Texas Instruments Inc. (TXN: chart) announced after market close Monday that it returned to profitability in its fiscal 2003 fourth quarter, citing stronger cell phone sales. The world's largest maker of microchips for mobile phones reported fourth-quarter net income of $512 million, or 29 cents a share, rebounding from a year-earlier net loss of $589 million, or 34 cents a share, when results included an investment write-down. Excluding items, the Dallas, Texas-based company posted earnings of 20 cents per share, for the quarter ended December 31, up from 6 cents per share, last year. On that basis, results topped by a penny analysts’ projections. TI said net revenue surged 29% to $2.77 billion from $2.15 billion, in the prior-year quarter. Semiconductor revenue jumped 34% to $2.45 billion. For the full year, TI had a net profit of $1.2 billion, or 68 cents a share, in contrast to a net loss of $344 million, or 20 cents a share, in fiscal 2002.

For the first quarter, the company said it expects earnings of 16 cents to 22 cents a share, on revenue of $2.72 billion to $2.95 billion.

TI shares rose 3.29% on Monday to close at $31.99. The stock fell 51 cents to $31.48 in after-market trade.

Novellus Systems, Inc. (NVLS: chart) of San Jose, California, said after the bell Monday that its quarterly earnings more than tripled, helped by sales increase. The supplier of microchip-making equipment reported a fourth-quarter profit of $10.5 million, or 7 cents a share, compared with a profit of $3.0 million, or 2 cents a share, in the 2002 comparable period. Analysts were looking for a profit of 6 cents a share, on average. Novellus said quarterly sales climbed 4% to $226.5 million from $217.6 million, a year earlier.

The stock gained 36 cents to $40.25 at market close Monday. Company shares plunged 7.58% to $37.20 in after-hours trading.

Altera Corporation (ALTR: chart) reported Monday that its fourth-quarter profit soared 66% to $45.1 million, or 12 cents a share, from a profit of $27.1 million, or 7 cents a share, generated in the 2002 corresponding period. The San Jose, California-based maker of programmable chips attributed the results to strong new product sales, which boosted revenue up 20% to $217.4 million from $180.6 million, a year ago. Altera said it also benefited from the drop in research and development expenses.

Altera shares added 27 cents to close Monday at $24.14. The stock slipped 4.68% to $23.01 in after-market trade.

Lexmark International, Inc. (LXK: chart) of Lexington, Kentucky, posted Monday net income of $138.8 million, or $1.05 a share, for its fiscal 2003 fourth quarter, up 19% from net income of $116.3 million, or 90 cents a share, in the same quarter a year earlier. Analysts had expected the printer maker to earn 92 cents a share, on average. Revenue climbed 13% to $1.37 billion from $1.21 billion, last year. Lexmark said the rise in printer sales drove the improved demand for the highly profitable replacement ink.

The stock soared 7.18% on Monday to $84.50. Lexmark shares shed 28 cents to $84.22 in after-hours trading.

American Express Company (AXP: chart) announced Monday a 12% rise in its quarterly earnings, citing strength in its charge-card business and improved stock market conditions. The New York-based financial services company said it earned $763 million, or 59 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of 2003, compared with earnings of $683 million, or 52 cents per share, in the year-ago equivalent. Quarterly revenue was up to $7.1 billion from $6.2 billion, a year earlier.

American Express shares edged up 99 cents to close Monday at $50.95. The stock dropped 40 cents to $50.55 in after-market trade.

Hilton Hotels Corporation (HLT: chart), the Beverly Hills, California-based hotel company, reported Monday fourth-quarter net income of $67 million, or 17 cents a share, a 68% increase from a net profit of $40 million, or 11 cents a share, in fiscal 2002 fourth quarter. Total revenue climbed 3.3% to $989 million from $957 million, last year. Hilton said lower taxes and improved business and leisure travel drove the results.

The stock closed Monday down 49 cents, or 2.90%, at $16.39.

McDonald's Corporation (MCD: chart) said Monday that it swung to a fourth-quarter profit from its first-ever loss last year, when results were hurt by charges to close unprofitable restaurants. The Oak Brook, Illinois-based world's No.1 restaurant company posted net income of $125.7 million, or 10 cents a share, for the fourth quarter, a turnaround from a net loss of $343.8 million, or 27 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue increased 17% to $4.56 billion from $3.9 billion, beating the $4.32 billion estimate of analysts.

Company shares inched up 3 cents to $25.28 at market close Monday. The stock added 21 cents to $25.49 in after-market trade.

SYSCO Corporation (SYY: chart) of Houston, Texas, reported Monday net earnings of $222 million, or 34 cents a share, for its fiscal 2004 second quarter, up 20% from $184.6 million, or 28 cents a share, a year ago. The top food service distributor in North America outpaced analysts’ expectations for a profit of 32 cents a share. Sysco said results were partly due to higher sales at its chain-restaurant unit.

The stock was up 3.33% on Monday to $37.55. Sysco shares gained 14 cents to $37.69 in after-hours trading.

Schering-Plough Corporation (SGP: chart) posted Monday a quarterly loss, weighed down by restructuring charges and weak sales. The Kenilworth, New Jersey-based drug maker said it had a net loss of $181 million, or 12 cents a share, in its fourth quarter, compared with net income of $313 million, or 21 cents a share, last year. Quarterly sales dropped to $1.95 billion, down 18% from $2.37 billion, for the same period in 2002.

Company shares closed Monday at $17.85, up 33 cents, or 1.88%. The stock fell 1.12% to $17.65 in after-market trade.

Agilent Technologies, Inc. (A: chart) of Palo Alto, California, lifted Monday its quarterly earnings target, on the back of strong demand for its products. The supplier of electronics and testing equipment said it now expects a first-quarter profit excluding items of 20 cents to 24 cents per share, up from its previous estimate of 5 cents to 15 cents per share.