PalmSource, Inc. (PSRC: chart) announced after market close Thursday a smaller quarterly loss, helped by higher revenue and lower expenses. The Sunnyvale, California-based software maker reported a net loss of $165,000, or a penny a share, for its fiscal 2005 first quarter, in contrast to a prior-year net loss of $3.8 million, or 38 cents a share. Excluding unusual items, the company posted a profit of $800,000, or 5 cents a share, for the quarter ended August 27, reversing from a loss before items of $1.5 million, or 15 cents a share, for the 2004 corresponding quarter. Analysts had expected a loss of 2 cents a share, on average. Quarterly revenue climbed to $18.2 million from $17.1 million, beating the mean analysts’ estimate of $17.9 million. PalmSource, which supplies the operating system software for the handheld devices of palmOne Inc. and Sony Corp., said its second-quarter revenue will miss analysts’ estimates, due to Sony's decision to withdraw from the U.S. handheld computer market. PalmSource said it expects second-quarter results, excluding items, to be between break-even and a profit of 13 cents a share, on revenue of about $18 million. Analysts forecast a profit 5 cents a share, on revenue of $19 million.

Company shares shed $1.09 to close Thursday at $25.06. The stock plunged 9.74% to $22.62 in after-hours trading.

A.G. Edwards, Inc. (AGE: chart) reported Thursday an 8% increase in its quarterly income, aided by lower expenses. The retail brokerage turned in net earnings of $40.6 million, or 52 cents per share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2005, up from net earnings of $37.5 million, or 47 cents per share, last year. Analysts were looking for a profit of 56 cents per share, on average. Net revenues dipped 4% to $614.3 million, for the quarter ended August 31, compared with prior-year revenues of $639 million. Analysts had forecast revenues of $655.8 million. Revenue from principal transactions declined 14% to $71 million, while investment banking revenue plunged 39% to $57.9 million. St. Louis, Missouri-based A.G. Edwards said commission revenues for the second quarter dropped 12% to $237.1 million, citing decreased investor activity in individual equities. Asset-management and service-fee revenues for the second quarter increased 27% $214.2 million, reflecting ‘greater client interest in fee-based programs and services’.

The stock gained 12 cents on Thursday to $34.59.

Rite Aid Corporation (RAD: chart) said Thursday that it swung to a quarterly profit from a year-earlier loss, aided by a decrease in inventory expenses. The Camp Hill, Pennsylvania-based drugstore chain announced a profit of $9.8 million, or nil per share, for its fiscal second quarter, rebounding from a loss of $10.6 million, or 4 cents per share, in the year-ago equivalent. Analysts were looking for a loss of 1 cent a share. Sales for the quarter inched up 1.8% to $4.12 billion. Same-store sales were up 2% from last year.

The stock dipped 4.79% to $3.58 at market close Thursday.

Boosted by strong sales, The Finish Line, Inc. (FINL: chart) on Thursday turned in second-quarter net income of $20.8 million, or 85 cents per share, up from net income of $17.5 million, or 73 cents per share, for the same period of the prior year. The Indianapolis, Indiana-based athletic shoe retailer recorded net sales of $312.2 million in the quarter, compared with $270.8 million, a year earlier. The consensus analysts’ forecast was for a profit of 87 cents a share, on revenue of $312.1 million.

Company shares slid 3.37% on Thursday to $30.44. The stock dropped 94 cents to $29.50 in the extended session.

Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. (ESIO: chart) of Portland, Oregon, posted Thursday a profit for its fiscal first quarter, jumping back from a prior-year loss, driven by solid revenue growth. The maker of manufacturing and test equipment said that it swung to a profit of $10.6 million, or 36 cents per share, in the first quarter, from a loss of $9.4 million, or 34 cents per share, for the 2004 corresponding period. Quarterly revenues surged to $72.6 million from $20.9 million, bolstered by strong demand. The earnings, however, fell short of the average analysts’ estimate of 46 cents per share.

The stock closed Thursday up $1.10, or 5.14%, at $22.51. Company shares plummeted 11.99% to $19.81 in after-market trade.

Manugistics Group, Inc. (MANU: chart) reported Thursday that its second-quarter net loss widened to $17.1 million, or 21 cents per share, from a net loss of $8 million, or 11 cents per share, last year. Excluding items, the Rockville, Maryland-based developer of supply chain management software lost $5.6 million, or 7 cents a share, in the quarter ended August 31, compared with a loss of $2.6 million, or 4 cents a share, in fiscal 2004. Manugistics blamed the results on weaker revenues, which declined 14% in the quarter to $51.3 million. Software revenue tumbled 38% to $11.1 million and services revenue was down 11% to $16.4 million.

Manugistics shares inched down 2 cents to close Thursday at $2.59. The stock dived 5.41% to $2.45 in extended-hours trading.

Steelcase Inc. (SCS: chart) of Grand Rapids, Michigan, announced Thursday a drop in its quarterly earnings, on the sale of its Attwood business. The world's largest office furniture maker posted net income of $7.3 million, or 5 cents per share, for its second quarter, against net income of $18.1 million, or 12 cents per share, for the year-earlier quarter. Despite profit decline, the results surpassed analysts’ expectations for a profit of 1 cent a share, as revenue improved 6.4% in the quarter to $651 million. The company said it also benefited from lower operating costs.

The stock closed Thursday at $13.00, down 86 cents, or 6.20%.