Toys ''R'' Us, Inc. (TOY: chart) said before the bell Monday that it swung to a quarterly profit, rebounding from a prior-year loss, boosted by a reversal of $200 million in income tax reserves. The Wayne, New Jersey-based toy retailer announced net earnings of $61 million, or 28 cents a share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2004, in contrast to a net loss of $11 million, or 5 cents a share, last year. Operating loss for the second quarter of 2004 was $192 million, which compares to operating earnings of $14 million, for the same quarter a year ago. For the quarter ended July 31, sales slipped 3.9% to $2.02 billion from $2.10 billion. Same-store sales at the company’s U.S. Toy Store division dropped 7.7%, while its International division reported a 1.7% increase in same-store sales for the quarter. For the first six months of the year, net income was $33 million, or 15 cents a share, compared to a net loss of $37 million, or 17 cents a share, for the comparable period in 2003.

Gap Inc. (GPS: chart) announced after market close Thursday weaker quarterly financial results, hurt by sluggish summer clearance sales and a loss on early retirement of debt. The San Francisco, California-based apparel retailer posted net earnings of $194 million, or 21 cents per share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2004, in contrast to net earnings of $209 million, or 22 cents per share, for the year-ago equivalent. Excluding special items, Gap recorded a profit of $234 million, or 25 cents a share, for the quarter ended July 31, 3 cents a share ahead of the consensus forecast of analysts. Second-quarter net sales climbed 1% to $3.72 billion from $3.69 billion, for the second quarter in 2003. Comparable-store sales were flat, compared to a 10% increase in the year-earlier period. For the first half of fiscal 2004, Gap reported net income, including items, of $506 million, or 53 cents per share, on sales of $7.4 billion. That compares to net income of $412 million, or 44 cents per share, on sales of $7.0 billion, for the first six months of 2003.

Gap shares dipped 3.40% on Thursday to $20.15. The stock dropped 20 cents to $19.95 in extended-hours trading.

Autodesk, Inc. (ADSK: chart) posted after the bell Thursday a 20% jump in its quarterly profits, helped by higher sales of its business software. The San Rafael, California-based developer of computer-aided design software reported second-quarter net income of $39 million, or 31 cents per share, up from net income of $32.6 million, or 29 cents per share, a year ago. On an adjusted basis, second-quarter earnings totaled 34 cents per share, beating the mean analysts’ forecast of 30 cents per share. Revenue in the quarter rose 32% $280 million from $212 million, driven by strong demand for the company’s AutoCAD family of products.

The stock shed 54 cents to close Thursday at $37.36. Company shares surged 8.19% to $40.42 in after-market trade.

Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN: chart) of Seattle, Washington, said Thursday that its second-quarter profit surged 62% to $106.9 million, or 75 cents a share, from a year-earlier profit of $65.9 million, or 48 cents a share. The apparel and shoe retailer cited stronger sales and reduced expenses as main factors for the improvement. Analysts were looking for second-quarter earnings of 77 cents a share. Quarterly revenue advanced to $1.95 billion from $1.78 billion, aided by lower markdowns.

Company shares inched down 4 cents to $40.56 at market close Thursday. The stock plunged 6.24% to $38.03 in the extended session.

Foot Locker, Inc. (FL: chart) reported Thursday that its quarterly earnings more than doubled from a year ago, fuelled by an income tax benefit and higher sales. The New York-based U.S. No.1 athletic footwear retailer turned in net income of $82 million, or 53 cents a share, for its fiscal second quarter, compared with net income of $36 million, or 24 cents a share, last year. Excluding items, earnings were 36 cents a share for the quarter ended July 31, powering past Wall Street’s average estimate of 29 cents a share. Sales for the quarter climbed 12.9% to $1.27 billion from $1.12 billion.

The stock closed Thursday at $22.10, up 20 cents, or 0.91%.

Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc. (HIBB: chart) of Birmingham, Alabama, announced Thursday that its second-quarter income slipped 6% to $3 million, or 13 cents per share, from prior-year income of $3.2 million, or 14 cents per share. The retailer said results were due to a decline in sales of licensed apparel and fitness equipment. The earnings were 2 cents a share below the average analysts’ estimate.

Company shares dropped 4 cents on Thursday to $18.41.

Novell, Inc. (NOVL: chart) posted Thursday a profit for its third quarter, rebounding from a prior-year loss, on the back of strong revenue growth. The Waltham, Massachusetts-based maker of computer networking software reported net income of $23 million, or 6 cents per share, for its third quarter, a turnaround from a loss of $12 million, or 3 cents per share, for the 2003 comparable period. Excluding items, profit was 4 cents per share, up from 2 cents per share, a year ago, but a penny below the mean analysts’ forecast. Quarterly revenue jumped to $305 million from $283 million, in 2003.

The stock slid 2.44% to close Thursday at $6.39. Novell shares shed 19 cents to $6.20 in after-hours trading.

Sycamore Networks, Inc. (SCMR: chart) of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, said Thursday that it narrowed its fourth-quarter loss to $9.2 million, or 3 cents per share, from a loss of $9.7 million, or 4 cents per share, in the 2003 corresponding period. The results were in line with analysts’ expectations. The maker of optical networking products attributed the results to stronger sales, which rose to $14.5 million from $10.9 million a year ago.

Company shares closed Thursday down a penny, or 0.27%, at $3.72. The stock soared 7.53% to $4.00 in after-market trade.

McDATA Corporation (MCDTA: chart) reported Thursday a loss for its fiscal second quarter, dragged by restructuring charges and other items. The Broomfield, Colorado-based storage-technology company posted a net loss of $5.4 million, or 5 cents a share, for the second quarter, compared with net income of $9.1 million, 8 cents a share, for the same period in 2003. Excluding items, the company earned $2 million, or 2 cents a share, in the quarter, up from $1.1 million, or 1 cent a share, last year. Analysts had called for a loss of 1 cent a share.

The stock inched up 2 cents to $4.88 at market close Thursday.