based drugstore chain were a nickel per share ahead of the mean analysts’ forecast.

The stock soared 7.82% to $5.38 at market close Thursday. Company shares added 2 cents to $5.40 in after-market trade.