Oracle Corporation (ORCL: chart) said Tuesday that its quarterly income advanced 16% from a year earlier, aided by strength in its database business. The enterprise software giant turned in net earnings of $509 million, or 10 cents a share, for the first quarter of fiscal 2005, compared with net earnings of $440 million, or 8 cents a share, for the same period a year ago. The results were a penny a share above Wall Street’s consensus forecast. For the quarter ended August 31, revenue improved 7% to $2.2 billion from $2.07 billion, in the first quarter of fiscal 2004. Analysts had expected revenue of $2.23 billion. Redwood City, California-based Oracle recorded new software license sales of $563 million in the quarter, up 7% from a year ago, boosted by the introduction of its database for grid computing. Software license updates and product support climbed 14% in the quarter to $1.2 billion.

For its second quarter, Oracle said it expects to earn about 13 cents per share, on revenue of $2.58 billion to $2.66 billion.

Oracle shares inched down 7 cents on Tuesday to $10.55. The stock rose 3.03% to $10.87 in after-hours trading.

National Medical Health Card Systems, Inc. (NMHC: chart) of Port Washington, New York, posted Tuesday weaker quarterly profits, hurt by one-time items. The manager of pharmacy benefits programs announced net income of $1.0 million, or 21 cents per share, for its fiscal fourth quarter ended June 30, down from net income of $1.7 million, or 21 cents per share, for the 2003 equivalent. Excluding items, earnings soared 74.8% in the quarter to $2.9 million, or 25 cents per share. Quarterly revenue increased to $176.6 million from $148.4 million.

The stock gained 28 cents to close Tuesday at $25.60. Company shares surged 7.19% to $27.44 in extended trading.

Possis Medical, Inc. (POSS: chart), the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based maker of medical devices, reported after the bell Tuesday that its fiscal 2004 fourth-quarter net profit dropped to $3.6 million, or 18 cents a share, from a profit of $11.1 million, or 58 cents a share, for the prior-year quarter, when results were fuelled by a gain from a tax benefit. The earnings matched the average analysts’ estimate. Excluding items, year-ago profits were 11 cents per share. For the quarter ended July 31, sales jumped 27% to $20 million, compared with $15.8 million a year earlier.

Company shares closed Tuesday at $18.19, up 2 cents, or 0.11%. The stock shed 69 cents to $17.50 in after-market trade.

Copart, Inc. (CPRT: chart) on Tuesday rolled out net income of $21.4 million, or 23 cents per share, for its fourth quarter, in contrast to income of $13.3 million, or 15 cents per share, for the 2003 corresponding period. The Fairfield, California-based provider of salvage vehicle auction services said results were helped by adjustments associated with insurance claims and sales taxes. Quarterly revenue rose to $100 million from $87 million, last year.

The stock edged up 21 cents to $21.97 at market close Tuesday. Copart shares soared 6.96% to $23.50 in the extended session.

Intrawest Corporation (IDR: chart) announced Tuesday that it returned to a profit in its fourth quarter from a prior-year loss, boosted by strong results at its management services and real estate development businesses. The Vancouver, Canada-based operator of ski and golf resorts posted earnings of $2.6 million, or 5 cents a share, for the fourth quarter, rebounding from a loss of $14.5 million, or 30 cents a share, in 2003. Revenues in the quarter were up to $485.1 million from $371.4 million, a year ago.

Intrawest shares rose 4.17% to close Tuesday at $16.75.

First Aviation Services Inc. (FAVS: chart) of Westport, Connecticut, said that its second-quarter loss widened to $833,000, or 11 cents a share, from a loss of $220,000 or 3 cents a share, last year. The company, which supplies products and services to the aviation industry, blamed the results on increased general and administrative expenses. For the quarter ended July 31, First Aviation delivered record sales of $31.1 million, a 22.9% rise from $25.3 million, for the year-ago period.

The stock closed Tuesday unchanged at $4.46.

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.