Tenneco Inc. (TEN: chart), car parts maker, said fourth-quarter earnings rose to $14 million, or 30 cents a share, from $8 million, or 18 cents a share, a year earlier. Excluding non-recurring items, earnings would have declined to 6 cents a share from 28 cents a share a year ago. Revenue grew to $1.21 billion from last year''s $1.06 billion.

Kellogg Co. (K: chart), cereal maker, said that its fourth-quarter net income declined to $182.4 million, or 45 cents per share, compared with $192.4 million, or 47 cents per share. Results include 3 cents per share impact from the expensing of stock options, and investment in up-front costs of 8 cents per share, an amount significantly greater than was invested in the year-ago fourth quarter, the company said. Revenue climbed to $2.58 billion versus $2.39 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.

Safeco Cop. (SAF: chart), insurer, said that its fourth-quarter net income rose 13.5% to $216.4 million, or $1.96 per share, from $190.7 million, or $1.53 per share in the year-ago period. Revenue fell to $1.53 billion from $1.59 billion during the fourth quarter a year ago.

Merck & Co. (MRK: chart), drug maker, said fourth-quarter net income fell to $ $473.9 million, or 22 cents per share, from $1.12 billion, or 51 cents per share. Excluding the impact of the Sirna Therapeutics acquisition and restructuring charges, Merck said it earned 50 cents per share. Revenue climbed to $6.04 billion from $5.77 billion in the same period a year earlier.

The Chicago Mercantile Holdings Inc. (CME: chart), options and future exchange, said that its fourth-quarter earnings rose 35% to $103 million, or $2.91 per share from $76.3 million, or $2.18 per share in the year-ago period. Revenue climbed to $281.3 million from $222.5 million in the same period a year earlier.

Align Technology Inc. (ALGN: chart), invisible braces maker, reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $17.3 million, or 27 cents per share compared with the same quarter last year when the company posted a profit of $528,000, or a penny per share. Revenue climbed to $55.2 million versus $51.2 million last year.

Pilgrim''s Pride Corp. (PPC: chart), chicken and turkey processor, said that it swung to a first-quarter loss of $8.7 million, or 13 cents per share, compared with a year-ago income of $25.7 million, or 39 cents per share. Revenue fell fractionally to $1.34 billion. Pilgrim''s Pride said sharply higher costs for corn hurt results.

MDU Resources Group (MDU: chart), oil services company, said that its fourth-quarter net income rose to $82.4 million, or 45 cents per share from $73.1 million, or 40 cents per share, during the same period in 2005. Revenue improved 8% to $1.09 billion from $1.01 billion during the same period a year earlier.

Diebold Inc. (DBD: chart), makes automated teller and voting machines, said it earned $27.1 million, or 41 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, up from $10.4 million, or 15 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. Excluding restructuring and other charges the company said it would have earned 77 cents per share. Revenue climbed to $825.4 million versus $810.6 million in the same quarter a year earlier.

U.S. Airways Group Inc. (LCC: chart), airline services provider, said it swung to a fourth-quarter profit of $12 million in net income, or 13 cents per share, from a loss of $261 million, or $3.27 a share, in the year-earlier period. Excluding $74 million in special items, including $26 million in fuel-hedging losses, the airline operator said its net income would have been $86 million, to 91 cents per share. Revenue rose 8.8% to $2.79 billion from $2.56 billion in the same quarter a year earlier.