Southern Union, (SUG: chart), said that on a continuing operations basis, the company earned 10 cents a share, down from a profit of 12 cents a share last year. Operating revenue advanced to $552.4 million from $195.2 million a year ago.The company also affirmed its outlook for earnings of $1.70 to $1.90 a share for 2006, excluding charges related to the sale of its PG Energy unit and the Rhode Island operations of New England Gas Co.

Performance Food Group Co., (PFGC: chart), food distributor, reported a Q2 decline, hurt by a year-ago gain from the sale of its fresh-cut business. The company''s net income fell to 35 cents a share, from $4.28 a share. On a continuing operations basis, it earned 26 cents a share in Q2 of 2005. Net sales from continuing operations slipped to $1.45 billion from $1.46 billion. The company matched analysts’ views for it to earn 35 cents a share. The company said it expects Q3 earnings per share to be in the range of 32 cents to 36 cents.

El Paso Corp, (EP: chart), energy provider, reported Q2 earnings of $150 million, swinging from a loss of $238 million a year-ago. After payment of preferred dividends, the company posted net income of 21 cents a share, up from a equivalent loss 38 cents a share a year-ago. The latest results include a 2 cents a share gain on derivatives used to hedge the price risk of natural gas and oil production. Operating revenue reached $1.21 billion, up from a total of $1.17 billion in the year-ago period. The company topped analysts’ estimates for a profit of 18 cents a share.

McDermott International Inc., (MDR: chart), heavy construction company, reported Q2 net income fell to 40 cents a share, from 75 cents a year ago. If not for costs for the early retirement of debt and income from discontinued operations, earnings would have been 71 cents a share. Income from continuing operations came to 28 cents a share. Revenue increased to $1.05 billion from $509.7 million. The company missed analysts’ forecasts for earnings of 53 cents a share.

AES Corp., (AES: chart), power company, reported Q2 net income about doubled to 25 cents a share, from 13 cents a share in the year-earlier period. Revenue at the company rose 15% to $3.04 billion from $2.65 billion. The company beat analysts’ forecasts for earnings of 17 cents a share.